At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and shape an outstanding visitor experience at Heaton Park.
- Company: Join Manchester City Council, a vibrant and diverse local authority.
- Benefits: Enjoy generous holiday allowance, pension scheme, and fantastic perks.
- Other info: Dynamic role with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on community life and culture in a beautiful park.
- Qualifications: Experience in leadership, visitor experience, and event management required.
The predicted salary is between 40000 - 50000 £ per year.
About The Role
Working Hours: 35 Hours per week
Contract Type: Full-Time, Permanent
Additional Payments: Casual Car Allowance
Closing Date: 30 July 2026
Closing time: 11.59pm
Interview Method: Face to Face
Legal Right to Work: In accordance with Home Office guidance, successful candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK before commencement of employment.
The Visitor Experience Lead is a senior specialist role responsible for shaping and delivering an outstanding visitor experience at Heaton Park. Combining strategic leadership with operational delivery, the postholder will develop and implement a Visitor Experience Strategy that reflects the park’s heritage, identity and “spirit of place,” while supporting Manchester City Council’s priorities for inclusive, vibrant and sustainable public spaces. The role brings together events, education, engagement and volunteering into a cohesive, high-quality programme. It will directly manage these teams and services, alongside 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 will identify new opportunities, build strategic relationships and support income generation to ensure a vibrant, sustainable and future-focused park offer. Responsible for leading multidisciplinary teams, managing performance and resources, and ensuring the safe and effective delivery of events and public programming, the role plays a key part in delivering the park’s business plan. This 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. The role includes occasional evening and weekend working.
The Visitor Experience Lead is key to delivering a high-quality, safe and engaging offer at Heaton Park, bringing together events, programmes, partnerships and operations into a coordinated visitor experience. By leading strategy, people and performance, the role drives continuous improvement, supports income generation and ensures the park remains a vibrant, inclusive and sustainable destination directly contributing to Manchester City Council’s priorities for communities, culture and place.
About the Candidate
We would love to hear from you if you have experience of:
- Essential Experience
- Leadership skills, including leading a multi-strand team of specialists
- Working within a visitor experience team with a 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 with wide impact; ability to influence or persuade internal or external stakeholders.
- Planning and Organising: Excellent time management skills, creating own work schedules, prioritising, preparing in advance and setting realistic timescales for own self and others.
- Project Management: Proven ability to influence, monitor and control the risk environment, both strategic and operational, through effective allocation of roles and responsibilities.
- Problem Solving and Decision Making: Ability to think laterally and take into account the root cause of a problem and the client/organisation-wide consequence of decisions made.
- Financial Management: Ability to monitor and maintain expenditure, ensuring that financial targets are met, and being accountable for any areas where budget and expenditure exceed their agreed tolerances.
- Commercial Skills: Demonstrates sound business intelligence and ability to identify commercially viable opportunities and secure value for money in service delivery.
- People Management: Ability to lead, manage and motivate staff to high levels of performance in order to achieve change and maximise staff potential and contribution to the achievement of identified aims and objectives.
About Us
We’re the local council for one of the UK’s most vibrant and diverse cities. Working for Manchester isn’t just a job – it’s an opportunity to contribute to a city that leads change and transforms lives. Whether it’s strengthening communities or driving innovation in public services, you’ll play a vital role in creating opportunities and shaping a brighter future for everyone. Our Manchester is our vision for a fairer, greener, and healthier city – a vision shaped by the people of Manchester. It guides everything we do at the Council and is brought to life through the Our Manchester behaviours.
Benefits we offer
- Generous holiday allowance- Enjoy up to 26 days annual leave per year plus bank holidays. Increasing to 31 days after five years of local government service.
- A buzzing pension- You’ll be enrolled in the UK’s largest local government pension scheme, with plenty of options to top up your benefits.
- Enhanced parental and carers leave- Take advantage of our enhanced family leave options, designed to provide ample time for you to bond with your new born or support your family during critical life events.
- Brilliant perks- Access a range of discounts, from saving on the weekly shop to holidays and days out with MCR+. Plus discounts on phone contracts, cycle to work scheme, free flu jabs and eye tests, and more.
- Learn and grow- We are dedicated to nurturing talent and providing you with the tools to thrive.
Visitor Experience Lead employer: Old Moat
Prospere Learning Trust is an exceptional employer located in Wythenshawe, offering a supportive work culture that prioritises employee wellbeing and professional growth. With a generous holiday allowance and a robust pension scheme, we are committed to fostering a rewarding environment for our staff, making it an ideal place for those looking to make a meaningful impact in education.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Visitor Experience Lead
✨Tip Number 1: Get Involved in Consulting Case Competitions
Look for case competitions hosted by universities and consulting firms. They’re a fab way to showcase your problem-solving skills and meet industry players. Plus, winning one can seriously boost your CV, which we know is key when applying for roles like Visitor Experience Lead at Old Moat!
✨Tip Number 2: Leverage Alumni Networks
Tap into your university’s alumni network; many consultants love to help out new talent. Reach out to alumni who are working in management consulting, they might have insider knowledge about openings at firms like Old Moat or be willing to refer you for that Visitor Experience Lead position!
✨Tip Number 3: Attend Industry Events and Conferences
Keep an eye on management consulting events, workshops, or panels. These are prime opportunities to network with top professionals and get your name out there. You might even bump into someone from Old Moat who’s on the lookout for their next Visitor Experience Lead star!
✨Tip Number 4: Polish Your Consulting Skills Online
Engage with online platforms that offer consulting simulations or courses. Prove your chops by completing relevant projects — this not only beefs up your experience but also gives you concrete examples to chat about during interviews for that full-time Visitor Experience Lead role at Old Moat!
We think you need these skills to ace Visitor Experience Lead
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Problem-Solving Skills:In management consulting, it's all about problem-solving—so make sure your CV highlights your analytical and critical thinking skills. Include examples from your studies or previous roles where you tackled complex issues or came up with innovative solutions. Quantify your achievements whenever possible to demonstrate your impact!
Tailor Your Cover Letter:Your cover letter is your chance to explain why you're a perfect fit for the consulting world. Focus on your motivation for joining the industry and how your skills align with the requirements of the role at Old Moat. Remember to mention any relevant coursework or projects that showcase your understanding of strategic frameworks or business models!
Highlight Team Experience:Consultants often work in teams, so it's vital to showcase your collaborative skills. Include experiences where you've worked effectively with others, whether in academic group projects or internships. Discuss your role in the team and how you helped achieve common goals, demonstrating you can thrive in a consultancy environment.
Professionalise Your Online Presence:Make sure your LinkedIn and any other professional profiles are up to date, reflecting your career aspirations in management consulting. Connect with industry professionals and follow relevant groups—show you’re serious about entering this field. Applying through our website is a great way to get noticed, so showcase your personality and enthusiasm there!
How to prepare for a job interview at Old Moat
✨Master the Case Study Game
In management consulting, case study interviews are all the rage. Make sure to practice structuring your thoughts and analysing data on the fly. Use resources like example case studies to get comfortable with frameworks and solutions. Remember, it’s not just about getting the right answer but showcasing your thought process, so talk us through your reasoning!
✨Know Your Numbers
Be prepared for some numerical and analytical questions. Brush up on your mental math and be ready to interpret data from charts or graphs. We might throw some business scenarios at you that require a quick turnaround on numerical analysis, so practice these skills to feel confident and swift!
✨Show Your Leadership Flair
As this is a full-time role, we want to see your potential as a seasoned consultant. Be ready to discuss experiences where you've led a project or a team. Think about times you've influenced decisions or navigated challenges—this is your chance to show how you can thrive in a fast-paced, collaborative environment.
✨Be a Cultural Fit
We’re not just looking for brains; we want to see if you vibe with our company culture at Old Moat. Prepare to share how your values align with ours. Have a think about what makes a great team environment for you and how you can contribute to that. A good cultural fit goes a long way in management consulting!
