Recreation Operations & Growth Manager
Salary: £75,000 – £80,000 + Excellent Benefits
Location: 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