Estate Manager

A Grade II listed Victorian mansion set in extensive landscaped gardens and woodland in London is seeking an Estate Manager to lead its operation.

Held in trust as an independent registered charity, the estate welcomes hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. Alongside the house and gardens there are visitor facilities, event spaces and commercial tenancies, with income generated through venue hire, weddings, catering, hospitality and filming, all of it reinvested in the estate for public benefit.

The opportunity

The Board of Trustees is looking for a hands-on leader to take the estate forward at a point they describe as the strongest position it has ever been in.

This is a broad, visible role. You will hold full operational and commercial responsibility for the estate; driving income across events, weddings, catering, café operations and location hire, managing budgets alongside the Treasurer, and identifying new revenue opportunities. You will oversee the maintenance and long-term asset management of a listed building and its grounds, lead the on-site team including finance, café and events management, and build the relationships with members, volunteers, local businesses and the wider community that the estate depends on.

Equally, you will protect what makes the place what it is; balancing commercial growth against heritage character, and managing the line between public access and the house's identity as a private, listed home. Governance, compliance and safeguarding sit with you, supporting the trustees through the annual policy review and AGM.

What we're looking for

• Proven hands-on experience across events, catering and hospitality; heritage, venue or community settings are ideal
• Strong commercial instincts, with a track record of managing budgets and building new income streams
• Experience building and developing a team, with a focus on consistency, service and motivation
• Confidence working with a Board of Trustees
• A collaborative, relaxed leadership style with genuine warmth; this role is fundamentally about people

Experience in the charity, heritage, cultural or visitor attraction sectors is welcome, as is working alongside volunteers and community stakeholders. A curiosity about history and comfort in a compliance-sensitive historic environment will serve you well.

The package

• 5 days from 7 worked flexibly and including weekends
• On-site, with excellent transport links

Please note this appointment is set to start in March 2027.

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