Site and Heritage Manager at MacDougall of Dunollie Preservation Trust

Working Hours: Full-Time 
Contract: Fixed Term – Until December 2027
Salary: £36,000
Location: Oban, Argyll and Bute
Closing date: 06/09/2026

About the Role

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced heritage professional with strong leadership, fundraising, and business management skills to lead Dunollie Museum, Castle & Grounds during a pivotal period of transformation.

Working closely with the Board of Trustees, you will balance heritage conservation with income generation, visitor engagement, and long-term sustainability, helping to shape the future of this unique heritage destination.

Key Responsibilities

As Heritage Site Manager, you will:

• Oversee all on-site operations, including funded projects, events, commercial activities, and the heritage offer.
• Develop and enhance the visitor experience across Dunollie Museum, Castle & Grounds.
• Lead, manage, and motivate a multidisciplinary team of staff and volunteers.
• Support and monitor grant-funded projects while identifying new funding and income-generation opportunities.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with funders, donors, partners, stakeholders, and local communities.
• Monitor budgets and financial performance, providing regular reporting against organisational objectives.
• Ensure the preservation and care of the site’s historic assets, collections, and museum standards.
• Support the strategic development and long-term sustainability of the organisation.

About You

We are looking for a candidate with:

• Significant management experience within the heritage, museum, cultural, or visitor attraction sector.
• A strong understanding of heritage conservation, museum operations, and visitor engagement.
• Proven experience in fundraising and grant management, including developing funding applications and reporting to funders.
• Excellent leadership and people-management skills, with the ability to inspire teams and build productive relationships.
• Strong analytical and financial management skills, including budgeting, performance monitoring, and strategic planning.
• Experience delivering projects, achieving targets, and supporting organisational growth and sustainability.
• A genuine passion for heritage and a commitment to making cultural history accessible to diverse audiences.

Why Join Us?

Dunollie Museum, Castle & Grounds holds a unique place within Scotland’s heritage landscape. This is a rare opportunity to lead a historic site with ambitious plans for the future, helping to preserve its legacy while ensuring it remains vibrant, resilient, and accessible for generations to come.

The Dunollie Preservation Trust (DPT) is currently entering an exciting period of transition, with plans to transform and develop new buildings, enhance the heritage, visitor, and learning experience, and lay the foundations for a new era.

This role offers the opportunity to make a lasting contribution to the future direction of the Trust while ensuring the continued success of its day-to-day operations.

How to Apply

If you are an experienced heritage professional with outstanding leadership skills, fundraising expertise, and a strategic mindset, we would love to hear from you.

Please submit the following by email to emma@dunollie.org:

• A current CV
• A covering letter outlining your suitability for the role and what attracts you to joining the team at Dunollie

Applications will be treated in the strictest confidence.

Recruitment Process

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend an initial interview at Dunollie with a recruitment panel.

Reasonable travel expenses incurred in attending interviews will be reimbursed, subject to prior agreement.