Village Director

Lead. Inspire. Shape The Experience.
Village Director | £136,000 per annum plus 28% bonus scheme
Whinfell Forest
At Center Parcs, our people are our greatest asset and we're looking for an exceptional leader to guide one of our iconic UK holiday villages. This is a rare and career-defining opportunity to oversee the operations of a vibrant, multifaceted village that welcomes thousands of guests each week and employs up to 2,000 talented colleagues.

As Village Director, you will be the senior ambassador for our brand and the onsite person who sets the tone, inspires excellence, and ensures every guest enjoys an unforgettable break.

Why This Role Is a Brilliant Opportunity

• Scale & Impact: Lead a diverse commercial operation the size of a small town -spanning leisure, spa, Food & Beverage, accommodation, technical services, housekeeping and more.
• Autonomy & Influence: As the senior representative of the business on village, you will shape the local strategy, culture, guest experience and commercial performance.
• People Leadership: Coach, support and develop a high-performing senior leadership team.
• Purpose & Legacy: Influence guest memories, colleague experience, and the long-term success of your village.
• Future-Focused: Play a pivotal role in Capital Expenditure (CAPEX) planning, delivering Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) initiatives, driving operational innovation, and shaping brand evolution.

What You'll Be Doing

• Lead the Village: Oversee day to day operations across all departments.
• Inspire & Develop People: Shape a high performing, inclusive leadership culture.
• Drive Financial Success: Take ownership of Operating Expenditure (OPEX), payroll, commercial plans, and performance metrics.
• Elevate the Guest Experience: Champion Guest feedback scores and lead service recovery plans.
• Set Strategy Into Motion: Deliver village performance targets and operational plans.
• Strengthen Our Brand: Partner with Sales, Marketing and PR to uphold our promise.
• Ensure Compliance & Safety: Maintain the highest regulatory, legal and H&S standards.
• Lead in Critical Moments: Manage crisis response as the senior escalation point.
• Engage the Community: Build strong relationships with local authorities and partners.

What We're Looking For

• An inspiring senior operations leader with experience in large, complex environments.
• A champion of guest/customer experience.
• Strong financial and commercial acumen.
• Exceptional communication, influence and stakeholder management skills.
• Operational depth with the ability to lead 24/7 multidisciplinary operations.
• A confident, resilient leader with gravitas and strategic capability.

Ready to Lead One of the UK's Most Unique Hospitality Operations?
If you're motivated by meaningful leadership, commercial challenge, operational excellence and creating memorable experiences for millions of guests, we'd love to hear from you.

Join Center Parcs and make a real impact - on people, performance and the future of our villages.

About The Benefits
Center Parcs is a fantastic place to work, and the benefits are as impressive as they are unique. Here are just a few:

• Management Bonus Scheme
• Colleague Recognition and Reward Scheme – offering a choice of Center Parcs and High Street vouchers
• Free use of our leisure facilities
• Discounted Center Parcs breaks
• 20% discount in our restaurant and retail outlets
• Access to Perks at Work Portal - offering a wide range of retail and leisure discounts
• An Employee Assistance Program - providing support on financial, health and legal matters
• Excellent opportunities for career development and progression with the opportunity to gain externally recognised qualifications

Closing date:
18th of January 2026

Please note this vacancy may close at any time once sufficient applications have been received. Early submission of your application is therefore encouraged.
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At Center Parcs, everyone's welcome.
We recognise that we're all at our best when we're being ourselves. We are committed to building a culture that champions diversity, equity, and inclusion, where everyone is treated fairly and with respect. We welcome people from all backgrounds and want them to feel valued for their individuality, thrive in our business and share a sense of belonging. We place a lot of value on recruiting based on behaviours rather than prioritising qualifications or experience.
We are proud to be a Disability Confident Employer, please let us know if you require any support or reasonable adjustments during the application or interview process.