General Manager

About The Role

We are seeking an outstanding leader to manage and drive the performance of our award winning visitor attraction and wetland nature reserve in Slimbridge, Gloucestershire. Slimbridge is where wetland conservation began some 80 years ago with the founding of WWT – the wetland charity.

This is a genuine opportunity to shape this amazing attraction, not just run it. Reporting into WWT’s central operations leadership, you will take full responsibility for the day to day operations leading a dedicated team of more than 60 staff and 250 volunteers to deliver our ambitious financial, visitor engagement and conservation objectives for the centre. In addition you will lead an exciting master-planning process working in collaboration with colleagues in the operations directorate, central leads and centre staff to deliver a plan that sets the site up for success over the next decade and unlocks significant funding.

WWT Slimbridge offers an amazing day out and a wonderful introduction to wetland wildlife and it is your responsibility to provide an unforgettable experience on each and every visit. Visitors can experience the spectacle of tens of thousands of wild birds, immerse themselves in wetlands teaming with life and get close to some of the world’s most amazing wetland birds and mammals. The site features adventure and water play areas, canoe safari, interactive exhibits and walk-through aviaries in addition to over 800 acres of wetland reserve with wildlife viewing hides, including a three-storey tower with magnificent views of the Severn Estuary.

The role has responsibility for all aspects of the site – working closely with the centre’s senior leadership team you will deliver excellence across the areas of trading and admissions, visitor experience and engagement, learning and marketing, living collections and the wetland reserve – a Ramsar wetland site, Special Protection Area (SPA) and Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) on account of its internationally important wetlands. WWT’s charity headquarters are also based at the Slimbridge site, and you will work closely with the team, jointly contributing to the delivery of WWT’s Wetlands are the way 2030 strategy.

This is a full time position working 37.5 hours per week, 5 days from 7.

About You

To be a success in this role you must be an experienced and professional manager and a great leader, comfortable with both operational delivery, visible on the floor leadership and the ability to input strategically at the highest level. You should be strong on financial and business numeracy, comfortable owning the P&L and able to deliver against ambitious and motivating targets while maintaining day-to-day performance.

You will have impeccable standards for cleanliness, health & safety and the visitor experience and a track record for building team performance and morale.

It is a busy and varied role and we are looking for someone with a wealth of experience and proven track record in a similar visitor attraction environment and you are now looking for your next role to be part of an organisation that has a very special place in people’s hearts.

Essential criteria:

• Educated to degree standard or equivalent
• Demonstrable and successful operations experience within a large visitor attraction or similar operation
• Demonstrable leadership skills, able to positively lead, motivate and continually develop teams and individuals, including volunteers
• Demonstrable ability to create a positive work culture in line with an organisation’s agreed values and behaviours, work collaboratively at all levels and lead by example
• Demonstrable and successful people management with experience in recruitment, training, motivation and performance management
• Demonstrable experience of identifying and developing commercial opportunities
• Demonstrable experience of the development and implementation of financial management plans, work programmes and budget controls
• Demonstrable experience of developing and delivering a masterplan or strategic plan and project management experience

Please view the full job description for all the responsibilities and specifications for the role.

About Us

We’re WWT, and we’re on a mission to restore the super-powered ecosystems we call wetlands. There’s never been a more important moment for our work, and we’ve got some phenomenal people on the case.

Whether they’re taking a new visitor under their wing, or conducting ground-breaking research further afield, our team are second to none. And there’s nothing we love more than watching them soar.

Whatever you do here, you’ll be helping to restore wetlands and unlock their power. So, the only question left is, what role will you play?

Why you’ll love working at WWT

• Wake up every day knowing your work is helping to restore wetlands, and our world
• Be surrounded and inspired by our team of passionate, dedicated people
• 33 days annual leave (which goes up to 38 days after 5 years of service) – this includes bank holidays and you have flexibility to take those days whenever you want
• Free entry to all our wetland centres, including your family
• Free car parking and secure bike storage areas
• Colleague discount on shopping and memberships
• Cycle to work scheme
• Contributory pension scheme
• Life Assurance of three times your salary, for peace of mind for your loved ones
• Independent personal, workplace and financial advice from our Employee Assistance Programme

WWT is an equal opportunities employer and all applications will be considered solely on merit.