Transformation Manager - The Chester House Estate

North Northants; England; Remote; GBP 50,000 - 53,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Pension scheme

Generous leave entitlement

Hybrid and flexible working

Employee Assistance Programme

Employee Benefits Scheme

Wellbeing support

Travel rates (HMRC)

Career development opportunities

Job summary

North Northamptonshire Council seeks a strategic Transformation Manager for The Chester House Estate. You will drive the 5-Year Master Plan, shape governance, and develop a robust financial model to secure long-term sustainability.

You will build partnerships with universities, funders and sponsors while managing a multi-disciplinary team. You will lead income-generation strategies across fundraising, grants and commercial partnerships, ensuring delivery on time and within budget in a complex

Qualifications

• Experience leading organisational change, ideally in heritage, culture, tourism, charity or public sector.
• Strong business-planning and financial modelling skills.
• Track record generating income via fundraising, grants, sponsorship or commercial development.

Responsibilities

• Lead the 5-Year Master Plan for the estate, including vision, capital priorities and programming.
• Oversee governance development and set up of a charitable Trust / social enterprise.
• Develop business plan and five-year financial model with budgets and forecasts.
• Grow income with fundraising, grants, sponsorship and partnerships.
• Build partnerships with heritage, education, commercial and community sectors.

Skills

Organisational change leadership

Business planning

Financial modelling

Income generation

Stakeholder engagement

Strategic thinking

Education

Graduate qualification

Tools

PRINCE2 / MSP / APM

Governance

Job description

# Transformation Manager - The Chester House Estate## About the roleThe Chester House Estate is one of North Northamptonshire’s most significant heritage destinations. It sits within a scheduled ancient monument and brings together Roman, Saxon and medieval archaeology, historic listed buildings, the Northamptonshire Archaeological Resource Centre (ARC) and extensive grounds.Since opening in 2021, the estate has grown into a nationally award-winning destination. Its learning programme is accredited, the ARC is respected across the sector, and its calendar of weddings, events, festivals and community activity has made it a much-loved part of local life.We are now planning for the estate’s long-term future, and this new role will lead that next chapter. Supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund, an independent governance review has set out how Chester House can grow with greater flexibility and impact. The Council will keep ownership and oversight while an independent charitable Trust and a linked social enterprise are developed over time.Reporting to the Head of Culture, Tourism and Heritage, you will:* lead the 5-Year Master Plan for the estate, setting the vision, capital investment priorities and programming for the years ahead* take the governance review’s recommendations into practical delivery, including setting up the Trust and social enterprise* develop the business plan and five-year financial model, building on the estate’s strong income growth* grow income through fundraising, grants, sponsorship, membership and commercial partnerships* build partnerships across the heritage, education, commercial and community sectors* manage the Heritage Fund-supported programme and coordinate the specialist consultants supporting itThis is a strategic, hands-on role for a creative and commercially astute leader. You will have experience of leading change, strong business-planning and financial skills, a track record of generating income, and the ability to build confidence with teams, partners, funders and elected members.### What will you be doing?You will lead the next chapter of The Chester House Estate. You’ll build on everything achieved in its first five years and turn it into a long-term future, while protecting the estate’s heritage and public value. Your work will cover five main areas.**Leading the next phase*** Lead delivery of the estate’s development programme, maintaining a clear plan, milestones and risk management, and reporting progress to the project board and Head of Service.* Drive the phased hybrid / parallel governance model through its defined decision gateways, making sure each decision is well evidenced and properly prepared.* Progress the establishment of the charitable Trust and linked social enterprise, coordinating specialist legal and governance advice and the staffing and asset-ownership workstreams. Staff will remain employed by the Council.* Provide Council-side project management of the commissioned consultancy work supporting the transition.**Business planning and finance*** Develop and maintain the estate’s business plan and five-year financial model with Council finance colleagues.* Test options and scenarios to inform decisions, including the financial implications of the new governance model.* Build on the estate’s strong income growth to secure its long-term financial sustainability.**Shaping the estate’s future*** Lead the commissioning and delivery of the 5-Year Master Plan. It will set out the strategic vision, capital investment priorities and phasing, income ambitions, heritage and community programming, audience development and key milestones.* Make sure the Master Plan is co-produced with partners and stakeholders and builds on the visioning work already completed.**Income, audiences and partnerships*** Develop and deliver an income-generation strategy covering fundraising, grants, sponsorship, membership and commercial partnerships, setting and achieving income targets.* Grow audiences and build strategic partnerships across the heritage, education, commercial and community sectors.* Build on existing partnerships, including the University of Leicester and Creating Tomorrow College, and develop new relationships with funders, sponsors and investors.**People, programme and reporting*** Manage The National Lottery Heritage Fund-supported programme and other grant-funded activity, including budgets, reporting, acknowledgement, evaluation and financial monitoring.* Provide leadership and coordination across the estate’s teams and with consultants, keeping strategic priorities on track alongside day-to-day operations.* Prepare high-quality papers, options and recommendations for the project board, senior officers and elected members.* Act as an ambassador for The Chester House Estate and North Northamptonshire’s heritage at local, regional and national level.* Work within all Council policies, including procurement, subsidy control, financial and governance requirements, health and safety, safeguarding and GDPR.### About youYou will be a creative, commercially minded leader who can turn a good plan into real delivery. You’ll be at home with a financial model and a funder report, and just as comfortable walking the site with the team or making the case to councillors. Most of all, you’ll be excited by the chance to shape the long-term future of a much-loved heritage site.**We’d love to hear from you if you have:*** proven experience of leading organisational change or development, ideally in heritage, culture, tourism, charity or the public sector* strong business-planning and financial skills, including building and interrogating financial models and budgets* a track record of generating income through fundraising, grants, sponsorship and/or commercial development* an understanding of charitable structures, trading subsidiaries / CICs and governance* experience of building partnerships and engaging stakeholders, including senior leaders and funders* the ability to work independently and manage a complex, multi-strand programme to time and budget* excellent communication, influencing and report-writing skills, and the confidence to bring teams, senior officers and stakeholders with you* strategic thinking combined with practical, hands-on delivery* a relevant graduate qualification or equivalent experience, and a commitment to continuing professional development**It would be great if you also have:*** knowledge of the heritage and cultural sector and its funding landscape, including The National Lottery Heritage Fund* familiarity with local authority settings, procurement and subsidy control* experience of setting up or developing a charitable trust or social enterprise* experience of developing master plans or strategic plans for heritage, cultural or visitor attraction sites* a project or programme management qualification, such as PRINCE2, APM or MSPYou don’t need to tick every box. If you meet most of the essential criteria and are excited by the role, we’d encourage you to apply.### Our benefitsHere at North Northamptonshire Council, we’re transforming for the better, using all our creativity and imagination to create the best life for our local people.You’ll find that we have a wide range of careers that may be more surprising than you think!Why choose us?We offer a vibrant working environment with:* a competitive salary* a pension scheme, where we pay a significant contribution on top of your contribution. It provides life cover and ill-health protection.* lots of opportunities to develop your skills, knowledge and potential in a large unitary council* generous leave entitlement (28 days, rising to 33 days) and bank holidays, plus the option to buy up to an extra 10 days* hybrid and flexible working arrangements, where practicable for service needs to help you with a healthy work-life balance.We provide a range of great benefits such as an Employee Assistance Programme, an Employee Benefits Scheme, wellbeing support, travel rates at HMRC rates, as well as supporting a range of active Employee Network Groups.### About us**Our Values and Behaviours**Our values define who we are and how we operate, by forming the foundation for how we interact with our customers, colleagues and provide our services. They are also at the forefront of our decision making and delivery and are:Customer-focused Respectful Efficient Supportive TrustworthyOur key commitments help ensure that the priorities we make, now and in the future, maintain the necessary breadth of focus in those areas that we believe matter most.**Disability Confident Employer**We are proud to be a recognised Disability Confident Employer and is committed to providing an inclusive recruitment process and will offer an interview to disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role.Our Employment and Disability Service provides bespoke support to individuals facing barriers to employment, helping them work towards their goals to start, stay and succeed in employment. For further information please click here The Employment and Disability Service (EADS) | North Northamptonshire Council**Armed Forces Community**The council obtained the Gold status award for the Defence Employer Recognition Scheme (ERS).Further information can be found at Jobs and careers | North Northamptonshire Council (northnorthants.gov.uk)### Attached documents* Role ProfileApply+− OpenStreetMap contributors### Transformation Manager - The Chester House Estate* **Salary** £49917 - £53051* **Salary Frequency** Annual* **Working Hours** 37* **Job Reference** Ref/65895/9622* **Contract Type** Full Time* **Contract Details** Fixed Term - 2 Years* **Closing Date** 2 December, 2026* **Job Category** Culture and Leisure* **Location** The Chester House Estate , United Kingdom* **Job Posted Date** 2 November, 2026