Hub Operations Manager in Whitehaven

Do you know how to run a busy venue where no two days look the same? And would you rather do it somewhere that inspires what children in West Cumbria think is possible? Foxgroves Recruitment is proud to be partnering with LEVELS Whitehaven to find their new Hub Operations Manager. LEVELS is a £4.6 million immersive education and entertainment centre that opened on Duke Street in January 2026, backed by Sellafield's Social Impact Multiplied scheme and BT and BEC. Across four floors there's a VR arcade with haptic vests, a motion capture and podcasting suite, an esports arena, immersive classrooms, a café and board game space. Schools bring students here to walk through the trenches of WW1, dive the deep ocean and explore a Mayan city, all before lunch. It is one of the first facilities of its kind in the UK, and it sits in the heart of a community it was built to serve. It's a full on operation. Seven days a week, schools and corporate hire through the day, public opening in the evenings and at weekends, a young crew, funded projects with real deliverables, and ten to fifteen staff in the building at any one time. This role is the person who holds all of that together.

The Role

• You'll take ownership of the day-to-day running of the facility, reporting to the Managing Director and trusted to make decisions, solve problems and lead the team.
• Leading the team
• Managing a busy diverse team of around 12-15 staff including an Assistant Manager, Supervisors, Crew Members and self-employed tutors.
• Building the rota so the right people are in the right place across a seven-day operation.
• Supporting, developing and getting the best out of a young, dynamic and dedicated team.
• Leading recruitment, induction and the people & culture side of a growing venue.
• Keeping the operation running
• Managing the diary and school bookings that keep the facility full.
• Owning the inbox, so nothing gets lost or left.
• Preparing payroll and finance information for the outsourced provider.
• Managing and supporting an Apprentice Administrator to support the business with admin related tasks.
• Facilities oversight, including fire safety, risk, maintenance, cleaning and the café offer.
• Oversight of the onsite cafe team & operations.
• Safeguarding and young people
• Taking responsibility for safeguarding across a site whose primary audience is under 18s, including young people with SEN.
• Making sure every visit is safe, welcoming and memorable.
• Hold or be willing to undergo training to gain Level 3 in Safeguarding.
• Delivering and growing
• Hosting events and making sure funded projects, including lottery-funded programmes, are delivered properly and on time.
• Spotting opportunities to make better use of the building and bring more people through the door.
• Supporting the board to raise the profile of the organisation through local networking and embracing opportunities to forge new partnerships and relationships with potential customers and funders.

Whatever the week throws at you, because this role has real breadth.

What You'll Bring

• You'll be a calm, capable operator who takes ownership rather than waiting to be told.
• You'll be comfortable in front of the public, good with young people, and the sort of person who solves the problem rather than escalating it.
• Thick-skinned, positive and measured, because this is a busy job with a lot of plates spinning.
• Experience running a venue or operation in hospitality, leisure, gaming, retail entertainment, visitor attractions, education or a similar people-facing environment.
• Confident leading a team and giving clear direction.
• Strong rota and scheduling skills across a seven-day operation.
• Excellent interpersonal skills, with genuine ability to build rapport with young people.
• Organised enough to run a varied schedule without letting things slip.
• An understanding of safeguarding, or the willingness to build it quickly.
• You don't need to be technically expert in VR or esports, but genuine interest in the technology will help.
• Willing to undergo an enhanced DBS check, which LEVELS will arrange and pay for.
• Willingness to work core hours - Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm, with flexibility needed around occasional evening and weekend events.

Why You'll Love Working Here

• £40,000 – £45,000 salary depending on experience.
• A genuinely unusual job in a landmark venue, with real social purpose behind it.
• Autonomy to shape how the place runs day to day.
• Private Healthcare Package.
• Death in Service benefits.
• Pension 5% employer contribution.
• 28 Days holiday (including bank hols) - The business trades through bank holidays, so those are normal working days apart from Christmas; the holiday allowance covers the equivalent time, so you book it when it suits you.

A Note on Safeguarding

LEVELS Whitehaven is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people, and expects all staff to share that commitment. This appointment is subject to an enhanced DBS check. Foxgroves Recruitment acts as an employment agency for vacancies on behalf of clients, following fair and inclusive recruitment practices in line with the Equality Act 2010. All appointments are subject to pre-employment screening, including right to work checks, reference checks, and qualification verification.