Collections & House Manager

We’re looking for someone who cares deeply about dynamic collections and house management, demands high standards, and believes in making beauty and history accessible to all, to join us as a Collections and House Manager in South Worcestershire. Primarily based at Croome Court, but supporting the team at The Firs, Elgar's Birthplace.

What it's like to work here

Croome is a 730 acre estate, designed for the 6th Earl of Coventry in the C18th by the celebrated Lancelot ‘Capability’ Brown, who designed not only the landscape but Croome Court and other buildings too. We have landscape gardens, woodland and parkland as well as a mile and ¾ long ornamental river to care for. At Croome we ask our visitors to ‘expect the unexpected’, presenting the house and park in a new and exciting way.

We strive to unlock the possibilities of Croome, balancing our twin aims of conservation and access, cultivating a culture of innovative, creative and dynamic interventions, programming and interpretation which celebrates the significance, beauty and value found in understanding and appreciating historic use, design and material culture. Croome does not stand still and we want to be a place for everyone, for the future.

What you'll be doing

You will be a key member of the South Worcestershire leadership team and ensure operational efficiency, championing conservation, cultural heritage and the creative programme; working flexibly with other departments to achieve shared goals. Leading by example, you’ll instill a culture of excellent and inclusive service, engaging everyone with conservation, interpretation and the values of the Trust.

You'll lead the house team, which includes two Collections and House Officers and three Collections Assistants and over 150 volunteers. You’ll support them all to care for the collections, manage the daily opening of the house, provide a consistently excellent experience for visitors and achieve outstanding standards in conservation, presentation and compliance.

Croome Court has undergone a significant conservation project which also experimented with presentation and creativity, concluding in 2018. We are now moving on from a project way of working to how we work day to day. We have no set rooms or static displays; Croome aims to be truly audience led and the Collections and House Manager will lead the team, alongside the Creative Producer, to deliver our biennial programme of dynamic collection display and creativity.

Our house experience and conservation volunteers are enthusiastic and will look to you to engage them in what we do in South Worcestershire, developing their skills and providing an indoor volunteering experience that’s as flexible and inclusive as possible.

Who we're looking for

We'd love to hear from you if you’re:

1. experienced in achieving high standards of presentation, customer care, compliance and collections management in a historic setting
2. aware of current developments and approved practices in the heritage sector in the field of visitor engagement, innovation and access
3. keen to promote inclusivity and diversity in the interpretation and presentation of history
4. someone who can remain resilient and positive while managing colleagues, changes and challenges
5. able to build strong and effective working relationships with diverse people
6. experienced in managing people and achieving goals through others.

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
• 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