Head of Executive Office

Summary We’re looking for a Head of Executive Office to join our team on an 18-month fixed term contract. Reporting to the Strategy & Governance Director, you’ll work closely with them and the rest of the Strategy & Governance senior leadership team. Together you’ll help create the conditions that allow others to succeed across the organisation and deliver our new strategy.

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. What it's like to work here 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. 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 t you'll be doing Our Executive Office is well established and highly valued, with an engaged team that are well performing team committed to continuous improvement. Reporting to the Strategy & Governance Director, you’ll work closely together, with the Executive Team 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. 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.

You’ll lead the Executive Office, ensuring the team provide proactive, professional and high-quality support to the Director General and Chair. You’ll focus on building on the team’s success and continuing to develop capability. 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. 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…