Assistant Director of Operations
Salary: £72,000 per annum
Work Pattern: This is a permanent contract, working full time, Monday to Friday, 37.5 hours a week.
Location: Your base can be at any of the 6 mainland UK Discovery Sites: Arundel BN18, Llanelli SA14, London SW13, Martin Mere L40, Slimbridge GL2 or Washington NE38. The 7th site is Castle Espie.
For this role we can offer the opportunity for hybrid working. It is expected the role will need you to be present at each of your sites on a regular basis, at least once per month.
About The Role
WWT is the charity for wetlands.
This is a critical role in the recently restructured Operations Directorate at WWT. As Assistant Director, you will be directly responsible for the performance of our 7 Wetland Discovery sites. You will provide inspiring and professional leadership to your teams, whilst proactively collaborating cross organisation and externally.
Your focus will be on driving meaningful improvements at sites across our three ambitions of Restore, Inspire and Thrive, with emphasis on financial performance driven by visitor experiences. Reporting to the Director of Operations, you will directly manage two Heads of Operations, a Head of Retail and Head of Catering. You will indirectly lead more than 400 staff and volunteers across Living Collections, Reserve Management, Visitor Experience, Trading, Marketing, Facilities and Grounds.
You will work closely with Health & Safety and Sustainability leads to ensure good governance and compliance at sites and across the Operations Directorate.
You will have a background working in visitor attractions or a very similar sector, coupled with a passion for purpose-led organisations and a keen interest in the environment. You will be an inspiring leader with high levels of emotional intelligence and values & behaviours that align with WWT.
About You
To join as our Assistant Director of Operations, you will need to evidence:
- Experience in a senior position(s) held in the visitor attraction/events management sectors, directly accountable for site operations and visitor experience throughout the visitor journey.
- Strong skills in leading business planning, financial analysis, budget development and management, and delivery of significant capital projects across £multi-million business unit(s).
- Demonstrable ability to recruit, performance manage and motivate large (>100) diverse multi-disciplinary teams.
- The ability to develop, communicate and implement strategic change, turning organisational vision into improvements at scale.
- An inspirational and empathetic leadership style, able to role model an organisation’s values and behaviours, and to evidence strong emotional intelligence. Able to prioritise effectively, to collaborate, network and influence internally and externally at a senior level.
- A highly creative and inquisitive mindset, able to spot and exploit potential opportunities, keen to explore, test and learn as a means of driving continual improvement and excellence in the visitor experience.
- Experience of working collaboratively with insight, marketing and communications teams to deliver strong brand and marketing campaigns which drive footfall.
About Us
We’re WWT, and we’re on a mission to restore the super-powered ecosystems we call wetlands. There’s never been a more important moment for our work, and we’ve got some phenomenal people on the case.
Whether they’re taking a new visitor under their wing, or conducting ground-breaking research further afield, our team are second to none. And there’s nothing we love more than watching them soar.
Whatever you do here, you’ll be helping to restore wetlands and unlock their power. So, the only question left is, what role will you play?
Why you’ll love working at WWT
- Wake up every day knowing your work is helping to restore wetlands, and our world
- Be surrounded and inspired by our team of passionate, dedicated people
- 33 days annual leave (which goes up to 38 days after 5 years of service) – this includes bank holidays and you have flexibility to take those days whenever you want
- Free entry to all our wetland centres, including your family
- Free car parking and secure bike storage areas
- Colleague discount on shopping and memberships
- Cycle to work scheme
- Contributory pension scheme
- Life Assurance of three times your salary, for peace of mind for your loved ones
- Independent personal, workplace and financial advice from our Employee Assistance Programme
Closing Date: 23rd February 2026
N.B. We reserve the right to close the advert early if we receive a sufficient number of applications from candidates who meet the required skills and experience. We therefore encourage early applications.
Interested?
If you would like to find out more, please click the apply button. You will be directed to our website to complete your application for this position.
WWT is an equal opportunities employer and all applications will be considered solely on merit.
No agencies please.
Registered Charity
101 - 500
Restore Wetlands and Unlock their Power
Thank you!
Actively Interviewing
This organisation is scheduling interviews as applications come in. They're ready to hire as soon as they find the right person. Don't miss your opportunity, apply now!
Business Manager
Are you a skilled and compassionate leader with a passion for making a difference in the lives of others? You will have a key role in helping to serve older Christians and in leading a motivated and committed staff team catering to the residents in Bridgemead, Bath.
As a Business Manager, you will play a pivotal role in managing our day-to-day operations, supporting our dedicated staff, and driving our mission to enhance the well-being of those we serve. Find out more about how we care for our residents: https://youtu.be/Po6md7pq7nI
If you are a dynamic professional with a strong background in business management and a heart for caring, we invite you to apply now.
Have a watch here of "What it means for us, to work in a Christian Care Home like ours:" https://youtu.be/uCa1_BtS34w
For more information, please read the job pack
Responsibilities:
- Lead the business performance of the home alongside the Registered Manager, delivering agreed income, occupancy, cost and surplus targets
- Ensure high standards of service, cleanliness and hospitality through effective leadership of housekeeping, catering and maintenance teams
- Work in partnership with the Registered Manager to maintain quality standards, prepare for inspections, and meet regulatory requirements
- Oversee the administration of the home, including staffing, rotas, payroll information, recruitment, training records and compliance
- Contribute to a well-led, positive and values-driven culture, promoting Pilgrims’ Friend Society’s ethos and “The Way We Care”
- Support staff development, wellbeing and morale through effective supervision, appraisal, performance management and engagement
- Manage resident applications, fees, contracts and family communications, ensuring excellent customer care and responsive complaint handling
- Take responsibility for health, safety and compliance matters when on duty, including fire safety and liaison with external bodies
- Oversee property, maintenance and supplier relationships, working with Property Services to ensure the home is safe and well maintained
- Provide visible leadership in the pastoral and spiritual life of the home, supporting devotions, community engagement and relationships with local churches.
Skills/Experience:
- Willing and able to take a lead in maintaining the Christian ethos of the home;
- Management experience in a business setting;
- Comfortable with writing business communications to staff and residents as well as authorities etc;
- Ability to communicate effectively at all levels whilst maintaining confidentiality;
- Ability to lead, motivate and encourage staff to give of their best, and have people-leadership and management experience;
- Able to work under pressure and provide calmness in all situations;
- IT literate ( including Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook and the Internet);
- Willing to be flexible in the working pattern and are prepared to participate in training and attend relevant staff meetings.
*Applicants must be evangelical Christians (This role has an Occupational Requirement to be filled by a Christian under the provisions of the Equality Act (2010).)
Hours:
40 hours a week, usually worked over 5 days.
“On-call” cover is required on a rotating basis to meet demands. Please get in touch for more information about working patterns.
Benefits:
- £44,500 to £50,000 per annum
- Relocation support (to be discussed)
- 5 Weeks' paid holiday per year as well as bank and public holidays
- On-going training and support
- Team events
- Pension scheme
- Care Friends referral
- Medicash
- Perkbox – including an Employee assistance programme.
- Long-standing service rewards
- Birthday rewards
— What our staff say about us: …“It is a friendly and welcoming place to work” … —
We are committed to having a diverse senior management team and we encourage applications from disabled and Black, Asian, and Minority Ethnic candidates, as these groups are underrepresented on our senior management team at present.
Please note: this vacancy may close sooner if sufficient applications have been received so please apply as soon as possible if interested
