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Summary

This is an exciting opportunity to work right in the heart of Birmingham leading a small, highly engaged team of staff and volunteers who bring to life the ordinary and extraordinary stories of the working people who lived in the last of the city’s 30,000 back to back courts. If you love working with people, are practical with a strong attention to detail, and relish the prospect of leading a team in creating a consistently brilliant, welcoming and memorable experience for all our visitors, then this could be the role for you.

Join us at our Recruitment Open Evening on 18th February 2019 at the Back to Backs, Birmingham from 5pm till 7.30pm

What it's like to work here

Not your average National Trust experience, the Birmingham portfolio includes a range of places, outdoor spaces and new partnerships – all of which speak of the ordinary and extraordinary lives of the people of Birmingham and the Black Country, and the places that are part of the city’s identity.

The Back to Backs is the last surviving of Birmingham’s 30,000 back to back courts, originally built in the 19th century for working people, many of whom came to the city from all over the world. Telling the story of migration to Birmingham, visitors can catch a glimpse into the lives of former residents of these overcrowded houses, including George Saunders from St Kitts in the Caribbean, who owned a tailor’s shop in Court 15 from 1970 – 2001.

The Clent Hills are an important ‘green lung’ for the people of Birmingham and the Black Country, offering miles of footpaths, bridleways, easy access trails and breath taking panoramic views over the Cotswolds, Shropshire Hills and Welsh borders.

The Birmingham team is also undertaking a number of projects that are at the forefront of the National Trust’s emerging strategy for urban places. This is about working beyond our boundaries and exploring ways to work with new partners to protect and bring alive the heritage and green spaces that are important to local communities in urban areas. Our Green Academies Project gives young people skills and opportunities to care for their local green spaces and look after nature on their doorstep. At Moseley Road Baths we are leading a coalition of heritage and community partners to work with Birmingham City Council to find a new future for the internationally significant Grade II* baths in Balsall Heath. The Roundhouse is a pioneering National Lottery-funded joint venture with the Canal and River Trust to bring an important Birmingham landmark back to life as a place from which to explore the city by foot, bike and boat. Working with heritage organisations across the city, we plan to increase our support for Birmingham Heritage Week and Heritage Open Days.

With the Trust’s involvement in these inspiring projects, and even more opportunities on the horizon, this is an exciting time to join the Birmingham team.

What you'll be doing

You’ll be vital to the success of the Birmingham Back to Backs, and you’ll quickly work out what makes this small, but perfectly formed, place tick. It’s a busy and thriving site right in the heart of the city, and we welcome over 32,000 visitors each year. We want to give everyone we come into contact with the best possible experience of the Back to Backs and the National Trust. With this in mind, you’ll inspire and lead your team of staff and volunteers with enthusiasm, bringing out the best in everyone by creating a dynamic, supportive culture, and working closely with your colleagues as part of the wider Birmingham team. You’ll make sure we’re working towards our shared goals as well as our individual objectives.

You’ll be responsible for all aspects of the business: this includes managing the staff and volunteer team; leading for outstanding customer service and efficiency to ensure that every visitor is well looked after; ensuring a great visitor experience and that presentation standards are high; making sure our conservation needs are met; accountability for designated budgets (including commercial income, wages, membership targets and projects) and ensuring compliance. You’ll take on Duty Management alongside the staff team.

You’ll work closely with the General Manager in making sure we are moving forward with the National Trust’s vision for heritage in an urban setting. This means developing our visitor audience, welcoming more people in more ways, connecting with our local communities and being a good partner within the city. You’ll be a forward-facing steward of our important relationships within Birmingham and be willing to try new things to make more of what we have to offer.

Who we're looking for

To be fantastic in this role, you’ll need to have the following;

  • Excellent leadership and people management skills
  • A commitment to delivering an outstanding visitor experience
  • Enthusiasm and drive, with the ability to influence and inspire your team
  • A commercial and results focused approach with experience in achieving stretching commercially-oriented targets
  • Good written and verbal communication skills including presenting and influencing
  • Demonstrable practical experience of managing a busy visitor or customer-focused operation
  • Experience managing budgets, finances, small projects and contracts
  • Experience working with teams of volunteers
The package

Benefits include flexible working whenever possible plus free parking at most locations. You’ll be entitled to discounts in high street stores and cinemas, National Trust shops and NT cafes, and have free entry to NT properties for you, a guest and your children (under 18).

Your health and wellbeing is important to us and is supported through generous annual leave and the option to buy additional days (minimum contract length applies), a cycle to work scheme, subsidised health cash plan and confidential access to a free support service 24 hours a day should you need it.

Your future financial health is helped by an employer matched - up to 10% of basic salary - contributory pension scheme and you can further your career with training and development tailored to you.

All of this and the opportunity to give something back to your community with up to 5 days of paid volunteering per year!

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