Recreation Operations & Growth Manager

Salary: £75,000 – £80,000 + Excellent BenefitsLocation: North West England

We are seeking a Recreation Operations & Growth Manager to lead the transformation of a large, nationally significant recreation and landholding estate. This is a rare opportunity to shape a high-profile visitor environment, drive commercial growth, and deliver meaningful environmental & community value.

The Opportunity

As the strategic lead for Recreation Operations & Growth Manager, you will set the long-term vision for a diverse outdoor estate, creating a high-performing, customer-focused and commercially sustainable recreation offer. Your leadership will directly influence how millions of visitors experience the natural environment.

You will develop the business model, lead a central team, grow revenue & ensure that visitor operations align with environmental protection, heritage, regulatory obligations & brand values.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

• Own & deliver the long-term strategy for the function
• Position as a credible, commercially ambitious & investable business area
• Lead the transition from cost centre to sustainable, income-generating business unit
• Ensure all activities safeguard and enhance nature, heritage, water safety, and community benefit

Team Leadership & Development

• Lead & develop a multi-disciplinary team across commercial, sourcing, marketing & visitor experience
• Build a high-performance, data-driven, customer-centric culture
• Provide coaching & direction to meet growth targets
• Operate effectively within a regulated environment

Commercial Growth & Delivery

• Set & manage income, commercial & performance targets
• Oversee commercial pipelines including new concessions, events, parking, water activities & visitor services
• Lead business cases, cost models, investment proposals & budget planning
• Ensure strong pricing strategies & revenue optimisation across all contracts
• Oversee tendering & delivery of landscape & access projects, with understanding of planning processes

Partnership & Stakeholder Management

• Manage relationships with operators, concessions, land agents, NGOs, local authorities & other strategic partners
• Build positive working relationships with regulators
• Ensure strong partner performance and consistent customer experience

Governance & Reporting

• Establish a clear governance framework for safety, finance, operations and land use
• Provide regular performance reporting to senior leadership
• Ensure alignment with broader corporate objectives

Skills & Experience Required

• Strong leadership experience in environmental, leisure, outdoor recreation, visitor attractions or estate management
• Proven track record in commercial growth and developing revenue-generating visitor propositions
• Experience managing multi-functional teams and complex external partnerships
• Strong financial acumen, with experience interpreting P&L and ROI cases
• Ability to balance commercial ambition with environmental, heritage and regulatory requirements
• Excellent communication, influencing and negotiation skills
• Experience in landscape delivery, planning processes and associated legislation is desirable

Benefits

• 26 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• Employer pension contribution
• Up to 20% performance-related bonus
• £5,000 car allowance