Merlin Entertainments

Head of Park Operations

Location (Country-County-City) UK-Surrey-Chessington
Job Locations UK-Surrey-Chessington
ID
2026-13198
Employment Type
Full-Time
Offer/Contract Type
No End Date
Location Name
Chessington World of Adventures Resort

What you'll bring to the team

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Head of Park Operations

 

Location: Chessington World of Adventures Resort Leatherhead Road Chessington Surrey KT9 2NE

Hours: 40 hours per week

Contract Type: Permanent, salaried

 

We are recruiting for a Head of Park Operations to lead the day-to-day operation of our Theme Park, ensuring we deliver safe, efficient and unforgettable guest experiences while achieving ambitious operational and commercial objectives.

 

Reporting to the Resort Operations and Experience Director, you will provide strategic leadership across guest-facing operations, including rides, admissions, guest services and queue management.

 

This is a highly visible leadership role requiring a balance of operational excellence, commercial awareness and people leadership. You will be responsible for driving performance across guest satisfaction, ride availability, throughput, revenue generation and team engagement, while championing a culture of safety and continuous improvement.

 

Working collaboratively across the resort, you will lead and develop a high-performing management team, influence operational strategy, support the delivery of new attractions and experiences, and ensure our park remains at the forefront of industry best practice. You will also play a key role in incident management and operational readiness, providing senior leadership during critical situations when required.

 

 

Qualifications & Experience

  • Significant leadership experience within high-volume, guest-facing operations such as theme parks, visitor attractions, leisure or hospitality environments.
  • Proven experience leading large, multi-functional teams, including senior leaders and frontline colleagues.
  • Strong operational management expertise with a focus on safety, guest experience and operational excellence. 
  • Experience delivering safety compliance within a regulated environment. 
  • Demonstrated success in improving guest satisfaction, operational performance and commercial results.
  • Strong commercial and financial acumen, with experience driving revenue growth and operational efficiency.
  • Excellent leadership, coaching and team development skills.
  • Ability to use operational, guest and financial data to make informed decisions and drive continuous improvement. 
  • Outstanding communication and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to influence across a wide range of teams and partners.
  • Strategic thinker with the ability to balance long-term planning and day-to-day operational delivery.
  • Degree or relevant professional qualification is desirable.

Benefits

  • A competitive annual salary
  • 33 days holiday (including bank holidays)
  • ‘Enjoy the Ride’ Merlin Annual Passes - 6 in total per year, 1 for you, plus 5 to gift to loved ones!
  • Merlin Magic Pass - 20 free tickets for you, your family and friends to enjoy all of our Merlin Attractions across the world rising to 40 after a year’s service
  • Company bonus
  • Private pension scheme
  • 40% discount online off LEGO
  • 25% discount in our on-site retail shops and restaurants
  • Ongoing training and development opportunities 
  • Plus, many more…

 

 

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Pay Range

Competitive

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At Merlin we welcome the world to our magical attractions and resorts every day and we want to reflect that same multicultural mix inside our business too. We strive to create an inclusive and diverse workplace where people can be themselves, have the same opportunities and thrive together. Because at Merlin, everyone matters!

Together, we work to create a workplace where everyone feels valued, no matter their age, race, gender, disability or sexual orientation. Although we understand that we'll always be learning and growing, we aim to be the most inclusive and flexible employer in our industry.