National Trust
Estate Manager
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About the Role
We’re looking for an experienced Agricultural Estate Manager to manage and shape our rural portfolios across London & Surrey. This role is central to ensuring that land, buildings and natural assets are managed sustainably, delivering positive outcomes for people, place and the environment while optimising long-term value. You will take ownership of estate management plans, oversee tenancy arrangements, and work collaboratively with a wide range of stakeholders to support strategic priorities, including nature recovery, environmental sustainability and community benefit.
You’ll oversee a diverse mix of agricultural holdings and open countryside, working closely with tenants and partners to manage day-to-day operations and help set the future direction of our estates.
Contractual location: Polesden Lacey
Salary: £55,000 (depending on experience)
Essential: MRICS (rural pathway)
What it's like to work here
This role spans some of the National Trust’s most varied landscapes, from the Surrey Hills, Polesden Lacey and Hatchlands to the River Wey and into London at Runnymede, Ankerwycke and Osterley.
You’ll join a collaborative and purpose-driven estate management team bringing together expertise across estate management, conservation and rural practice. Working closely with local and national colleagues to achieve shared goals. The environment is supportive and inclusive, encouraging diverse perspectives and innovative thinking. You will work alongside specialists, managers and external partners, contributing to meaningful projects that balance commercial, environmental and social outcomes while caring for special places for everyone to enjoy.
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This role covers the London & Surrey regions so your contractual place of work will be Polseden Lacey. Our hybrid working policy means you can balance office and home working with site visits and meetings at other National Trust places. We’ll talk about this in more detail at interview, but you should expect to be at a National Trust site for 40–60% of your working week.
What you'll be doing
You’ll manage a diverse agricultural portfolio under AHA, FBT and licence agreements, acting as the main contact for tenants and handling negotiations including rent reviews and lease renewals. You’ll implement estate plans, manage budgets, and identify opportunities to improve performance and diversify land use. Working with internal and external partners, you’ll support agri-environmental initiatives and provide technical guidance, contributing to wider regional objectives and the long-term sustainability of the estate. This is a role where you will combine your professional expertise with strategic thinking, helping to shape the long-term future of these landscapes.
You can view the full role profile for this role in the document attached. You don't need to have all of the knowledge, skills and experience listed in the role profile; this is just to provide a full picture of what’s possible in this role.
If you would like to speak to someone about this vacancy, please contact Sarah.Archer@nationaltrust.org.uk.
Who we're looking for
We’d love to hear from you if you have:
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- Full membership of RICS (rural pathway) – Essential
- Estate management professional with strong knowledge of land use, agriculture, and sustainable development.
- Proven ability to analyse and resolve complex estate management issues.
- Strong communication, organisational, influencing and negotiation skills, with a focus on building effective relationships.
- Skilled at interpreting research and applying it to practical estate management outcomes.
- Innovative and commercially aware, able to identify opportunities and deliver solutions within budget constraints.
The package
The National Trust has the motto ‘For everyone, for ever’ at its heart. We’re working hard to create an inclusive culture, where everyone feels they belong. It’s important that our people reflect and represent the diversity of the communities and audiences we serve. We welcome and value difference, so when we say we’re for everyone, we want everyone to be welcome in our teams too.
- Substantial pension scheme of up to 10% basic salary
- Free entry to National Trust places for you, a guest and your children (under 18)
- Rental deposit loan scheme
- Season ticket loan
- EV car lease scheme (for roles that meet the salary criteria)
- Perks at work discounts such as gym memberships, shopping discount codes, cinema discounts
- Holiday allowance up to 32 days relating to length of service, plus holiday purchase scheme, subject to meeting minimum criteria.
- Flexible working whenever possible
- Employee assistance programme
- Free parking at most Trust places
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