Hours: 40 Hours per week over 5 days
Work Pattern: Includes weekends & bank holidays
Duration: Permanent Salaried
The Head of Park Operations is responsible for the safe, efficient and effective day-to-day of West Midlands Safari Park.
The role provides strategic and operational leadership across wildlife operations, commercial operations, engineering and maintenance services, grounds and estate management, health & safety, and guest facing operational functions.
About you
As a member of the senior Leadership Team, the postholder will ensure all operational departments work collaboratively to deliver outstanding guest experiences, maintain the highest standards of animal welfare and regulatory compliance, drive operational efficiencies, and support the achievement of the Park's long-term strategic objectives. The role will act as a deputy to the Managing Director when required.
WMSP Direct reports: 4 - Head Of Wildlife, Commercial Manager Retail, Theme Park, Admissions & Guest Relations), Services Manager (Engineering, Grounds & Maintenance), Health & Safety & Environment Manage ( CSR, First Aiders & Facilities). Also encompasses Duty Management.
Key Responsibilities ·
- Lead the day-to-day operation of West Midlands Safari Park, ensuring all departments operate safely, effectively and in alignment with business objectives ·
- Provide leadership, direction and support to the Head of Wildlife, Commercial Manager, Services Manager and Health & Safety Manager, establishing a culture of accountability, collaboration and continuous improvement.
- Ensure the highest standards of animal welfare, guest experience, operational compliance, asset management and site presentation are maintained across the Park at all times.
- Develop and implement operational strategies, plans and objectives that support the Park's wider business strategy, growth ambitions and resort development programme.
- Lead the coordination of operational activities across wildlife, admissions, retail, rides, engineering, maintenance, grounds and support functions to ensure efficient delivery of services and resources.
- Establish and maintain effective governance frameworks including operational performance reporting, risk management, audit programmes, action tracking and departmental accountability measures.
- Monitor operational performance through agreed KPIs, ensuring measurable improvements in safety, guest satisfaction, operational efficiency, asset reliability and financial performance.
- Lead operational incident management, business continuity arrangements and emergency response activities, providing visible leadership during periods of disruption or crisis.
- Ensure compliance with all relevant legislation, zoo licensing requirements, company policies and recognised industry standards, promoting a proactive culture of safety and risk management throughout the organisation.
- Manage operational budgets and resources effectively, identifying opportunities to improve efficiency, optimise expenditure and deliver value without compromising safety, welfare or guest satisfaction.
- Lead operational improvement initiatives and major projects, ensuring new attractions, facilities, infrastructure investments and process improvements are delivered effectively and provide measurable business benefits.
- Work closely with the Managing Director and Senior Leadership Team to support strategic planning, organisational development and the delivery of key business objectives.
- Foster strong working relationships across all departments, encouraging cross-functional collaboration and ensuring operational decisions appropriately balance commercial performance, guest experience, animal welfare and regulatory requirements.
- Champion employee engagement, leadership development and succession planning across operational departments to ensure a high-performing and sustainable management structure.
- Act as deputy to the Managing Director on operational matters and provide leadership across the organisation in their absence.
Essential Requirements:
- Significant senior operational leadership experience within a complex visitor attraction, theme park, zoo, hospitality, leisure or tourism environment.
- Proven ability to lead multi-disciplinary operational teams.
- Strong commercial awareness and financial acumen.
- Experience managing large operational budgets.
- Strong understanding of health and safety legislation and compliance frameworks.
- Demonstrable experience delivering operational improvements and organisational change.
- Excellent leadership, communication and stakeholder management skills.
- Ability to perform effectively under pressure and make sound operational decisions.
Benefits
As well as benefiting from working in a unique and beautiful setting, you’ll also receive a range of additional perks to employment including:
- WMSP Annual Pass which gives you and your family and friends free admission and theme park wristbands, and free entry to our sister site Drayton Manor Park also Water World Stoke On Trent
- 20% Discount in our retail and catering outlets and off park special events.
- 50% Discount on F&B Outlets when on shift
- 24 Hour access to an online doctor and access to online prescriptions.
- Counselling access.
- Online retailer discount portal.
What we are
West Midlands Safari Park is an award-winning visitor attraction, located in Worcestershire in the heart of England. It is home to some of the world’s most beautiful and critically endangered species, with a four-mile safari drive-through, walk-through Discovery Trail, African Village and Lemur Woods, as well beautiful walking trails, allowing guests to experience up close encounters with hundreds of amazing animals. Guests can also choose from a wide range of catering and retail outlets, as well as enjoying a large amusement area with over 25 rides and attractions providing the ideal venue for family days out.
In 2021, the Park introduced Safari Lodges – luxury accommodation allowing guests to stay overnight for the first time. Guests can wake up to incredible sights of elephants, giraffes, rhinos, hippos and red pandas, or sleep just a ‘whisker’ away from lions, white lions, tigers and cheetahs.
In addition, the Park is home to three incredible venues – Spring Grove House, Treetops Pavillion and Cellarz, which play host to weddings, corporate events and social celebrations.
What we do
Our mission is to bring people together to create unique wildlife experiences that exhilarate, educate and leave memories to last a lifetime.
Our 200-acre site allows us to do just that, whether you’re a day guest, wedding guest or overnight guest! We create experiences unlike no other, attracting visitors from across the Midlands and beyond.
Our brand and our team members live by our core values. We’re passionate and work with a sense of togetherness, always striving to be progressive, with preservation at the heart of everything we do, all while creating unforgettable experiences.
Through these principles we aspire to achieve our vision: to be the number one UK wildlife attraction through the creation of immersive animal habitats and unique visitor experiences.
