Morecambe - Head of Site

Eden Project International; Morecambe; Hybrid; GBP 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

Eden Project International in Morecambe is seeking a Head of Site to lead operations across visitor experience, horticulture, retail, learning and engagement, ensuring an inspirational visitor journey and commercial success.

You will steward a large multidisciplinary team, drive strategic master planning, safety and sustainability, and represent Eden with stakeholders while delivering high impact programmes and partnerships.

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.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to long-term strategic vision and master planning for Eden Project Morecambe.
• Own the purpose and business case for Eden Project Morecambe; translate strategy into operational and commercial plans.
• Lead a large multidisciplinary team across visitor experience, facilities, retail, F&B, events, learning, and engagement.
• Deliver financial performance targets and drive revenue growth across admissions, retail, and partnerships.
• Represent the organisation with government bodies, funders, partners and local communities.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Operations leadership

Visitor experience design

Financial management

Stakeholder management

Education

Degree or equivalent

Job description

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 develops responsibility for Senior Leaders across the Visitor 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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Desirable

Education and Qualifications

• 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

• 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 influence business planning and organisational strategy.

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

• Experience leading organisational change or transformation programmes.

Resourcefulness

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

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

People and Asset Management

• 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

• 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

• 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.