Visitor Services Manager

Visitor Services Manager – Wendover Woods (Forestry England)

Step into a leadership role at the heart of one of the Chilterns’ most popular outdoor destinations. As the Visitor Services Manager for Wendover Woods, you will be the driving force behind an exceptional visitor journey. You will lead a passionate team of staff and volunteers to ensure that every visitor—from hardcore mountain bikers to families on a woodland stroll—enjoys a safe, high-quality, and memorable experience. If you have a commercial mindset and a love for the great outdoors, this role offers the perfect blend of strategic management and hands-on operational leadership.

About the Role

Reporting to the site leadership, you will manage the daily pulse of Wendover Woods. Your responsibilities span from the “ground level”—overseeing health and safety and managing recreation contracts—to the strategic level, where you will act as a key budget holder. You will be tasked with identifying commercial growth opportunities, managing complex partnerships with tenants and concessionaires, and ensuring that the forest remains a sustainable and thriving business. Working cross-departmentally with ecologists, foresters, and land managers, you will ensure that recreation and conservation go hand in hand.

Key Responsibilities

• Team Leadership: Lead, coach, and support the recreation team and volunteers, fostering an inclusive and high-performance culture.

• Operational Safety: Ensure strict compliance with health and safety regulations to manage risks for staff, contractors, and the public.

• Financial Management: Manage income and expenditure budgets, reporting on variances and driving commercial growth initiatives.

• Contract Management: Oversee essential site contracts, including cleaning services, gate locking, and chargeable parking systems.

• Strategic Partnerships: Build and maintain strong relationships with external partners, on-site tenants, and concession operators.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Work with Forestry, Ecology, and Civil Engineering teams to ensure site developments align with land management goals.

Person Specification (Requirements & Skills)

Essential Experience:

• Public-Facing Expertise: Proven track record in a busy recreation or visitor-facing role within a similar outdoor environment.

• Supervisory Skills: Experience managing or supervising staff, volunteers, and external contractors.

• Safety Management: Hands-on experience with health, safety, and wellbeing protocols, including accident investigation and reporting.

• Events & Activities: Practical experience in planning and managing outdoor events and visitor activities.

• Budgeting & IT: Understanding of budget management and proficiency in MS Office and specialized systems like ForesterWeb.

Desirable Criteria:

• Understanding of Forestry England recreation management practices.

• Experience in project management and managing partnership businesses or tenants.

• Knowledge of best practices for managing and retaining volunteers.

Qualifications:

• Essential: GCSE Maths and English (or equivalent).

• Desirable: A degree in a relevant discipline (e.g., Leisure Management, Forestry, or Business).

Why Join Forestry England?

• A Unique Office: Work in a stunning woodland environment that changes with the seasons.

• Professional Impact: Play a vital role in managing the nation’s forests for future generations.

• Strategic Growth: Help shape new income-generating initiatives that fund forest conservation.

• Supportive Culture: Join a team that values coaching, development, and personal wellbeing.