Head of Gardens & Parks

Salary range: £67,236 - £80,000

We are looking to recruit a Head of Gardens & Parks on a 2 year FTC

The gardens and parks in our care are some of the most iconic, and well-loved in England, Wales and Northern Ireland. We also place particular emphasis in the development of new or restored gardens and parks in urban settings, often in partnership. The National Trust takes great pride in caring for these historic and living works of art to an appropriate standard to serve a growing and broader audience, and to support the financial health of our charity.

The Head of Gardens & Parks will lead an organisation-wide initiative to make the most of these remarkable places and their ability to provide significant public benefit, inspiration, and delight. You’ll help us make a step-change in our ability to connect audiences with gardens and parks, bringing our conservation and engagement activity together in dynamic new ways which will resonate with 21st century audiences.

We’ve got passionate people in all our teams, and we’ve got so much more we want to achieve. We want everyone to feel welcome and enjoy access to our places, both retaining our large and loyal current audience, and reach new audiences in ways that are meaningful and to them.

The role is based at the Head office at Heelis in Swindon, but we are open to conversations about base location. We are also open to a mix of remote working and time in the office and the role will require regular travel visiting our regional teams at gardens and parks in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.  

You would have a small central team of direct reports but will work across the Trust and beyond with gardens and parklands advisors based regionally as well as property teams and external specialists. 

No two of our gardens are the same, and your day-to-day role will reflect that.

You’ll lead senior level relationships with key partners and build upon the external networks to ensure we are at the forefront of research and innovation, and engage with partners to ensure that NT gardens play a strong role in helping properties to thrive and reach their potential. As the Head of Profession for Gardens and Parks you will support a programme of CDP across the Trust developing creative approaches to maintaining and growing horticultural skills, working with others to help train and build the professional gardens community of the future. You will be client for a national programme exploring feasibility for investment in the development of 10-14 National Trust gardens to create new garden components and ‘destination’ gardens with the objective of delivering growth in visit numbers and membership, working with our national and regional teams.   

You’ll support the development of research into gardens and parks, particularly around sustainability and climate resilience and the meanings and purpose of our places. You’ll draw on audience insight and research to help inform new experiences for visitors. At a national level, you will be part of a heritage focussed team, but you’ll work closely with many others from Visitor Experience to Membership and Support, from Commercial to Communications.

You’ll have an impressive background working in horticulture and gardens management. You’ll be a collaborative and pragmatic team player with a creative approach to how you can work with teams to increase the public benefit of our gardens and parklands. You’ll have demonstrable experience of successful fundraising, working with external partnerships and supporting public programming to support audience engagement. You’ll have a commitment to long-term sustainability and a good awareness of climate resilience and mitigations you’ll recognise how to apply high presentation standards, care and maintenance, but not be afraid to support innovation and drive trials of new approaches.. Both a team player and a leader, you’ll not be phased by scale, be able to build strong internal and external networks, and to work in, and inspire, multi-disciplinary teams.

To be considered for the role, you will need to have: 

• Relevant professional qualification in horticulture or closely related discipline and/ or considerable practical experience
• A strong strategic vision about what could be achieved to increase the public benefit derived from gardens and parklands
• A track record in exceptional leadership skills, with the ability to motivate and inspire others
• Experience of fundraising and working with external partners to achieve shared goals
• A record of creating and driving strategic approaches across an organisation
• Stakeholder and partner management with influencing and negotiating skills
• Experience and understanding of the application of conservation principles in heritage settings
• An understanding of the potential of research, including audience research.

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 

•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

Click here to find out more about the benefits we offer to support you.