Assistant Site Manager - Peebles

Location: Forest Commission, Glentress Forest, Peebles, EH45 8NB, United Kingdom

Employee Type: Full Time

Manage Others: Yes

Hours: Working between 24 hours per week up to 37.5 hours per week during peak seasons

Contract: Permanent

WHO ARE WE?

Go Ape is the UK’s number 1 adventure company with locations nationwide and multiple activities. We've been providing adventures since 2002 and have welcomed over 10 million customers, but we're not done yet and have big ambitions for the future. Go Ape is now Employee Owned, which means every Go Ape employee, whether full time, part time or a seasonal worker, are now co-owners of the business. As a co-owner, you will be empowered to voice your opinions and ideas through an elected Employee Council and have a real say in helping to shape the business. There is also the potential to award tax-free bonuses to all co-owners.

The position of Assistant Site Manager includes a wide range of responsibilities, assisting and supporting the Commercial Site Manager to run the site successfully and safely. After customer and staff safety, ensuring every customer has an amazing experience is at the heart of what we do. So, you'll need to genuinely share our values and high standards in customer care, challenge your team, your customers and yourself to 'live life adventurously' and 'turn I can't into I can!'.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• Supporting and assisting the Commercial Site Manager to oversee a safe site, safe people (customers and staff), a safe course (infrastructure) and safe equipment.
• Employ, train, and build a happy, engaged and professional team who can deliver amazing customer experience.
• Own your site, driving it forward commercially by finding ways to increase revenues and deliver efficiencies with a strong focus on the highest cost lines.

Commercial Management & Marketing

• Increase revenue by attracting more customers and providing the availability required, upselling, increasing secondary spend and developing your site products.
• Oversee efficient staffing and good returns on site expenditure.
• Build a good understanding of the commercial nature of your site.
• Monitor and own the revenue and participant numbers for your site, seeking to undertake corrective action as required.
• Write and maintain the local marketing plan for your site.
• Ensure the completion of Local Marketing tasks in order to grow brand awareness locally and drive customer bookings.
• Maintain good relationships and have regular meetings with the site's stakeholders, landowners, marketing partners, local media, and any other relevant prospective customer groups in the catchment area.
• Be an active member of the local tourism bodies in order to build Go Ape's profile.
• Build awareness and knowledge of local competitors monitoring products, pricing, advertising etc.
• Help to identify opportunities to further grow the site business.

Business Development

• Work with key support staff to develop opportunities at site by building and maintaining good relationships with key parties.
• Attend regular manager meetings in the UK.
• Visit other Go Ape sites when requested.

Team Management

• Create staff rotas, keeping and submitting records of hours worked, holidays and absence.
• Recruitment of great staff with the support of the People team.
• Conduct induction meetings to welcome new staff.
• Conduct annual and regular performance appraisals and create performance improvement and training and development plans as required.
• Manage performance, and where necessary discipline staff in accordance with company procedures.

Health and Safety

• Operate the site in accordance with Company Procedures.
• Ensure a safe workplace environment without risk to health.
• Ensure that all Health & Safety policies, procedures, rules and regulations are adhered to and communicated.
• Deliver training at the beginning of the year, ensuring all new staff are fully aware of company policies and procedures.
• Keep risk assessments up to date.
• Maintain PPE and safety equipment in good order.
• Ensure all participants complete a Disclaimer Form prior to participation.
• Ensure safety briefs, assessments, rescues and practices are carried out in line with Company Procedures.

Corporate Events

• Work closely with the Events Team to ensure all events go smoothly.
• Liaise with caterers and external suppliers prior to all bookings.
• Provide feedback on the event to improve the process/product for the future.

General Site Operation

• Meet sales and cost targets as agreed by the Directors.
• Keep receipts of all expenses and mileage as per Company Procedures.
• Ensure the office/cabin is run efficiently with all files kept tidy and up to date.
• Proactively seek advice, ideas, support and input from the support teams.

Person Specification

• Live within 40 minutes commute of site.
• Previous management experience and must be able to show the ability to lead, manage and motivate your team.
• Business acumen, attention to commercial detail, statistically numerate.
• An interest in, and appreciation of the impact that Marketing has on reaching targets.
• Must be rescue trained (training to be given on the job).
• Excellent organisation and administrative skills.
• Customer service background and excellent customer service skills.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Must be a team player and able to work with other colleagues and teams in a dynamic business.
• Must like working outdoors and be confident working at height.
• First Aid At Work (to be obtained prior to start date).
• Experience organising and delivering Training.
• High energy levels with a positive approach and outlook.
• Ability to work under pressure and to deadlines.
• Confidence to ask for assistance and support when required.
• Full driving license and own transport.
• Carpentry / practical DIY & Maintenance skills.
• Marketing experience.
• Commercial business administration experience.
• Ability to delegate correctly.
• Demonstrable ability to maintain standards in other people's work.

Training

Assistant Site Managers are required to attend training meetings each year. This training will:

• Bring you up to date with the latest business development and news.
• Bring you up to date with Health & Safety and Company Procedures.
• Enable you to network with colleagues across the whole company.
• Enable the sharing of good practice.
• Update you on any changes within the Operations Manual, IT, Marketing, People and Finance.

Reward Package

• Salary: Dependent on skills and experience.
• Accommodation is not provided but relocation support is available.
• Holiday Entitlement: 25 days holiday plus up to 3 days at Christmas and 8 Bank holidays.
• Working Hours: Average of 37.5 hours/week, flexible to meet operational needs.
• Company Pension Scheme, medical cashback scheme, Enhanced maternity and paternity, Cycle to Work Scheme, Tech Scheme, Workplace Nursery Scheme, Retail Discounts, DRT day (Do the Right Thing), Expeditions, Adventure Fund.

Company Ethos

• Keeping the adventure in adventure.
• Encouraging 'I can't' to become 'I can'.
• Always seeking to be two steps better.
• Zero risk equals zero development.
• To challenge, surprise and excite.
• Build in customer delight.
• Be socially and environmentally responsible.
• Create worthwhile, rewarding jobs.
• Do the right thing.