General Manager

Wild Planet Trust; Paignton; On-site; GBP 75,000 - GBP 100,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent wildlife conservation organization is seeking a General Manager for Paignton Zoo and Newquay Zoo. This role involves driving commercial success, leading a senior leadership team and ensuring operational excellence. Candidates should have significant experience in leisure or visitor-focused sectors, with proven leadership skills. The role offers a competitive salary of £75,000 to £100,000 per annum, alongside benefits including relocation support and annual leave of 33 days. Join us to impact wildlife conservation!

Benefits

Competitive salary

Performance-related bonus

Company lease car

Laptop and mobile phone

Relocation support

Annual Leave: 33 days

Qualifications

• Proven commercial experience in leisure or visitor-focused environments.
• At least 5 years in senior management roles.
• Exceptional leadership and strong communication abilities.

Responsibilities

• Drive commercial success and operational excellence.
• Lead growth initiatives to increase visitor numbers.
• Ensure quality education and research activities align with objectives.

Skills

Leadership skills

Commercial experience

Communication skills

Budget management

Stakeholder management

Education

Degree in Hospitality, Leisure, Tourism or Business

Job description

Location Paignton Zoo, Totnes Road, Paignton, Devon, TQ4 7EU Salary £75,000 - £100,000 per annum dependent on experience plus performance related pay Application Deadline Sunday, March 1, 2026 Job Summary

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 meetings 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

Interviews will be held in March. Please note there will be several stages to the interview process, with the final stage possibly taking place in the Netherlands.