Director

An opportunity to lead a living masterpiece.

Step into a role where art, nature and history converge.

Painshill is much more than a historic landscape. It is a Grade I listed garden, an internationally celebrated masterpiece of the eighteenth century - an immersive "living painting" created by the visionary Hon. Charles Hamilton. Set across 160 acres, Painshill welcomes circa 180,000 visitors a year to walk the work of art and immerse themselves in the history of the landscape. With King Charles 111 as Patron, and a legacy shaped by over 40 years of careful restoration of this once lost garden, this is a place of both national significance and global admiration.

Now, we are seeking an exceptional Director to lead Painshill into its next chapter. This is a rare opportunity to shape the future of one of the United Kingdom's most remarkable landscape gardens. Working in close partnership with the Board of Trustees, you will safeguard Hamilton's vision while driving a forward-thinking strategy, elevating Painshill's profile as a world-class heritage destination and ensuring its long-term sustainability.

You will lead across every aspect of the organisation: inspiring a dedicated team of staff and volunteers; enhancing visitor experience throughout the landscape garden; and growing income through membership, fundraising, partnerships and commercial activity, to sustain both public engagement and conservation, opening up the transformative power of this extraordinary landscape to wider audiences for generations to come. From education programmes and community engagement to events, retail and filming, you will harness every opportunity to broaden Painshill's reach and impact.

We are looking for a strategic, inclusive, and enterprising leader - someone who combines commercial acumen with a genuine passion for heritage, culture, landscapes, horticulture - bringing credibility and the ability to inspire others around a shared purpose.

If you are ready to protect, champion and reimagine an extraordinary place for future generations, we would be delighted to hear from you.

Perrett Laver have been engaged to support on this appointment and will conduct an executive search process in parallel with the public advertisement of the role.

Applications can be submitted via Perrett Laver Vacancies quoting reference 8439 and should comprise a CV and covering letter, detailing how you fulfil the role description and person specification. The deadline for applications is 9am BST on Sunday 7th June 2026.

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