Are you great with visitors, staff and volunteers and a keen problem-solver? Ever dreamed of working in a castle in the centre of the Lake District? If so, then we’re looking for a Welcome Manager to lead the operation at Wray, a parkland and castle set on the west shore of Windermere, and Tarn Hows, a busy car park leading to an accessible walk revealing majestic views of the iconic Lakeland fells. Internally, you'll be known as a 'Welcome Manager (Band 1)'.
Salary: £27,612 per annum
Contract Duration: This is a fixed-term contract due to end when the postholder returns to the role. At this point we cannot confirm exactly how long this contract will last, but it is unlikely to last beyond 29th October 2027.
Working Hours: You will work 37.5 hours per week, including regular weekend and school holiday working.
Proposed Start Date: Monday 12th October 2026
Interviews will take place in person on Monday 21st and Tuesday 22nd September at Wray, Ambleside, LA22 0JA. You will only need to attend one of these days.
If you would like to apply, please submit a CV and Covering Letter, detailing how you meet the criteria listed in the 'Who we're looking for' section below. Don’t be put off if you don’t meet everything we are looking for; you will be part of a supportive and experienced team who will be able to help you get up to speed. If you have any questions, or would like an informal chat about the role, please contact Amy Pitch, Visitor Operations & Experience Manager: [email protected]
We are also advertising for a second full-time cover role, IRC178857 - Welcome Manager at Ullswater. If applying for both positions, please mention this in your cover letter. Applications for each role must be submitted separately via NT Jobs, but you can use the same CV and cover letter for both.
What it's like to work here:You’ll be based at Wray, one of the most spectacular and ambitious villa estates in the Lake District. Created between 1840 and 1860 from open farmland, the estate includes a house in the Mock-Gothic form of a medieval castle, a church, a farm and boathouses, set in rolling lakeshore parkland.
Tarn Hows sits a few miles away from Wray, and its busy car park, toilets and coffee trailer provide the perfect jumping-off point for visitors wanting to absorb the majestic views of the high fells from the accessible path leading around the tarn.
You’ll be joining an experienced Visitor Operations team, directly line managing Welcome & Service Team Members, based at both Wray and Tarn Hows. You’ll also be working alongside other departments, including Site Manager, Visitor Experience Officer, Gardeners, Rangers, Business Services, Collections and Facilities.
As well as the property teams, you’ll be part of a wider ‘Lakes & Eden Properties’ network, collectively looking after an area of ownership stretching from Coniston Water to the Ullswater Valley. Along with Wray, other key visitor touch points include Hill Top, Allan Bank, Townend, Aira Force, Acorn Bank and Steam Yacht Gondola. These are some of the most iconic landscapes and places in the world, with 18 million people visiting the Lake District each year.
What you'll be doing:As the Property Operations Lead, you'll be accountable for the day-to-day management, visitor operations and compliance of Wray and Tarn Hows. This includes how we engage with visitors across the wider parkland, in our car park, and with those looking inside the castle.
You'll be expected to spend some of your time visitor-facing alongside your team, not just when cover is needed, and contribute to creating a positive, inclusive and collaborative work environment focused on delivering the Trust’s strategy.
Line managing the Welcome & Service Team Members, you'll provide support, champion training and personal development, and work closely with colleagues across departments to lead staff and volunteers in delivering excellent visitor service, presentation standards and conservation standards. Working with the Facilities team, you'll also liaise with contractors.
You'll have responsibility for key performance indicators (KPIs) across membership recruitment, fundraising, visitor experience and staff satisfaction at Wray and Tarn Hows. We want as many people as possible to join the National Trust, so membership recruitment will be a particular focus.
You'll carry out duty management as agreed locally, coordinate the duty management rota, and be prepared to get stuck in wherever needed to ensure the smooth running of the site.
You can view the full role profile for this role in the document attached. You don't need to have all the knowledge, skills and experience listed in the role profile; this is just to provide a full picture of what’s possible in this role.
Who we're looking forWe'd love to hear from you if you’re:
- experienced in visitor services, sales, tourism, heritage or similar situations
- naturally curious about people, and motivated to give the highest standards of service
- highly organised
- a confident leader, excited and motivated by change
- adept at managing financial performance
- up for a challenge, adaptable and responsive under pressure
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.
- 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
- 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
Requirements :Compliance.Eligibility to Work in the UK
Fixed Term f/t (37.5 hrs pw to 29/10/27)
