Employer: Wokingham Borough Council
Salary: £54,495 - £61,269 Per Annum, Plus Benefits
Location: Dinton Activity Centre
Contract: Permanent
Working Pattern: Evenings/Full Time/Weekends
Hours: 37 hours per week.
DBS Check: Enhanced
Closing Date: 03/05/2026 at 23:00
Reference: 713399
We have an excellent opportunity for a General Manager- Dinton Activity Centre to join our Commercial and Finance Support Team, on a full-time, permanent basis.
As General Manager, you will provide strategic leadership for the Centre's operations, ensuring outstanding visitor experiences across all activities and facilities. You'll lead and develop the Centre team, support the Event Manager, and oversee operations across the wider Dinton Site, driving commercial growth and performance targets.
This role requires decisive action on operational delivery, robust health and safety leadership, and effective collaboration with third-party catering partners, on-site concessionaires, and internal stakeholders including Countryside, Facilities, Parking, and Security teams.
You'll plan and monitor service performance while ensuring compliance with health, safety, and safeguarding requirements, maintaining the highest standards across all Centre operations.
This is a fantastic opportunity for a strategic, resilient professional with management experience and expertise in activity centre or hospitality venue operations to join our team.
Not only is this an excellent opportunity, but it’s a fantastic time to join our team. You will receive an extensive range of employee benefits including:
* ⭐Generous Annual Leave – 31 days annual leave (rising by 5 days after 5 years of continued local government service), plus bank holidays
* ⭐GP Helpline – Available 7 days a week
* ⭐Employee Assistance Programme – Including a 24/7 Your Care Helpline
* ⭐Free Onsite Gym – Located at Shute End Offices, Wokingham
* ⭐Salary Sacrifice Schemes – Including Car and Cycle to Work schemes
* ⭐Local & Lifestyle Discounts – Save on shopping, entertainment, dining out & more
* ⭐Move through Menopause Course
* ⭐Sports & Social Group Activities – Including running, football, cricket & more
* ⭐And more!
Key Responsibilities
* Lead, inspire and develop the Centre team, setting clear standards and creating a positive, high‑performing culture
* Oversee day‑to‑day operations across activities and events, ensuring safe, efficient and high‑quality delivery
* Act as the senior operational lead for all events at Dinton, working closely with internal teams and external partners
* Build and maintain strong relationships with on‑site partners and contractors, including catering and concessions
* Drive a customer‑led approach, with a strong on‑site presence and clear communication across teams
* Ensure full compliance with health & safety, safeguarding and statutory requirements
* Set, monitor and deliver ambitious financial targets, with responsibility for a commercial budget of c.£1.1m
* Identify opportunities for continuous improvement, innovation and commercial growth across the Centre and wider park estate
Candidate Requirements
* Senior management experience within an activity centre, hospitality or leisure environment
* A proven track record of delivering excellent customer experiences and managing operational teams
* Strong commercial and financial acumen, including budget management and income generation
* Sound understanding of health & safety and safeguarding in a public‑facing environment
* Excellent leadership, communication and organisational skills
* The ability to operate confidently in a complex, political or public‑sector environment
Our Area:
Wokingham Borough Council has recently been ranked 2nd most productive council in England by the Impower Productivity Index, recognising our strong performance and efficient use of public money.
Our Borough is set in the heart of Berkshire with excellent transport links to Reading and central London. Our area comprises a vibrant and historical market town, attractive villages, and miles of beautiful countryside.
We’re home to a range of high performing schools, a host of international businesses and an incredible community. The borough has a strong local economy with accelerated growth, a range of excellent public facilities and low levels of crime, offering an exceptional quality of life.
Click the link below and Apply Today!
Alternatively, to arrange an informal discussion about the role, contact Gemma Plowright, Head of Commercialisation & Finance Support, via Gemma.Plowright@wokingham.gov.uk (Strictly no agencies).
Interview date: TBC
If your application is shortlisted for an interview, you will be required to provide proof of your right to work in the UK at that stage. Additionally, successful candidates must present proof upon receiving a job offer.
Please note that all offers are conditional and subject to the satisfactory completion of pre‑employment checks.
Please be aware that we will be reviewing the applications we receive on a daily basis, and we reserve the right to close the advert early if suitable candidates are identified.
Wokingham Borough Council is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable adults and expects all staff, other workers and volunteers to share this commitment. All successful candidates for this role will be subject to Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) checks along with other relevant employment checks.
Due to the high volume of applications we receive, we regret that we are unable to respond to every applicant individually.
If you do not hear from us within 4 weeks of the application closing date, please assume that your application has not been successful on this occasion.
We appreciate your interest in joining Wokingham Borough Council and thank you for taking the time to apply.
Wokingham is an equal opportunities employer.
How to apply
Please apply online via the link provided.
Please note, we do not accept CVs submitted without a fully completed online application form.
#J-18808-Ljbffr