National Trust
Visitor Operations Manager
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Summary
We’re looking for someone who’s calm under pressure and finds ways to help teams run efficiently and achieve the highest standards. If this sounds like you, we’d love you to join us as Visitor Operations Manager across the three National Trust properties of Antony House, Buckland Abbey and Cotehele,
This is a chance to make a real difference, welcoming and including people of all interests and backgrounds and helping to look after nature, beauty and history for everyone.
What It's Like To Work Here
The three properties, Antony House & Gardens; Buckland Abbey and Cotehele are three beautiful properties, two of which are situated in the Tamar Valley National Landscape, with Dartmoor National Park and many unspoilt beaches nearby. The properties are brimming with character, and are each located in stunning gardens as well as the estates at Buckland Abbey and Cotehele. The team pride themselves on providing superb customer service, and the family atmosphere amongst the team makes a very special place to work.
The role involves working across all three properties. Due to their location, it’s likely you will need your own transport to get between properties.
You will be required to undertake regular weekend working and bank holidays. You will be a part of the Duty Management rota.
For more information about our property please visit www.nationaltrust.org.uk/cotehele
What You'll Be Doing
You’ll have a key role in making sure that operational considerations and the needs and expectations of visitors are built into business plans and designs. You’ll lead from the front and champion the Trust’s values, ensuring everyone feels welcome and valued.
You’ll set the overall direction for how people experience a visit to Antony, Buckland Abbey and Cotehele, including the Mill at Cotehele, aiming for the highest standards in presentation and customer service. You’ll lead and line manage your teams based across the three properties, inspiring them to feel motivated, ambitious and always focused on helping people to enjoy their best possible visit.
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No two days will be the same. This is a busy and rewarding role in a supportive and inclusive environment.
You can view the full role profile for this role in the document attached. You don't need to have all 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.
You will be working regular weekends, bank holidays and undertaking Duty Management as a part of the rota across the three properties.
Who We're Looking For
We’d love to hear from you if you’re:
- experienced in leading and inspiring others, and working with a range of staff, volunteers and external partners
- a champion for inclusion and diversity
- skilled at creating and evaluating experiences and events for visitors, including those being run by external partners
- good at prioritising and delegating, empowering staff and volunteers at every level
- precise and observant, focused on excellent standards of presentation, interpretation and customer service
- able to think on your feet and adapt to change, working with others to solve problems and react to opportunities
- comfortable with managing budgets and resources to meet set targets
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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National Trust place
Buckland Abbey, Yelverton, PL20 6EY
Documents: Visitor Operations Manager - Grade 7.pdf
Requirements
- Compliance
- Eligibility to Work in the UK
Additional information
Closing Date: 11 October 2026
Interview Date: 27 October 2026
To apply for this vacancy simply click the 'apply' button in the top right hand side of the page.
If you need any help with your application, i.e. due to technical difficulties, please call us on 0370 240 0274 or email us at recruitmentenquiries@nationaltrust.org.uk
If you require an adjustment to the application process, for example due to disability or medical condition, please call us on 0370 240 0274 or email us at adjustments@nationaltrustjobs.org.uk and we'll support you as best as we can. For examples of how, please see our supporting you page.
Equal Opportunities Statement
The National Trust celebrates diversity and is committed to creating a fair and equal society, free from discrimination. You can read more about our commitment to inclusion and diversity here.
Safeguarding Statement
The National Trust is committed to a safe recruitment processes to help the organisation attract and appoint the right staff/volunteer for the role and responsibilities as set out in the vacancy advert. We will not accept applicants who are not suitable to work with children, young people or adults at risk. If you have any questions around your suitability for this vacancy, please contact the people service centre.
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