Estate Manager

Organisation:
The National Trust for Scotland

Mar Lodge Estate is Britain’s largest National Nature Reserve made up of more than 29,000 ha of astonishing Scottish landscape: heather‑covered moorland, Caledonian pine forest, towering mountains and the Quoich wetlands, home to wading birds and otters.

The estate has a significant built heritage including multiple listed buildings, Mar Lodge, stable block offices, workshop complex, biomass, staff houses and redundant buildings. Attracting over 100,000 visitors per year, the estate has c200 miles of footpath and 7 scheduled ancient monument sites plus numerous other archaeological sites.

An exciting opportunity has arisen to join the team at the Trust as an Estate Manager at Mar Lodge Estate. This role is responsible for the planning and delivery of property and land management activities on Mar Lodge Estate, including Estate & Building Maintenance, Forestry, Deer Management & Commercial Stalking, and the Estate Ranger Service. Leading a multi‑discipline team of staff, the role is responsible for translating strategy through the management plan, into practical delivery across the entire property.

As a key part of the management team, the role will actively contribute to the development of future strategy on the Estate.

• Lead the teams managing property and land management activity, with accountability for:
• In conjunction with the Head of Mar Lodge Estate, plan, develop and deliver capital projects of significant scale.
• Actively contribute to strategy and management planning for the UK’s largest National Nature Reserve.
• Financial planning/delegated budget management and accountability across the above areas of operation.
• Manage a diverse range of stakeholder interests both internal and external, ensuring that the long term goals of the estate are communicated effectively, protecting the reputation of the Estate, and enhancing the reputation of NTS.
• Develop and deliver “Visitor Safety in the Countryside”; you will identify and manage risks in line with NTS policy and procedure and within the framework of Managing Visitor Safety in the Countryside. You will take responsibility for the actions of you and your team, ensuring a safe and secure working environment, compliant with relevant legislation.
• Monitor and report activity against the Mar Lodge Estate Management plan and report on work plan delivery against KPI’s.
• Accountable for Health & Safety management and SSoW across the estate. Instil a Health & Safety culture across the property, ensuring the team work within the property’s ‘Safe System of Work’ to reduce risk of incidents and accidents to volunteers, employees and visitors.
• Develop SOR’s for capital & maintenance works. Instruct and manage contractors to ensure works are completed as specified, within budget and on time, ensuring all statutory and regulatory requirements are adhered.
• Will regularly deputise for the Head of Mar Lodge Estate, and represent the property and organisation in regional and national forums.