Head of Business Development & Customer Engagement
Overview
A leading charitable event organisation is seeking a dynamic and visionary Head of Business Development & Customer Engagement to enhance visitor experiences and drive strategic growth at one of the UK's most prestigious public events.
This is a senior-level opportunity for a professional with a background in premium events, visitor attractions, or public experiences. You'll lead the transformation of a large-scale outdoor venue into a dynamic, customer-focused destination. Reporting directly to the Chief Executive, you'll oversee visitor engagement, customer operations, and new business development-ensuring excellence from first interaction to final exit.
Key Responsibilities:
Strategic Development: Design and implement strategies that elevate the public-facing event experience and align with the long-term vision for growth and sustainability.
Customer Experience Oversight: Manage all aspects of the visitor journey, including enclosures, amenities, retail, and information services, ensuring seamless and exceptional service delivery.
Revenue Generation: Maximise secondary income through sales of upgrades, hospitality, merchandise, catering, and other visitor services.
Marketing Integration: Collaborate with the marketing team to drive engagement, measure impact, and optimise conversion across customer touchpoints.
Volunteer Team Leadership: Oversee a large volunteer workforce delivering front-line customer service during the event.
New Partnerships: Identify and onboard new commercial and strategic partners that enhance the event's value and appeal.
Sustainable Growth Planning: Contribute to a 10-year vision for the showground, delivering an inspiring, inclusive and sustainable experience for future audiences.
Mission Support: Drive commercial performance to support the organisation's wider charitable aims, especially youth development in science and technology.
About You
You are a strategic, people-focused leader who thrives in fast-paced, high-profile environments. You bring both commercial acumen and a passion for delivering exceptional visitor experiences at scale.
Essential Skills & Experience
Senior leadership experience in large-scale events or public venues.
Demonstrated success in driving customer-focused strategies.
Strong commercial awareness and sales performance.
Skilled in stakeholder engagement, partnership development, and team leadership.
Detail-oriented with excellent planning and problem-solving capabilities.At Gleeson Recruitment Group, we embrace inclusivity and welcome applicants of all backgrounds, experiences, and abilities. We are proud to be a disability confident employer.
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