Head of Operations, Kenwood House
Kenwood, London
Who We Are and What We’re Looking For
At English Heritage, we believe heritage is for everybody. It lives in places and people, memories and stories, artefacts and traditions — connecting us to the past and to one another. We care for over a million objects and hundreds of historic sites across England, making them accessible and inspiring for all.
We’re now looking for an experienced operational leader to become our Head of Operations at Kenwood House. In this full-time, permanent role, you’ll take the helm of one of London’s most treasured historic sites — leading a talented, multidisciplinary team to deliver exceptional visitor experiences, safeguard its unique heritage and ensure its continued success as a cultural destination.
As Head of Operations, you will:
– Lead the delivery of exceptional visitor experiences at this historic site
– Oversee daily operations, ensuring high standards of service
– Ensure the site remains welcoming, inclusive and well-managed
– Champion customer experience, service excellence and revenue generation
– Manage safety, risk and security compliance across the site
– Build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders
– Ensure day-to-day operations align with strategic goals
About You
To be considered as our Head of Operations, you will need:
– Extensive experience in visitor operations management, ideally within heritage or museum visitor attractions
– A strong understanding of the challenges of working in a historic environment
– A proven track record in leading high-performing teams
– Experience of managing health, safety, risk and security in an operational setting
– Excellent communication and collaborative working skills
– The ability to problem-solve, make sound decisions and motivate others
– A commitment to outstanding customer service and inclusive engagement
The Benefits
– Salary from £56,520 p.a. (due to inner London base) depending on skills and experience
– Comprehensive training
– The opportunity to progress your career within the heritage sector, in retail, food and beverage or general management
– Opportunities to go to some of our great live music and history events
– Free access to all English Heritage sites for you, and up to six friends and family members
– 25% discount in our shops and cafes
– Enhanced maternity/paternity/shared parental leave
– 25 days’ holiday plus Bank Holidays pro rata rising to 28 days after 3 years
– Options to buy additional leave
– Matched pension contributions up to 10%
London’s Historic Portfolio
English Heritage’s London portfolio brings together a diverse collection of historic properties, ranging from grand residences and elegant villas to forts, monuments and community green spaces. These sites reflect centuries of the capital’s social, political, artistic and architectural history, offering powerful connections to figures who shaped the world and moments that defined a nation.
Next Steps
The closing date for this role is midnight on 22nd April 2025.
Please select the apply button to submit your CV and answer some questions to demonstrate how you meet the essential requirements for the role.
First stage interviews will be held in the week commencing 28th April 2025.
Why Join Us?
At English Heritage, we care for over a million objects and hundreds of historic sites in every part of England, from international icons to local treasures. And it’s why we open them up, share their stories and find new ways for everybody to enjoy, learn, play and create.
Our focus is on partnership, innovation and sustainability. Recent investment in sites such as Marble Hill and Marble Arch reflects our commitment to transforming spaces, telling new stories, and creating welcoming, inclusive places for all. With exciting plans ahead — including a major redevelopment of Kenwood — there’s never been a more inspiring time to join us.
Forget the stereotypes. It takes thousands of people from every background to care for England’s heritage and open it up for everybody to enjoy. We`re looking for every type of person with every kind of skill and experience, and we`re committed to making sure that English Heritage is an equitable, diverse and inclusive place to work. You can connect with others through our EDI networks as a member or ally. These include Ethnic Diversity, Faith & Belief, Social Equity, LGBTQ+, Neurodivergence, Age, Disability and Gender Health and Wellbeing.
Please note, this role will be known internally as General Manager.
Other organisations may call this role Visitor Operations Manager, Heritage Site Manager, General Operations Manager, Historic Property Manager or Cultural Venue General Manager
So, if you want to become our Head of Operations, please apply via the button shown. This vacancy is being advertised by Webrecruit.