At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the guest experience at a stunning forest resort, ensuring every visitor feels valued and delighted.
- Company: Join Center Parcs, a vibrant team dedicated to creating unforgettable experiences in nature.
- Benefits: Enjoy a competitive salary, bonus scheme, company car, and private medical insurance.
- Other info: Embrace a culture of diversity and inclusion, with excellent career development opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on guest satisfaction while working in a beautiful environment.
- Qualifications: Proven leadership experience in high-volume, guest-focused settings is essential.
Whinfell Forest | £75,000 - £90,000 per annum depending on experience, plus 22% bonus scheme | Company Car | PMI
We're a thriving team passionate about working together to deliver excellence, all in a natural forest environment. As Head of Village Experience, you will play a key leadership role within the Village Senior Leadership Team, shaping and delivering an outstanding end-to-end guest journey. Working closely with the Village Director and central Guest Experience Director, you will ensure every aspect of the guest experience consistently exceeds expectations and brings our brand to life.
You will take ownership of the experience for over 5,000 guests on every break, leading all guest-facing services and influencing decisions across the whole village to create a truly guest-focused culture. From everyday interactions to major moments, you will champion exceptional service, ensuring guests feel valued, recognised and delighted at every touchpoint. This is a highly visible leadership role, responsible for embedding strategy into day-to-day operations, driving continuous improvement, and enhancing guest satisfaction, loyalty and reputation.
What you'll be doing:
- Operational Leadership – Own the end-to-end guest experience across the village, setting the standard across all guest-facing areas. Drive seamless delivery by anticipating and resolving issues fast, removing cross-team barriers and supporting leaders to address resource challenges. Act as the voice of the guest, ensuring every decision puts them first. Align local delivery with central strategy, lead seasonal events, and deliver performance against the Annual Operating Plan.
- Guest Experience – Drive guest satisfaction and performance across all service measures, embedding proactive recovery and swift resolution. Influence across the village to deliver against targets, ensuring a consistent, premium experience at every touchpoint. Partner with operational leaders to enhance and modernise the guest journey, minimise disruption, and maintain exceptional standards across facilities and assets. Lead crisis response when needed, drive continuous improvement, innovation, and champion an accessible and inclusive, high-performing culture aligned to company values.
- Financial Accountability – Support delivery of operating and payroll budgets, using insight to drive performance, efficiency and guest value. Contribute to village strategy and lead guest-focused improvements aligned to business priorities. Own and deliver experience-led projects, and support the identification and prioritisation of investment that enhances the guest experience and operational safety.
- Compliance & Safety – Ensure all guest-facing operations meet health, safety and regulatory standards. Act as a key lead in crisis management and escalation, maintaining robust and effective response procedures. Drive audit and compliance standards across the village and champion training compliance to ensure teams operate safely and consistently.
About you:
- Proven senior leadership experience in complex, high-volume, guest-focused environments
- Strong commercial and operational acumen, with the ability to drive performance through insight and investment
- Track record of translating strategy into impactful, cross-functional delivery at scale
- Influential, decisive leader able to drive change, manage complexity and lead through ambiguity
What’s in it for you:
- Management Bonus Scheme (up to 22%)
- Company Car
- Private Medical Insurance
- Pension Scheme with Life Assurance
- Discounted Center Parcs breaks
- Free use of our leisure facilities
- 20% discount in our restaurant and retail outlets
- Access to Perks at Work Portal – offering a wide range of retail and leisure discounts
- An Employee Assistance Program – providing support on financial, health and legal matters
- Excellent opportunities for career development and progression with the opportunity to gain externally recognised qualifications
- Colleague Recognition and Reward Scheme – offering a choice of Center Parcs and High Street vouchers
Our values Each colleague at Center Parcs is involved in building better worlds for our guests, colleagues, communities and our environment. Contributing to our purpose means living out our values: We care, we're brave, we're determined and we're naturally us. At Center Parcs, everyone's welcome. We recognise that we’re all at our best when we’re being ourselves. We are committed to building a culture that champions diversity, equity and inclusion, where everyone is treated fairly and with respect. We welcome people from all backgrounds and want them to feel valued for their individuality, thrive in our business and share a sense of belonging. We place a lot of value on recruiting based on behaviours rather than prioritising qualifications or experience. We are proud to be a Disability Confident Employer, please let us know if you require any support or reasonable adjustments during the application or interview process.
Closing date: 19th July 2026
Head of Village Experience NEW Center Parcs Posted today Penrith employer: Center Parcs group
At Center Parcs, we pride ourselves on creating a vibrant and inclusive work environment where every team member is empowered to deliver exceptional guest experiences in a stunning natural setting. As the Head of Village Experience, you will benefit from a competitive salary, generous bonus scheme, and extensive career development opportunities, all while being part of a culture that values diversity, collaboration, and personal growth. Join us in shaping unforgettable moments for our guests and enjoy perks like discounted breaks, leisure access, and a supportive employee assistance programme.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Village Experience NEW Center Parcs Posted today Penrith
✨Get a Taste of the Scene
Try visiting local eateries and asking if they have any full-time positions available. Many hospitality jobs aren’t advertised online, so popping in for a chat can give you an edge and show your enthusiasm!
✨Network at Food Festivals
Food festivals and culinary events are buzzing with industry connections. Attend these to meet restaurateurs and other food service pros; you never know who might be looking for their next star employee!
✨Show Off Your Skills
Create a short video showcasing your cooking or customer service flair. Post it on social media or even send it directly to places you want to work at, like Center Parcs group. It’s a fun way to stand out and demonstrate what you bring to the table!
✨Reach Out Directly to Center Parcs group
Don't be shy about reaching out to Center Parcs group directly through their website. Express your interest in available roles and attach your CV, showing your genuine eagerness to be part of their team. Personal touches can go a long way!
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Village Experience NEW Center Parcs Posted today Penrith
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Service Experience:In the hospitality-food-service world, your experience is key! Make sure to highlight any previous roles you've had in restaurants, cafes, or catering. We want to see your customer service skills shine, so include specific examples where you went above and beyond for clients.
Certificates Matter:If you’ve got any relevant certifications, like food safety or bartender training, flaunt them! They can really set you apart from the crowd and show us your dedication to the industry. Just make sure to mention them clearly in your CV or cover letter!
Craft a Genuine Cover Letter:Take the time to write a personal cover letter that reflects your passion for hospitality. Share why you’re excited about Center Parcs group and how your skills can contribute to our team's success. We're after that genuine connection!
Highlight Your Team Spirit:In full-time roles, teamwork is everything! Emphasise your ability to work collaboratively in busy environments. Mention any experiences where you’ve effectively collaborated with colleagues or managed conflicts — it's just as important as your technical skills!
How to prepare for a job interview at Center Parcs group
✨Show Your People Skills
In hospitality, customer service is everything! Be ready to showcase examples of how you've engaged with customers positively. Maybe you turned a tough situation around or went that extra mile for a guest—let’s hear those stories!
✨Know Your Menu Inside Out
Expect some technical questions about food and drink, especially if you're applying for a kitchen or service role. Brush up on the menu items, including ingredients and any potential allergens. If you’ve got any favourite dishes or cocktails, have a little something prepared to discuss, too!
✨Demonstrate Your Team Spirit
Hospitality thrives on teamwork, so think of examples where you've worked well with others in a fast-paced environment. Be prepared to discuss what makes a great team member and how you contribute to a positive working vibe. They’re looking for that 'good fit!'
✨Get Ready for a Practical Test
In full-time food service roles, don’t be surprised if they want to see your skills in action. Whether it's serving a table or prepping a dish, be mentally prepared for a practical test during the interview. Practice makes perfect—a little dry run with friends could give you the edge!
