t's managed to survive without one for five millenia, but the owners of Stonehenge are now on the lookout for a general manager to run famous World Heritage Site.
The successful candidate, whose 'office' will be the giant pre-historic stone circle in Wiltshire, will be required to oversee the 5,000-year-old monument's 'exciting new future'.
Owners English Heritage have described the site currently as a 'miserable and desperate' experience for tourists, with Portakabins housing the visitors' centre.
Stonehenge is seeking a general manager for the first time in the monument's 5,000-year history to oversee its 'exciting new future'
The successful candidate will be required to spend some of their time mingling with visitors at the World Heritage Site, while the rest of the time will be spent at the new visitors' centre
But a new £27million museum and exhibition gallery and large restaurant will open by the end of this year about a mile away from the stones.
Regular land train rides will ferry the tourists to the site while part of the A344 that runs alongside it will be closed for good and the landscape returned to how it used to look.
English Heritage has said it is now looking for a 'dynamic and inspirational' person to ensure the tourists have a memorable visitor experience in the future.
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The full-time job, which has a £65,000-a-year salary, requires the successful candidate to spend some of their time at the World Heritage Site mingling with the visitors.
The other half of the time will be based at the new visitors' centre in charge of 80 employees and 100 volunteer staff.
Tim Reeve, English Heritage's historic properties director, said: 'This is not your average job and not your average office.
Revellers gather at the World Heritage site at Stonehenge in Wiltshire to watch the sunrise during the summer solstice
Stonehenge currently has a turnover of £8m-a-year, of which £6m is profit. After the new facilities are open, a profit margin of £11m-a-year is predicted
'We need someone very special to manage Stonehenge into its exciting new future which includes the opening of a brand new visitor centre and exhibition galleries.
'The successful candidate will spend some of their time being on the frontline at the monument.
'They will need to talk to the visitors and understand what they are doing and what their feedback is and generally make sure people are having a good visitor experience.
A MYSTERIOUS AND RELIGIOUS SITE
The prehistoric monument of Stonehenge is one of the most famous sites in the world.
The circular earth bank and ditch which surrounds the site is believed to be the earliest part of the monument, dating back to about 3100BC.
Evidence found by archeologists indicated that Stonehenge could have been a burial ground from its earliest beginnings. Cremated human remains have been found on the site.
The site has always been a place of religious significance, particularly by Neo-druids.
There are many conspiracy theories and mysteries surrounding Stonehenge. This includes that the monument was constructed by the wizard Merlin.
Historically, many believed that the rocks at Stonehenge were healing rocks, brought from Africa by Giants.
'Equally, they will also need to be at the visitors' centre and having an overview of the running of that facility and the staff working there.
'We are looking for someone who has experience with managing large numbers of people and managing a high volume visitor attraction.
'As well as being commercially astute, they will also need to be culturally sensitive as Stonehenge is an ancient, protected monument.
'Stonehenge receives a million plus visitors each year, including the tens of thousands who celebrate the sun-rise there every Summer Solstice.'
Currently, visitors are charged up to £8 to access Stonehenge but that will go up to £13.95 once the new centre opens.
Stonehenge has a turnover of £8m-a-year, of which £6m is profit.
After the new facilities are open, a profit margin of £11m-a-year is predicted.
The new general manager will be part of English Heritage's pension scheme and be given free passes to all of the 400 sites in the UK it is responsible for.
The closing date for job applications is May 5.
Owners English Heritage have described the site as currently a 'miserabe and desperate' experience for tourists