Head of Operations

Head of Operations
Help make an extraordinary place work brilliantly.

Location: Brooklands Museum, Weybridge, Surrey
Salary: c.£50,000 per annum
Contract: Permanent full-time, 37.5 hours per week
Reports to: Chief Operating Officer
Regular weekend and Bank Holiday working and occasional evening working will be required to support our seven-day operation and events, with time off in lieu provided. There aren't many operational leadership jobs quite like this one.

Brooklands Museum occupies 32 acres of one of Britains most extraordinary historic sites - the worlds first purpose-built motor racing circuit, the birthplace of British motorsport and a site that played a defining role in British aviation. Today it is a thriving visitor attraction welcoming more than 180,000 people a year, supported by over 900 volunteers and around 13,000 members. And we are looking for an exceptional Head of Operations to help make it all work brilliantly. The opportunity
As Head of Operations, you will lead the daily visitor-facing operation of Brooklands Museum.

That means ensuring the Museum is safe, welcoming, accessible, well-presented and ready for visitors - but the breadth of the role goes much further. One day you could be preparing the site for thousands of visitors attending a major motoring event. Another might involve reviewing the Concorde visitor experience, planning a fly-in, preparing for filming, improving accessibility or looking at how visitor feedback and operational data can help us work better.

You will lead our Operations team, coordinate visitor-facing volunteer deployment and contracted services and work across Brooklands to deliver consistently excellent standards. You will also play an important role in major events, premium experiences, public programmes, peak periods and the many different activities that make Brooklands unlike a conventional museum. What you will bring
We are looking for a calm, professional, confident and collaborative operational leader who understands how to make complex public-facing environments work.

Your background might be in a museum, heritage site or visitor attraction - but it could equally be in a cultural venue, hospitality, events or another busy public-facing organisation.

You will bring experience of

leading visitor-facing operations and Duty Management
managing and developing staff, volunteers and/or contractors
operational planning, staffing, visitor flow and site readiness
health and safety, risk assessment, emergency procedures and operational compliance
planning for busy periods, events or complex public activity
improving visitor experience and accessibility
using feedback, data and operational learning to make practical improvements
You'll be comfortable making decisions, setting clear standards and remaining calm when circumstances change.

Just as importantly, you'll be someone who enjoys working with people - building trust, bringing teams together and creating the conditions in which others can do their best work. Why Brooklands? Because few operational roles offer this much variety. You'll be working among historic buildings, aircraft, racing cars and motorcycles, Concorde, exhibitions and live site activity. You'll help deliver major events and experiences while protecting an internationally important heritage site. And you'll be joining Brooklands at an exciting time.

Following the centenary of Britain's first Grand Prix in the summer of 2026, we are building on increased awareness of the Museum and continuing to develop our visitor experiences, events and programmes. As an independent charity, excellent operations are fundamental to our success. This role has a direct and visible impact on the experience of every person who comes through our gates.

What we offer
Benefits include:
25 days annual leave plus Bank Holidays and Christmas Eve
flexible Bank Holiday policy
flexible working to support work-life balance
4% employer pension contribution
free onsite parking
20% discount in our onsite café and Museum shop
free access to Brooklands Museum
retail discounts through our Reward Website
online wellbeing support, including 24/7 telephone support and counselling
trained Mental Health First Aiders
opportunities for continuous learning and professional development. Interested?

If you're excited by the idea of leading the operation behind one of Britain's most distinctive visitor attractions, we'd love to hear from you. Please submit an up-to-date CV and a covering letter of no more than two sides of A4 explaining how your experience relates to the role, how you meet the person specification and what you could bring to Brooklands Museum. Applications will be reviewed from [insert date], with shortlisted candidates contacted regarding the next stage of the selection process.

We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds and particularly value the different perspectives, experiences and ideas that people can bring to Brooklands. Brooklands Museum Trust Limited is an independent charity. Come and help us make an extraordinary place work brilliantly. REF-231146