General Manager Paignton Zoo and Newquay Zoo
Join Us in Shaping the Future of Two Iconic Zoos!
Paignton Zoo in Devon and Newquay Zoo in Cornwall are among the South West’s most loved and leading wildlife attractions. With rich, fascinating histories, strong foundations in conservation, education and research, and a diverse collection of over 2,800 animals across both sites, these zoos offer an exciting and dynamic environment to lead.
Both zoos have recently become part of Libéma, one of the Netherlands’ leading leisure organisations, bringing new opportunities for innovation, collaboration and growth.
We’re now looking for a dynamic, forward-thinking General Manager to guide and shape the future of Paignton Zoo and Newquay Zoo. If you’re passionate about wildlife, people and creating unforgettable experiences, this is your chance to make a real impact.
The Role
As General Manager, you’ll be at the heart of the two zoos with responsibility for driving commercial success and operational excellence across Paignton Zoo and Newquay Zoo. With end-to-end responsibility for the Marketing, Sales and operational performance of both organisations this is a unique opportunity to lead the business through its next exciting phase of development, driving sustainable growth in visitor numbers and revenue while safeguarding long-term financial resilience and the highest standards of animal welfare.
In addition you will provide strategic oversight of education and research activities, ensuring these activities are fully integrated into operations and actively contribute to the organisations’ strategic direction and impact.
Reporting to the Divisional Director, you will have significant autonomy to shape the annual business plan and budget, take full ownership of delivery against agreed objectives. Leading a talented Senior Leadership Team, you will combine oversight with a visible, hands-on leadership style, remaining closely connected to the day-to-day operation and leading the organisations as if they were your own businesses.
Scope of Responsibility
Full accountability for Paignton Zoo’s and Newquay Zoo’s commercial and operational performance
Leadership of departmental heads across:
Food & Beverage
Guest Services
Animal Care
Facilities
Visitor Experience
Development and execution of growth initiatives that:
increase visitor numbers and brand awareness
boost on-site revenue
continuously enhance every aspect of the guest journey
Financial stewardship with strong control, budgeting and performance management
Overall responsibility for leading the development, quality, and integration of education and research activities, ensuring they are closely aligned with organisational objectives and deliver positive, measurable impact for animal welfare, conservation, and continuous improvement.
Acting as a key external ambassador for the zoos, building relationships with local authorities, regional partners and suppliers
Collaborating closely with support functions, which are coordinated from the Netherlands, including HR, Finance, Legal, IT, Construction & Maintenance, Marketing, Sales and F&B procurement.
This is a hands on leadership role in a seven day a week business, and as part of our duty management rota, you’ll occasionally work weekends and bank holidays to ensure smooth operations.
Candidate Profile
We are looking for a senior leader with proven commercial experience in leisure, hospitality, attractions or other visitor focused environments who is motivated by autonomy, scale and the chance for international exposure.
Key requirements include:
Degree-level education (or equivalent), preferably in Hospitality, Leisure, Tourism or Business
At least 5 years’ experience in senior or general management roles
Proven track record of P&L ownership, budget management and delivering commercial growth
Exceptional leadership skills, able to inspire, engage and develop teams
A commercial, entrepreneurial mindset combined with operational rigour
Excellent communication and stakeholder management capabilities
Resilience, adaptability and confidence operating in a dynamic, customer-facing environment
An affinity for animals, nature and outdoor attractions
Reward
Competitive salary: £75,000 to £100,000 per annum depending on experience plus performance-related bonus
Base location: Paignton Zoo, Devon (with regular travel to Newquay Zoo and occasional travel to The Netherlands for relevant meeting and events)
Hours: 37.5 a week
Annual Leave: 33 days including the usual bank holidays
Company lease car, laptop and mobile phone
Relocation support available
How to apply
Ready to take the lead? Apply via our online portal, where you’ll be asked to:
Upload your CV
Provide a covering letter outlining your experience and motivation
Complete a short application form
Click apply and take the first step toward shaping the future of Paignton Zoo and Newquay Zoo.
REF-(Apply online only)