Venues Lead

Inspire visitors. Grow commercial success. Lead exceptional venues.

North Lincolnshire is investing in its cultural, leisure and visitor destinations to create thriving venues that deliver outstanding experiences for residents and visitors while supporting long-term financial sustainability. We are seeking an ambitious and commercially minded Venues Lead to drive performance across some of North Lincolnshire’s most important assets.

About the Role

This is a high-profile leadership role responsible for the operational and commercial performance of:

• Normanby Hall Country Park.
• The Baths Hall.
• North Lincolnshire Museum.
• 20-21 Visual Arts Centre.

You will lead a diverse portfolio of venues, ensuring they deliver excellent customer experiences, strong commercial returns and sustainable growth. You will oversee workforce deployment, compliance, financial performance, business planning and the effective use of assets, while helping to maximise the contribution these venues make to North Lincolnshire’s visitor economy.

In This Role, You Will:

• Provide strong leadership across multiple cultural, leisure and visitor destinations.
• Drive commercial growth through events, hospitality, retail, memberships, venue hire, sponsorship and partnerships.
• Develop and deliver business plans with clear income targets, investment priorities and performance measures.
• Ensure venues are safe, compliant, customer-focused and financially sustainable.
• Lead, motivate and develop multidisciplinary teams.
• Manage budgets, resources, income targets and operational risk.
• Use data and insight to support decision-making and continuous improvement.
• Enhance customer experience and increase visitor engagement.
• Build effective relationships with elected members, partners, stakeholders and senior leaders.
• Lead change and embed a high-performance culture across services.

What We Are Looking For

Essential Experience

• Significant leadership experience within a commercial, cultural, leisure, visitor economy or comparable customer-facing environment.
• Experience managing teams across multiple sites or services.
• Proven track record of managing budgets, income targets and financial performance.
• Experience balancing operational delivery with commercial objectives.
• Strong workforce planning, performance management and people leadership skills.
• Experience managing compliance, health and safety, risk and operational performance.
• Ability to work effectively with senior leaders, elected members and external stakeholders.
• Experience using data and insight to support service improvement and decision-making.

Desirable Experience and Attributes

• Experience leading complex customer-facing operations.
• Strong commercial acumen and a track record of growing income.
• Experience of venue management across multiple locations.
• Marketing, audience development or visitor growth experience.
• Ability to identify commercial opportunities and turn ideas into measurable results.
• Resilient, adaptable and comfortable operating in a fast-moving environment.
• Passion for delivering excellent customer experiences and maximising the potential of public assets.

Why Join Us?

One Council. One Place. One Family. One Purpose.

• Lead some of North Lincolnshire’s most recognisable and valued destinations.
• Play a key role in shaping the future of our commercial, cultural and visitor offer.
• Deliver visible improvements that benefit residents, visitors and local communities.
• Drive innovation, income growth and service excellence.
• Work alongside committed and supportive colleagues across the Council.
• Join an ambitious authority investing in its people, places and services.

We Offer

• Competitive salary.
• Membership of the Local Government Pension Scheme.
• Relocation package.
• Minimum 30 days annual leave plus bank holidays, with the option to purchase additional leave.
• Flexible and hybrid working opportunities.
• BHSF health and wellbeing benefits.
• Pluxee employee benefits platform.
• Cycle to Work and Tusker salary sacrifice schemes.
• Free onsite parking.
• Comprehensive induction and onboarding support.
• Ongoing learning, development and career progression opportunities. (Subject to role eligibility and council policy.)

Inclusive Employer

North Lincolnshire Council is committed to being an inclusive employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community. We are proud to create a working environment where everyone is treated fairly, with dignity and respect.

Further Information

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact:

• Amy Knapper – Amy.Knapper@northlincs.gov.uk

Please refer to the attached job description and employee specification when completing your application and ensure you demonstrate how you meet the essential criteria for the role.

Closing Date: 23 October 2026
Interview Date: To be confirmed

Candidates must be able to evidence their right to work in the UK. Please note the Council does not hold a sponsor licence to sponsor people to work in the UK.

Attachments

• Job description and employee specification.pdf