General Manager - Newcastle upon Tyne

Activate Studio; Newcastle upon Tyne; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 40,000; Full time

Job summary

An exciting opportunity awaits at a cutting-edge gaming facility in Newcastle upon Tyne, where a dynamic General Manager will lead a vibrant team to deliver unforgettable experiences. This role demands a charismatic leader who thrives in a fast-paced environment, ensuring guest safety and satisfaction while driving operational excellence. With a focus on coaching and mentoring, the ideal candidate will possess strong business acumen and a passion for gaming. Join a forward-thinking company committed to creating a fun-filled adventure for guests and a supportive workplace for staff.

Qualifications

• Experience in general management within the leisure/hospitality industry.
• Strong operational understanding and knowledge with tech-savvy skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead and inspire a team in a high footfall environment.
• Ensure adherence to health and safety standards and operational performance.

Skills

General Management experience

Tech-Savvy

Strong Operational Understanding

People Management Skills

Business Acumen

Job description

General Manager - Activate Metro (Newcastle upon Tyne)

Activate is a live-action high-tech gaming adventure, designed to challenge all skill levels. We simply supply the experience, you bring the action. Enter the game where you become the player in the world’s first active gaming facility. Jump, climb, problem-solve and laugh, as you and your friends move between challenges. Each dynamic game room has interactive technology that reacts in real time, ensuring an adrenaline-filled adventure.

Activate is coming to Newcastle upon Tyne, Summer 2025. We are now recruiting for a General Manager to lead our operation!

Are you bubbly, energetic and hands on? Do you like to coach and mentor your team? Can you lead by example? Do you love gaming? Do you love competition? If so, you’re in the right place!

Job Overview

Reporting into the National Operations Manager and with circa 20-30 direct reports you will lead, inspire and create an environment where we “Create Unforgettable Experiences One Guest at a Time” for the thousands of visitors that you will welcome into your venue with a very clear mindset where the safety of our team members and our guests is our highest priority.

Key Measure of Success

• The maintenance and on-going improvement of the Company’s guest experience and feedback performance.
• The rigorous adherence to all applicable health and safety standards, with particular emphasis upon standard operating procedures, team member training, and operational performance monitoring.
• The achievement of the Company’s business Key Performance Indicators including revenue targets, bounce numbers, operating costs, and overall budget management.
  
  

Duties And Responsibilities

• You will thrive in a multi-function, fast-paced, high footfall environment where being hands is an essential part of your role.
• Follow the venues opening and closing operational directives along with all other operational daily, weekly & monthly objectives as per the operational platform
• You will lead the way when it comes to ‘Getting stuck in’ and showing your team what a leader you are.
• You will take responsibility for the venue including facilities, compliance, staff, guest relations and all KPIs.
• You will enjoy recruiting, coaching, developing and mentoring your teams.
• Guest experience is at the heart of what we do so the ability to be face to face with your guests when your needed most is an absolute must
• You will have a strong head for numbers with real commercial awareness and spot every opportunity to increase revenue and where practicable present a business plan to the NOM to highlight your ideas.
• The Health & Safety of our teams and guests is our highest priority and as such this will always be at the top of your agenda when coaching and leading the team in day to day venue operations.
• To ensure that the venue maintains appropriate accident, incident, and associated contingency management arrangements, including test drills and staff training
• To manage the day-to-day maintenance and on-going improvement of the venue’s overall presentational standards, internally and externally
• You will need to be a great communicator to your teams and your guests ensuring all feedback is dealt with promptly & professionally
• You will be adaptable, resilient, smart, full of integrity and a real role model
• To assist and support the General Manager in the operation of the venue’s team member performance management arrangements, including the effective operation of the probation period scheme, and any individual casework (for example, attendance, punctuality, sickness, maternity/paternity etc, discipline, grievance, etc) management, as required
• You will create and maintain an exciting and energetic workplace for your teams and a safe, fun-filled, exciting adventure venue for all of our guests.
• To fulfil the role of Company Ambassador, both as a stakeholder in the Activate UK network, and also in leading & developing the venue’s local community engagement programme.
• As with many roles, you will be required from time to time to work above and beyond your contracted hours owing to the demand of the business, its guests and team members.
  
  

Qualifications/Skills

• General Management experience within the leisure/hospitality industry
• Tech-Savvy
• Strong Operational Understanding & Knowledge
• Great People Management Skills
• Sound Business Acumen
  
  

The Person We Are Looking For Is

Ambitious

Charismatic

Tenacious

Inspirational

Versatile

Accountable

Talented

Energetic

Working Conditions

• Flexibility is essential, working a mixture of daytime/evenings and weekends weekly
• Salary: £35,000 - £40,000 per annum