Business Manager

at  Great Dixter House and Gardens

JOB DESCRIPTION: BUSINESS MANAGER

Reports to: CEO
Position: Permanent full-time 40 hours per week - 8am- 5pm Monday - Friday
Location: Great Dixter House & Gardens, Northiam, TN31 6PH
The Great Dixter Charitable Trust is a historic house and internationally famous garden which welcomes approximately 50,000 visitors a year and brings in an income of over £2,220,000. It is fortunate to be in a financially secure position. During the open season it employs between 70 and 80 staff and has approximately 50 volunteers supporting its work. Great Dixter provides free horticultural training for the head gardeners of the future, is passionate about experimental and creative horticulture and has led the way in gardening for biodiversity. The charitable work is supported by fundraising and income from admissions, a wide variety of educational courses, a Nursery, Shop and Café.
The Senior Management Team have worked closely with the Trustees to develop a one- and five-year strategy. This identifies the requirement to increase income from the commercial side of Great Dixter as well as place an emphasis on building income from fundraising. A large programme of restoration of the historic buildings is about to commence and there is the potential to improve the facilities for the shop and café.

QUALIFICATIONS

• A degree or equivalent in Business Management with relevant experience in the sector or a qualification by significant experience. An accountancy qualification is highly desirable but not essential.

EXPERIENCE

• Professional experience in business management including significant experience in a senior management role, preferably in an NGO / public environment
• Solid financial knowledge and acumen
• Experience of directing relevant operational and commercial activities.
• Proven track-record of setting and achieving high-quality, cost-effective results, with robust decision-making and problem-solving.
• Demonstrable success in developing innovative financial and business strategy, policy and implementation.

SKILLS AND ABILITIES

• Experience in the not-for-profit sector (desirable),
• Experience in the retail sector (desirable)
• Experience in charity governance and accounting (desirable)
• Strong analytical skills (essential)
• Experience in investment oversight (desirable)
• Excellent interpersonal skills with a positive attitude towards all stakeholders.
• Ability to lead, motivate, and manage diverse teams, fostering an inclusive, high-performing culture.

ABOUT THE ROLE

We’re looking for a highly skilled and visionary senior leader, with a proven track-record of business and financial management and the creation of robust and innovative financial and operational strategies. The Business Manager will be a member of the senior leadership team, entrusted with strategic responsibility and supervising day to day management of the commercial operations across the Great Dixter Charitable Trust including finance, management information, the shop, and café. The Business Manager must be a good manager of teams in commercial operations. The Business Manager will conduct rigorous analysis of financial data, trends and performance metrics to derive insights and offer recommendations for informed decision making.
This role is multifaceted and essential to uphold governance, provide expert advice to the Board of Trustees, and track progress towards strategic ambitions.
You will work closely with other teams to establish regular, clear, and consistent channels of communication at all levels within the organisation. You will build and maintain strong relationships with senior managers and their teams and will: improve the demonstration of the charity’s performance; influence decision-making; deliver analysis and insight on business opportunities, support options and scenario planning, and funding applications.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1. Key member of the senior management team, contributing to strategic planning, business planning, decision making, finance and operational function across the organisation.
2. Overseeing the organisation’s operational activities working closely with the marketing team to maximise revenue from the income generating departments whilst respecting the special sense of place and brand of Great Dixter.
3. Working closely with the CEO and the Senior Management Team in forming a retail and business strategy in line with the Great Dixter ethos.
4. Working closely with the CEO and the Senior Management Team to set budgets for the Great Dixter Charitable Trust.
5. Ensuring robust financial systems and processes throughout the Great Dixter Charitable Trust
6. Understanding and adhering to compliance, risk management and regulatory requirements. To ensure, in close collaboration with the CEO and Board of Trustees, ensuring the organisation complies with the Charities Act, company law and financial regulations including HMRC compliance.
7. Leading on budgeting, revenue tracking and projections.
   8 Working alongside members of the Finance and Management Committee ensuring a high level of financial management.
8. Offering analysis and financial expertise for any business development opportunities.
9. Driving the development of business opportunities across the Trust whilst respecting the historical values and special sense of place of Great Dixter.
10. Providing strategic, financial and managerial oversight for the managers of income generating departments– to include agreeing budgets, reviewing stock, reviewing offerings, analysing results and undertaking appraisals.
11. Supporting the development of the organisations fundraising strategy by providing figures and analysis.
12. Having financial oversight of major contracts and grants.
13. Producing annual budgets, regular forecasts and monthly management reporting in conjunction with the existing Finance Team.
14. Ensuring organisation wide adherence to financial regulations and HMRC compliance.
15. Ensuring information is available for reporting to the Charity Commission and other regulatory authorities and grant giving bodies.
16. To stand in for colleagues and undertake other duties as requested.
17. To act in accordance with the organization’s health and safety procedures.
18. To follow the Trust’s sustainability policy in the exercise of all duties.