Guest Experience & Commercial Lead in London

Guest Experience & Commercial Lead in London

London Full-Time 30000 - 40000 £ / year (est.) No working from home possible
Merlin

At a Glance

  • Tasks: Lead the Commercial team to enhance guest experiences and drive sales.
  • Company: Join the iconic Madame Tussauds London, where fun meets business.
  • Benefits: Enjoy free entry to attractions, discounts, and career development opportunities.
  • Other info: Flexible hours with exciting opportunities for growth in a dynamic setting.
  • Why this job: Be at the forefront of creating unforgettable experiences for guests.
  • Qualifications: Experience in fast-paced environments with strong leadership and commercial skills.

The predicted salary is between 30000 - 40000 £ per year.

Welcome to the Stage. Welcome to the Spotlight! Ready to take ownership of the commercial heartbeat behind the ULTIMATE fame experience? Step into a role where guest experience meets smart sales strategy, where every interaction counts and every moment is an opportunity to deliver more. We are Madame Tussauds London, and we are looking for a Guest Experience Manager (Commercial) to take centre stage. This is your chance to lead our Commercial operation, driving revenue, elevating guest experience and ensuring every part of the journey runs smoothly, from queue to checkout.

Working closely with the senior leadership team, you will lead Commercial Supervisors and front-line teams, overseeing retail, upsell and guest flow across the attraction. You will balance performance and experience, ensuring we consistently hit our targets while delivering standout service. You will also collaborate across departments to support campaigns, events and initiatives that keep our attraction commercially sharp and guest focused.

What you’ll be doing:

  • Leading and managing the Commercial team, including Supervisors and frontline team members
  • Driving commercial performance by maximising sales, upsell and secondary spend
  • Managing guest flow through the attraction, ensuring efficient throughput and queue management
  • Overseeing daily retail operations, including stock management, promotions and till performance
  • Analysing revenue trends, RPC and upsell performance to identify opportunities and improve results
  • Managing labour and staffing levels in line with operational demand and budget
  • Acting as Duty Manager as required, ensuring safe, smooth and high-quality operations
  • Working closely with Marketing to deliver campaigns, promotions and in-attraction activity
  • Ensuring all promotional signage and visual merchandising is accurate and commercially effective
  • Maintaining strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including suppliers and partners
  • Driving compliance across cash handling, PCI, health and safety and operational standards
  • Supporting stocktakes, logistics and wider operational activities when required
  • Leading on recruitment, development and performance of the Commercial team
  • Building engagement, running briefings and creating a high-energy, guest-focused culture

This is a full-time, permanent role based in London, working 5 days out of 7. Flexibility is essential, including weekends, bank holidays and occasional event support, as our attraction operates daily.

Qualifications & Experience:

We are looking for someone who can combine commercial focus with strong operational leadership. You will:

  • Have experience leading teams in a fast-paced, guest-facing or retail environment
  • Be commercially driven, with a strong understanding of sales performance and KPIs
  • Have experience managing guest flow, queues or high-volume operations
  • Be confident analysing data and using insight to improve performance
  • Understand retail operations, including merchandising, stock and till systems
  • Be comfortable managing rotas, labour budgets and operational planning
  • Have a strong grasp of health, safety and compliance within an operational setting
  • Communicate clearly and build effective relationships across teams and stakeholders
  • Be organised, adaptable and able to manage competing priorities
  • Take a proactive approach to problem solving, with a focus on continuous improvement
  • Lead by example, bringing energy, accountability and high standards to your team

If you are ready to lead from the front and create experiences that deliver for both guests and the business, this is your moment.

Benefits:

  • Merlin Magic Pass – allowing your friends and family free entry into our attractions globally!
  • 25% discount in our retail shops and restaurants
  • 40% online LEGO discount.
  • Enjoy the ride pass, giving you and 5 others a Merlin annual pass (Gold edition)
  • X2 volunteer days a year
  • Access to an exclusive employee discount website.
  • Local benefits

Perhaps the biggest benefits of joining us, however, are the outstanding opportunities for career development across the expanding group.

Pay Range: Competitive

Guest Experience & Commercial Lead in London employer: Merlin

At Madame Tussauds London, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that champions both guest experience and employee growth. Our vibrant work culture fosters collaboration and creativity, allowing you to lead a dynamic team while driving commercial success in one of the world's most iconic attractions. With competitive pay, generous benefits like the Merlin Magic Pass, and ample opportunities for career advancement, joining us means stepping into a role where your contributions truly matter.

Merlin

Contact Details:

Merlin Recruitment Team

StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫

We think this is how you could land Guest Experience & Commercial Lead in London

Tip Number 1

Get to know the company inside out! Research Madame Tussauds London and understand their guest experience philosophy. This will help you tailor your conversations and show that you're genuinely interested in being part of their team.

Tip Number 2

Network like a pro! Connect with current employees on LinkedIn or attend industry events. Building relationships can give you insider info and might even lead to a referral, which is always a bonus!

Tip Number 3

Prepare for the interview by practising common questions related to guest experience and commercial operations. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your answers and highlight your achievements.

Tip Number 4

Don’t forget to follow up after your interview! A quick thank-you email can leave a lasting impression and shows your enthusiasm for the role. Plus, it keeps you on their radar as they make their decision.

We think you need these skills to ace Guest Experience & Commercial Lead in London

Commercial Focus
Operational Leadership
Sales Performance Analysis
Guest Flow Management
Retail Operations Management
Data Analysis
KPI Understanding

Some tips for your application 🫡

Show Your Passion:When you're writing your application, let your enthusiasm for guest experience and commercial operations shine through. We want to see that you’re excited about creating memorable moments for our guests!

Tailor Your CV:Make sure your CV highlights relevant experience in fast-paced, guest-facing environments. We love seeing how you've driven sales performance or managed teams, so don’t hold back on those achievements!

Be Data Savvy:Since we’re all about maximising performance, mention any experience you have with analysing data or KPIs. Show us how you’ve used insights to improve results in previous roles – it’ll make you stand out!

Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way to ensure your application gets into the right hands, and we can’t wait to see what you bring to the table!

How to prepare for a job interview at Merlin

Know Your Numbers

Make sure you’re familiar with key performance indicators (KPIs) related to guest experience and sales. Be ready to discuss how you've driven revenue in previous roles, and think of specific examples where your actions led to measurable improvements.

Showcase Your Leadership Style

Prepare to talk about your leadership approach, especially in fast-paced environments. Share stories that highlight how you’ve motivated teams, managed conflicts, or improved team performance, ensuring you connect these experiences to the role at Madame Tussauds.

Understand the Guest Journey

Dive deep into the guest experience from entry to exit. Think about how you can enhance each touchpoint and be ready to suggest ideas during the interview. This shows you’re not just thinking about sales but also about creating memorable experiences.

Be Ready for Scenario Questions

Expect questions that put you in hypothetical situations, like managing a busy day or handling a guest complaint. Practice your responses to demonstrate your problem-solving skills and ability to maintain high standards under pressure.