Experience & Programming Manager

Summary

If you enjoy creating experiences that inspire people, tell powerful stories and help communities feel connected to important places, we’d love to hear from you.

We’re looking for a creative, audience led and commercially focused Experience and Programming Manager to shape how people visit and experience Heartlands and East Pool Mine. This is a rare opportunity to develop programmes, interpretation, partnerships and content that connect people with heritage, place and community, while helping us stay relevant to everyday audiences, encourage new visitors and support a flourishing future for the sites.

You’ll bring together storytelling, participation, audience insight, marketing and partnership working to create inclusive, engaging and memorable experiences. Just as importantly, you’ll think about how great programming can grow audiences, open up creative income opportunities and help Heartlands and East Pool Mine become vibrant, sustainable places that bring heritage and culture closer to communities.

Contract: Fixed term, 2 years

Hours: Full time, 37.5 hours per week

Working pattern: 7.5 hours a day, 5 days a week. Flexible weekend and bank holiday working may be required as the operation moves towards a 7 day offer.

Salary: Circa £31k

Interview date: Tuesday 25 August 2026

What it's like to work here

This role is based in Pool, Cornwall, working across two sites, Heartlands and East Pool Mine.

Heartlands is an eight hectare site at the heart of Cornwall’s mining heritage, bringing together historic buildings, green spaces and community facilities. Nearby, East Pool Mine cares for nationally important mining heritage within a World Heritage landscape.

The National Trust and our partner, Cornwall Rural Community Charity, are in negotiations to secure the lease for Heartlands with Cornwall Council. Together, we want to work with the local community to transform Heartlands into a vibrant place for opportunity, inclusion and experiences.

You’ll be joining a supportive and collaborative team where people, places and stories are at the heart of everything we do. This is a busy and evolving environment, used by visitors, the community, neighbours, partners, volunteers, tenants and colleagues, with huge potential to test new ideas and create experiences that feel meaningful, repeatable and sustainable.

What you'll be doing

You’ll lead the development and delivery of experiences, interpretation and programmes that help people connect with Heartlands and East Pool Mine. This could include events, activities, creative programmes, community led experiences, interpretation, digital content and campaigns that bring the sites to life in fresh and engaging ways.

You’ll use audience insight, visitor feedback and data to understand who already visits, who returns, who is not yet engaging, and how our offer can become more relevant, welcoming and accessible.

A key part of the role will be thinking creatively and commercially about programming. You’ll identify opportunities to generate income through events, partnerships, participation, hire, paid for experiences, repeatable programme models or other activity linked to the sites’ purpose and potential.

You will turn programmes, partnerships and stories into compelling content and campaigns. Helping the right audiences find and understand what’s on offer, you’ll support audience growth, repeat visits and help define the identity of Heartlands and East Pool Mine.

Partnership working will be central to the role. You’ll work with colleagues, communities, volunteers, creative practitioners, tenants, local organisations and external stakeholders to create activity rooted in place and shaped with people. You’ll also look for partnerships that bring shared value, whether through community benefit, joint programming, audience reach, skills, funding or earned income.

You’ll manage budgets, plans and resources carefully, making sure activity is well organised, safe, deliverable and evaluated. You’ll also lead and support others, helping the team and volunteers develop the confidence, skills and shared purpose needed to deliver memorable experiences that support both public benefit and sustainable growth.

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 for

We’re looking for someone who is imaginative, organised and collaborative, with the confidence to turn ideas into quality experiences. You’ll understand the value and impact of great storytelling, programming and participation.You’ll bring:• Experience creating compelling visitor experiences, including storytelling, interpretation, engagement activity, events, exhibitions, programmes or content that help people connect with place.• A strong understanding of audience led programming, using insight, feedback and data to shape inclusive, relevant and engaging experiences.• Commercial awareness, with the ability to identify how programming, partnerships, events and experiences can contribute to sustainable income generation.• Good knowledge of the cultural, heritage, visitor experience or creative programming landscape, including trends and effective audience engagement.• Strong partnership skills with the ability to bring people together around a shared purpose, with experience working with communities, volunteers, creative partners, stakeholders or external organisations.• Experience with marketing or communications including campaign planning, content development or audience engagement activity.• Strong project and budget management skills, including planning, prioritising, managing resources and delivering activity on time and within budget.We’re especially interested in people who can balance creativity with commercial understanding and practical delivery. If you can spot a good story, understand what different audiences need, work well with others and shape programmes that are meaningful, we’d love to hear from you.

The package

The 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

•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