Visitor Experience Lead in Manchester

Legal requirements: Successful candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK before commencement of employment. This role is not eligible for sponsorship under the Skilled Worker route.

Responsibilities

The Visitor Experience Lead is a senior specialist role responsible for shaping and delivering an outstanding visitor experience at Heaton Park. The role combines strategic leadership with operational delivery, developing and implementing a Visitor Experience Strategy that reflects the park’s heritage, identity and spirit of place, supporting Manchester City Council’s priorities for inclusive, vibrant and sustainable public spaces. The postholder brings together events, education, engagement and volunteering into a cohesive, high‑quality programme, directly managing these teams and services, and leading the park’s stakeholder and engagement plan to strengthen partnerships, community involvement and audience reach. Working closely with the Parks Strategy Team and Commercial Development Lead, the postholder identifies new opportunities, builds strategic relationships and supports income generation to ensure a vibrant, sustainable and future‑focused park offer. The role requires leading multidisciplinary teams, managing performance and resources, and ensuring the safe and effective delivery of events and public programming, playing a key part in delivering the park’s business plan. The position is central to positioning Heaton Park as a leading destination for culture, events and community life, enhancing resident wellbeing and contributing to the city’s reputation. Occasional evening and weekend working may be required.

Essential Experience

• Leadership skills, including leading a multi‑strand team of specialists
• Experience working within a visitor experience team with knowledge of volunteering, education, marketing, public programme and events
• Management role in a visitor attraction or destination
• Experience of working directly with the public in an operational role
• Management of budgets and/or forecasting a budget
• Event leadership
• A values‑based leadership style

Essential Skills

• Communication Skills: Ability to negotiate difficult agreements, influence and persuade stakeholders
• Planning and Organising: Excellent time‑management, ability to create schedules, prioritise, prepare in advance and set realistic timescales, visualise sequences of actions and estimate required resources
• Project Management: Ability to influence, monitor and control risk, allocate roles and responsibilities effectively
• Problem Solving and Decision Making: Ability to think laterally and consider root cause and organisational impact of decisions
• Financial Management: Ability to monitor and maintain expenditure, ensuring financial targets are met and budget tolerances respected
• Commercial Skills: Demonstrated business intelligence, identification of commercially viable opportunities and securing value for money in service delivery
• People Management: Ability to lead, manage and motivate staff to high performance, plan team work addressing diverse issues

Application Requirements

• Curriculum Vitae (CV) – maximum 2 pages, outlining relevant experience and skills
• Expression of Interest – maximum 1400 words detailing motivation, fit and contributions

Benefits

• Generous holiday allowance – up to 26 days annual leave plus bank holidays, increasing to 31 days after five years of service; option to purchase up to two additional weeks
• Pension – enrolment in the UK’s largest local government pension scheme with options to top up and life cover of three‑times salary as a lump sum
• Enhanced parental and carers leave – designed to provide ample time to bond with new borns or support family events
• Benefits and perks – discounts on shop, holidays, MCR+ days, phone contracts, cycle to work scheme, free flu jabs and eye tests
• Learning and development – workshops, training sessions, apprenticeships, qualifications and comprehensive onboarding
• Good Employment Charter – secure, flexible work, annual pay review, trade union representation, health and wellbeing support
• Volunteering leave – up to three days pro‑rate of paid volunteering leave

Equal Opportunities & Accessibility

Manchester City Council is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive workplace and welcomes applications from all backgrounds, including Black, Asian, Minority Ethnic communities, disabled individuals and young people. Adjustments can be made to support candidates with disability or care needs. For any further information, contact jobs@manchester.gov.uk.