Head of Site

THE EDEN TRUST; Morecambe; On-site; GBP 68,000 - 83,000; Full time

Job summary

Eden Project Morecambe seeks a dynamic Head of Site to lead day-to-day operations and deliver an outstanding visitor experience at a landmark destination. You will drive strategy, master planning, and organisational growth while ensuring safety, sustainability, and exceptional service across all touchpoints.

Reporting to the COO, you will oversee multidisciplinary teams in visitor services, horticulture, retail, learning and events, aligning commercial performance with the mission to connect

Qualifications

• Senior leadership in a complex visitor attraction or equivalent environment.
• Strong commercial and financial management skills, including budgets.
• Excellent stakeholder management and collaboration with communities.
• Experience in sustainability-led organisations preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead Eden Project Morecambe's strategic vision and master planning.
• Oversee visitor experience, services, retail, events, and facilities.
• Deliver financial targets and grow revenue streams.
• Inspire and manage a large multidisciplinary team.
• Build relationships with government, funders, partners and communities.
• Drive sustainability, capital planning and safety compliance.

Skills

Senior leadership

Commercial acumen

People leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Visitor experience

Sustainability mindset

Education

Degree or equivalent experience

Postgraduate qualification preferred

Job description

Morecambe - Head of Site

Job Description

Salary: Up to £75,000 per annum

Location: Morecambe, Lancashire (site-based preferably)

Help create one of the UK's most exciting new destinations

This is a rare opportunity to lead one of the UK's most exciting new visitor destinations and play a pivotal role in bringing Eden Project Morecambe to life. If you have the experience, energy, and ambition to inspire teams, delight visitors, and deliver lasting impact, we encourage you to apply and help create a destination that will inspire generations to come.

As Head of Site, you will be the operational heartbeat of Eden Project Morecambe.

You’ll lead the visitor experience, oversee day-to-day operations, and ensure every person who walk through our doors leaves feeling inspired, welcomed, and connected to our mission. From visitor services and learning programmes to food, retail, events and facilities, you’ll bring together diverse teams around a shared ambition: delivering an extraordinary experience every single day.

This is a role that balances purpose and performance. You’ll drive commercial success, champion operational excellence, develop new opportunities for growth, and ensure our unique site is cared for to the very highest standards. Working closely with colleagues across Eden, you’ll contribute to strategic planning, site development and the long-term success of a destination designed to create lasting social, environmental and economic impact.

You will also become an important ambassador for Eden Project Morecambe, building strong relationships with local communities, partners, stakeholders and visitors as we create something incredible.

We’re looking for someone who combines commercial confidence with genuine passion and purpose.

You’ll be an experienced senior leader with a track record of delivering results within a complex visitor attraction, leisure, hospitality, cultural or destination venue environment. You’ll know how to motivate high-performing teams, create exceptional visitor experiences, and lead large-scale operations with confidence and authenticity.

You’ll bring:

• Significant senior leadership experience in a customer-focused operational environment.

• Strong commercial acumen and experience managing budgets, performance and growth.

• Outstanding people leadership skills, with the ability to inspire, empower and develop diverse teams.

• Experience working with a wide range of stakeholders, partners and communities.

• A passion for creating memorable visitor experiences and delivering meaningful impact.

• Experience within sustainability-led, horticultural, heritage, educational or environmental organisations would be particularly welcome, although we are equally interested in leaders who share our values and bring fresh perspectives.

Why Eden Project Morecambe?

This is more than a leadership role.

It's an opportunity to help create a destination that will inspire millions of people in the years ahead. You’ll join a passionate and ambitious organisation committed to innovation, inclusion, sustainability and positive change. Together, we’ll create experiences that connect people with nature, strengthen communities and demonstrate what a more hopeful future can look like

Job Details

Job Description: Head of Site – Eden Project Morecambe

Job Title:Head of Site
Department:Operations
Reports to:Project Director/COO
Direct Reports:As the project developsresponsibility forSenior Leaders acrosstheVisitor Experience, Facilities, Retail, Food & Beverage, Learning & Engagement, Commercial Events, Marketing and HR

Job Family Definition

Roles within the Operations, Services and Engagement job family focus upon the Eden experience, providing world class services, activities, engagement and events, which engage, inspire and entertain, thus enhancing individuals understanding, experience, skills and enjoyment.

Role Purpose

The Head of Site is a senior strategic and operational leader responsible for delivering an exceptional, inspirational visitor experience while ensuring the commercial and operational success of a world-class garden attraction.

The role combines leadership of complex visitor operations with stewardship of a unique natural and built environment, supporting the organisation’s mission to connect people with nature, sustainability, and learning. Providing strong leadership and representation with the Morecambe and Lancashire community and stakeholders.

The postholder will lead multidisciplinary teams, drive commercial growth, ensure operational excellence, and contribute to the long-term vision and development of the attraction as a leading global destination.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership and Vision

• Contribute to the long-term strategic vision and master planning of Eden Project Morecambe, aligning with organisational mission, sustainability goals, and audience development strategies.

• Owning the purpose and business case for Eden Project Morecambe

• Translate strategy into operational and commercial plans, ensuring delivery of visitor, financial, and impact objectives.

• Act as a key member of the senior leadership team, contributing to organisational strategy, governance, and transformation initiatives.

Visitor Experience and Operations

• Ensure a world-class, seamless visitor journey across all touchpoints—from pre-visit engagement to on-site experience and post-visit advocacy.

• Oversee daily operations across horticulture displays, visitor services, retail, food and beverage, events, learning, and interpretation.

• Champion service excellence standards and continuous improvement to deliver outstanding customer satisfaction and repeat visitation.

• Ensure facilities, infrastructure, and landscapes are maintained to the highest standards, supporting safety, accessibility, and sustainability.

Commercial Performance and Growth

• Deliver financial performance targets, including revenue growth, cost control, and profitability.

• Lead commercial strategy across admissions, retail, food and beverage, events, memberships, and partnerships.

• Identify and develop new revenue streams aligned with mission and visitor experience, including immersive experiences, educational programmes, and corporate partnerships.

• Monitor market trends, competitor activity, and visitor data to inform pricing, product development, and investment decisions.

People Leadership and Culture

• Lead, inspire, and develop a large multidisciplinary team, fostering a culture of innovation, collaboration, inclusion, and high performance.

• Ensure robust people management practices, including recruitment, performance management, talent development, engagement, and wellbeing.

• Champion organisational values, sustainability ethos, and inclusive leadership behaviours.

Stakeholder, Community and Partnership Engagement

• Act as an ambassador for the attraction, building relationships with government bodies, funders, academic institutions, industry partners, and local communities.

• Work closely with marketing, learning, and public engagement teams to broaden audiences and deepen impact.

• Represent the organisation with media and industry bodies, enhancing reputation and profile nationally and internationally.

Planning, Capital Projects and Sustainability

• Leading the transition from capital project handover to operational opening Contribute to site master planning, capital development, and infrastructure projects to support growth and innovation.

• Work with sustainability and estates teams to ensure operations align with environmental and net-zero ambitions.

• Support fundraising, grants, and corporate partnership initiatives for capital and programme development.

Governance, Reporting and Risk

• Develop and manage annual operating plans, budgets, and performance frameworks.

• Report on KPIs, financial performance, and operational outcomes to the Executive Team and Board.

• Ensure compliance with health and safety, environmental, financial, and regulatory requirements.

• Oversee procurement, contract management, and risk management to ensure value for money and operational resilience.

Values and Behaviours

• The Head of Site will embody and promote the Eden Values:

• Connecting people with nature and sustainability

• Curiosity, innovation, and continuous learning

• Inclusivity, kindness, and collaboration

• Accountability, integrity, and commercial responsibility

• Positive, inspirational leadership

Person Specification

Essential

Desirable

Education and Qualifications

• Educated to degree level or equivalent professional experience.

• Evidence of continuing professional development in leadership, operations, hospitality, visitor attraction management, business management, or a related discipline.

• Degree or postgraduate qualification in Business, Hospitality, Tourism, Environmental Management, Leisure Management, or a related field.

• Professional leadership or management qualification (e.g. ILM, CMI, MBA).

Knowledge and Skills

• Significant knowledge of operating complex visitor-facing environments, hospitality, leisure, cultural or large scale public venues.

• Strong commercial and financial management skills, including budget management and revenue growth.

• Excellent strategic planning and operational delivery skills.

• Strong understanding of visitor experience design and customer service excellence.

• Knowledge of governance, risk management, health and safety, and regulatory compliance.

• Ability to analyse visitor and commercial data to inform decision-making.

• Knowledge of horticultural, environmental, sustainability, heritage, cultural, educational or leisure sectors.

• Understanding of destination development, tourism trends, and audience engagement strategies.

• Experience of fundraising, grant funding, or corporate partnerships.

Decision Making

• Ability to make complex strategic and operational decisions with organisational-wide impact in a complex stakeholder environment.

• Proven ability to balance visitor experience, commercial performance, and operational priorities.

• Experience managing risk and making sound decisions in fast-paced environments.

• Ability to influence business planning and organisational strategy.

• Experience contributing at Board, Executive, or Trustee level decision making.

• Experience leading organisational change or transformation programmes.

Resourcefulness

• Proven ability to identify opportunities for operational improvement and commercial growth.

• Ability to develop innovative solutions to complex operational challenges.

• Strong problem-solving and project management skills.

• Ability to manage competing priorities and respond effectively to emerging issues.

• Experience developing new revenue streams, visitor products, or commercial initiatives.

• Experience supporting capital projects, site development, or major opening programmes.

People and Asset Management

• Extensive experience leading and developing large multidisciplinary teams.

• Proven track record in performance management, engagement, talent development, and wellbeing initiatives.

• Experience managing significant operational budgets and resources.

• Responsibility for maintaining operational assets, facilities, infrastructure, and visitor environments to high standards.

• Commitment to inclusive leadership and organisational values.

• Experience leading teams across multiple functions including visitor services, retail, food and beverage, events, learning, facilities, or estates.

• Experience managing major contracts, procurement activities, or external service providers.

Communication and Visitor Experience

• Deep understanding of visitor experience design and customer service excellence.

• Excellent communication, influencing, and stakeholder management skills.

• Demonstrable experience building effective relationships with senior stakeholders, partners, communities, regulators, and funders.

• Proven ability to lead delivery of exceptional visitor experiences.

• Experience representing an organisation externally and acting as an ambassador for a brand or destination.

• Strong presentation and reporting skills.

• Experience working with media and public relations activities.

• Experience engaging with local communities, educational institutions, tourism bodies, or government agencies.

• Passion for nature, sustainability, education, and public engagement.

Operational Environment

• Senior leadership experience in a complex visitor attraction, hospitality, leisure, cultural venue, or similar operational environment.

• Experience managing health and safety, compliance, and operational risk.

• Ability to work flexibly, including weekends, evenings, and public holidays when required.

• Comfortable working across office, operational, and visitor-facing environments.

• Experience delivering operational excellence within high-volume visitor settings.

• Experience within horticultural, environmental, sustainability-led, heritage, or educational organisations.

• Experience supporting site opening, major capital projects, or transitioning from project delivery to operational management.

• Understanding of net-zero and sustainability-led operational practices.

The closing date for applications is Sunday 27th September 2026 at midnight

Be part of something extraordinary. Be part of Eden.