Are you passionate about connecting people with the outdoors and caring for nature? With 6000 acres of coast and countryside, the South Downs Central team cover an exciting portfolio of properties.

This maternity cover is a fantastic opportunity to try your hand at leading an ambitious team in caring for some of the most wooded stretches of the South Downs and some of the most loved coastal stretches on the West Sussex coastline.

This is a fixed term contract. The role will last 12 months from your start date and ends when the previous employee returns from maternity leave, including hand over time.

Interviews will be held on the 6th February.

What it's like to work here:Reporting to the General Manager, you'll look after properties in the South Downs National Park as well as two coastal sites within Chichester Harbour AONB.

You’ll lead a team of 6 rangers and 50 volunteers based at Slindon Estate Yard.

As part of the team, you'll play your part in the ‘on call’ and weekend working rotas.

• What you'll be doing:Implementing the vision for each property with other key internal stakeholders, considering their history and importance for nature as well as visitor needs
• Undertaking practical nature conservation, land management and coordinating high standards of presentation.
• Encouraging good communication with our dedicated volunteer teams, visitors and the public.
• Working collaboratively to identify funding and resources to deliver enhancements, improvements, and projects.
• Managing estate budgets and collaborating with the General Manager and other teams to share project budgets.
• Setting and leading standards relating to environmental practice, in line with the National Trust's values.
• Responsible for compliance including the health and safety of your team, tree safety, and environmental management.

Who we're looking forWe'd love to hear from you if:

• You have good knowledge of land, conservation and access management
• You put people first: including your team, colleagues, volunteers, or visitors, you are naturally people focussed and a great communicator.
• You see the big picture: you can balance different priorities, needs and levels of significance.
• You know that little details make a big difference: you have high standards and you lead your team to strive for the same.
• You are both a leader and a great teammate: you’ll encourage your team and work closely with your colleagues to achieve collective goals.
• Confident handling budgets, finances and contracts
• Knowledgeable of health and safety and compliance issues relating to countryside and visitor activities

The packageThe 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.

• Flexible working whenever possible

• Free parking at most locations

• Free entry to our properties for you, a guest and your children (under 18)

• Substantial pension scheme of up to 10% basic salary