General Manager – SPARK:York
What is Spark and what do we do?
SPARK is a venue in the heart of York, constructed out of recycled shipping containers and home to some of the very best independent food, drink and retail businesses in Yorkshire. We incubate these businesses, from complete start-ups, to regional scale-ups, and aim to offer a platform for their exposure and growth.
We also operate SPARK Studios, with a co-working office, maker space and event space for live performances and all manner of other workshops and meetings.
What is our vision
The vision of SPARK is simple. Our overarching mission is to ignite positive change in the community by creating a space and community that encourages social enterprise and enables independent businesses to thrive.
In creating a busy and vibrant destination and setting excellent standards we strive to provide the best possible platform for these businesses to grow and develop. Through ensuring the excellent customer experience of visitors to Spark we hope to showcase the importance and value in triumphing local and independent businesses.
The Role: General Manager
We’re looking for a highly organised, people-focused General Manager to take ownership of the day-to-day running and operational performance of SPARK. This role is on the ground, in the mix, and central to the daily rhythm of the site, from open to close.
You’ll be leading the team, supporting our traders, maintaining high standards, solving problems and making sure SPARK feels welcoming, safe, well-run and full of energy. This is not a behind-the-scenes role, it’s a front-facing, energy-led leadership position. We’re looking for someone who can lead and develop people, build relationships and turn ideas and decisions into actions.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead day-to-day venue operations, ensuring the smooth running of all site activity, including opening/closing, cleanliness, security, atmosphere and site standards.
- Be the first point of contact for all SPARK traders, maintaining strong, collaborative relationships, conducting regular audits and meetings, and responding quickly to operational issues or concerns.
- Own the front-of-house experience and standards across SPARK, being highly visible and present on site, leading from the front and inspiring the team to consistently deliver a welcoming, safe and buzzing environment.
- Lead, train and develop the on-site team, including supervisory and casual staff. Complete rota planning, daily briefings, regular 1:1’s, performance management and team motivation.
- Manage basic financial duties such as supplier orders, site-level budgets and controllable costs (waste, consumables, utilities).
- Own and enforce compliance with health and safety, food hygiene, and licensing regulations across the site, ensuring actions are followed through.
- Coordinate cleaning, security, maintenance, waste and other contractors, carrying out regular site walkarounds, identifying actions and ensuring issues are resolved and standards maintained.
- Support onboarding and offboarding of traders, including inductions, handovers, and ensuring key documentation is in place.
You’ll Thrive in This Role If You Are:
- A visible, hands-on leader who loves being out on site, solving problems, driving standards, engaging with guests and traders and keeping things moving.
- Calm under pressure and highly organised, capable of juggling priorities on a fast-moving site while keeping guest experience and operational standards at the forefront.
- Naturally collaborative - a relationship-builder who can balance the needs of traders, guests, staff and partners.
- Passionate about community spaces, independent business, and inclusive hospitality.
- Happy to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends.
Skills and Experience
- Strong experience in a venue or hospitality management role.
- Proven experience leading, coaching and developing teams, including managing performance.
- Excellent knowledge of compliance, health and safety, and food hygiene regulations.
- Excellent communication, organisation and delegation skills.
- Confident with rota systems, ordering platforms and basic budgeting.
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Pay: £35,500.00-£38,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Health & wellbeing programme
- Paid volunteer time
Work Location: In person
