Properties Manager, (Museums and Gardens) South Region

National Trust of Australia (NSW)

Location: Sydney or Southern Highlands region

Job Type: Part-time

Sectors: Arts, Culture, Heritage,

Reports to: General Manager Properties, South

Hours of Work: 21hrs/week

Salary Package: $100.2k FTE inclusive of super and leave loading, pro rata for part-time hrs, plus travel allowance (amount depends on location)

Overview

The National Trust of Australia (New South Wales) is Australia’s leading heritage conservation organisation, a not-for-profit, community-based charity in operation for more than 75 years. Our vision is to bring the heritage of New South Wales to life now and into the future.

The National Trust is seeking an experienced Properties Manager to provide management, co-ordination, and operational support to four (4) National Trust NSW regional properties that are either managed by a Volunteer Management Committee, volunteers at the properties generally or have casual staff performing work at those properties.

This is a unique role that will work alongside the regional properties to build and support their overall operation including day to day administration and volunteer coordination of a range of activities including venue hire, public programming, education and coordination and support for events and other property activities.

This role will also provide administrative support to the General Manager Properties, South, across all properties in the portfolio.

The right candidate for this role will need to have exceptional people skills, be invested in the vision of the National Trust and able to work with and engage the volunteer-led properties in all aspects of successfully running a cultural attraction.

This is a practical hands-on role, and you must have had prior experience in working with multiple groups of volunteers and be prepared to travel. You will be a mentor to the volunteers, with a passion for developing your people and an understanding of the challenges and rewards that come from working for a Not-for-Profit.

About the Role

Reporting to the General Manager Properties, South, your key responsibilities will include:

Co-ordinating and supporting the casual staff, Volunteer Management Committees and volunteers in all aspects of the operation and visitor experience of the properties within the portfolio

Assisting the Volunteer properties and the General Manager Properties, South in all areas of budgeting and financial management

Supporting the General Manager Properties, South on a range of administrative tasks such as reconciliation of property invoices, coordination of group bookings, events and management of property emails

Assisting the General Manager Properties, South to engage and negotiate with both internal and external stakeholders to improve visitation, access grant funding and implement a sustainable commercial strategy for each property

Assisting the General Manager Properties, South in working with these properties to develop public programming for a variety of audiences, including the delivery of events, exhibitions and education programmes

Upholding the National Trust governance requirements and ensuring key requirements are communicated across the portfolio

Exercising due diligence to ensure work, health and safety risks and other legislative compliance requirements are addressed

This role will also work closely with the Conservation Department, which is responsible for property and collections conservation, curation and maintenance.

About you

You will be highly organised with the ability to multi-task across geographically diverse locations. You must be able to constantly triage your workload without losing sight of deadlines and be nimble enough to shift priorities as required.

You will also have:

Strong inter-personal skills, and the ability to communicate and engage with all levels of the organisation, especially our volunteers

Operational experience in managing a multi-site cultural attraction, including financial acumen and an ability to interpret performance and report against budget.

Strong problem-solving capabilities with an excellent attention to detail and an ability to be responsive to the needs of the properties under your direction

Empathy and understanding of the challenges facing regional properties

Ability to lead and engage a diverse group of stakeholders, with particular reference to management of volunteers

The ability to be professional and remain calm under pressure

Relevant tertiary qualifications in a discipline related to the operation of a cultural attraction such as Cultural Tourism, Education, Museum Studies, Heritage Conservation, or other relevant discipline

Class C driver’s license and a willingness to travel on a regular basis to the various regional locations

Current NSW Working with Children Check number (WWCC)

We’re looking for someone who understands the importance of a regional cultural attraction to the wider community, enjoys engaging and supporting our volunteers and has a genuine desire to actively promote and celebrate the importance of our built, cultural and natural heritage. We offer a flexible work environment and a great workplace culture that is focused on bringing the heritage of New South Wales to life for future generations.

You must have the right to live and work in Australia to apply for this job.

For a full position description or any enquiries call: 02 9258 0159 or email [email protected]. To apply, submit your CV together with a covering letter addressing the key accountabilities to: [email protected]

Closing date: Sunday 31 August 2025