Head of Executive Office

The National Trust’s commitment is “For everyone, for ever.” Bringing that promise to life starts with the people that work here. It means building teams with a diverse range of backgrounds, cultures, and experiences. It means creating an inclusive environment where everyone can thrive. Our positions are open to all, and we welcome applications from all backgrounds to support our ambitions of reflecting the communities we serve and ending unequal access.

We’re looking for a Head of Executive Office to join our team on an 18-month fixed term contract to lead and develop a successful team that supports the Director General and helps ensure their time, focus and energy are directed towards the organisation’s most important priorities.

In this strategic leadership role, you’ll have responsibility for coordinating activity, building alignment across teams and enabling effective decision-making at the highest level. You’ll focus on building on the team’s success and continuing to develop capability.

What it's like to work here

Our Executive Office is well established and highly valued, with an engaged team that are performing well and committed to continuous improvement. Reporting to the Strategy & Governance Director, you’ll work closely together, with the Director General and senior leaders across the organisation, helping create the conditions that allow others to succeed. This is a role for someone who enjoys bringing people together, building trusted relationships and enabling great work behind the scenes.

Your contractual location will be our head office in Swindon. However, we operate a hybrid approach to working and expect colleagues to spend 40-60% of their working week at a National Trust location. There is flexibility within this framework, and the specific working pattern for this role will be discussed in more detail at interview.

What you'll be doing

You’ll lead the Executive Office, ensuring it provides proactive, professional and high-quality support to the Director General. You’ll oversee the planning and coordination that enables the Director General to focus on strategic priorities, key relationships and opportunities that deliver the greatest organisational impact.

You’ll manage the Director General’s external impact planning, helping to balance competing demands on time and ensuring engagement activity aligns with organisational priorities. You’ll ensure the team prepares the Director General for meetings, events and external engagements through high-quality briefings, planning and coordination.

Working as an integrated part of the Strategy & Governance senior leadership team, you’ll help maintain a view of priorities across the directorate, bringing together plans, identifying dependencies and supporting collaboration. You’ll lead projects and initiatives that improve organisational effectiveness, oversee special pieces of work and continue to develop a capable and high-performing Executive Office team.

Who we're looking for

You’ll bring a broad range of the following knowledge, skills and experience, shaped by different roles, sectors or career paths, and the judgment to apply them effectively at scale;

• Experience leading a Chief Executive’s Office, Executive Office or similar function within a large and complex organisation, providing support to senior organisational leadership.

• Judgement and decision-making skills, with the ability to prioritise competing demands and make informed decisions on behalf of senior leaders.

• Collaborative relationship-building and influencing skills with the ability to build trust and work effectively with Executive Directors, senior leaders and external stakeholders.

• Well-developed leadership skills with experience of developing diverse teams and creating an inclusive culture where different perspectives are valued.

• Experience managing competing organisational priorities and exercising sound judgement in the allocation of senior executive time and attention.

• Ability to maintain discretion, resilience and professionalism when working with highly sensitive information and high-profile stakeholders.

The package

• 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