Welsh Mountain Zoo - National Zoo of Wales
Commercial Director
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Commercial Director
Location: Welsh Mountain Zoo, Colwyn Bay
Salary: Competitive, dependent on experience
Hours: Full-time, 40 hours per week
Lead Growth. Fund Conservation. Inspire Generations.
The Welsh Mountain Zoo is seeking an experienced and commercially focused leader to join our Senior Leadership Team as Commercial Director.
This is a pivotal role responsible for driving revenue growth, developing new income streams, enhancing visitor engagement and helping secure the long-term sustainability of one of Wales’s leading conservation charities.
Working closely with the Chief Executive Officer, Director of Living Collections and Board of Trustees, you will lead the zoo's commercial strategy, balancing commercial success with our commitment to conservation, education, animal welfare and community engagement.
What You'll Lead
You will provide strategic leadership across:
- Commercial operations
- Guest services
- Marketing and communications
- Retail
- Fundraising and partnerships
- Franchised catering operations
- Business development initiatives
- Financial planning and commercial performance
You will be responsible for:
- Developing and delivering the zoo's commercial strategy.
- Identifying and developing new income streams.
- Driving revenue growth across admissions, memberships, retail, events and visitor experiences.
- Leading annual budgeting, forecasting and financial planning activity.
- Monitoring commercial performance through KPIs and visitor analytics.
- Developing commercial partnerships, sponsorship opportunities and stakeholder relationships.
- Working collaboratively with trustees, senior leaders and operational teams.
- Leading major commercial projects from concept through to implementation.
- Ensuring an outstanding visitor experience across all guest-facing functions.
- Supporting the organisation's long-term strategic objectives.
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About You
You are an experienced commercial leader with a proven track record of driving growth, leading teams and delivering results.
Essential Requirements
You must be able to demonstrate:
- Significant experience in a senior commercial leadership role.
- A proven track record of delivering revenue growth and commercial success.
- At least five years' experience within a visitor attraction, tourism, hospitality, heritage, leisure or similar customer-focused environment.
- Experience managing multi-functional teams of more than 20 employees.
- Responsibility for budgeting, financial planning and commercial decision-making.
- Experience developing business plans and commercial strategies.
- Strong stakeholder management and partnership-development experience.
- Excellent communication and leadership skills.
- A commitment to conservation, education and charitable objectives.
- Ability to commute to Colwyn Bay or willingness to relocate.
Particularly Relevant Experience
We would particularly welcome applications from candidates with experience in:
- Zoos, aquariums or wildlife attractions.
- Museums, heritage or cultural attractions.
- National Trust, Wildlife Trust, RSPB or similar conservation organisations.
- Tourism and hospitality businesses.
- Membership-based organisations.
- Educational or public engagement attractions.
Desirable Experience
- Fundraising and sponsorship development.
- Grant funding awareness and experience.
- Knowledge of the Welsh tourism market.
- Experience working with Visit Wales or tourism partnerships.
- Welsh Government funding experience.
- Awareness of bilingual communication requirements.
- Experience working within a charity governance framework.
- Experience reporting to boards or trustees.
Qualifications
Essential
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- Degree level qualification or equivalent experience in:
- Business Management
- Marketing
- Tourism Management
- Hospitality Management
- Commerce
- Economics
Desirable
- MBA
- CIM Qualification
- Chartered Management Institute Qualification
- Project Management Qualification (PRINCE2, Agile, APM)
- Accountancy Qualification
- Institute of Fundraising Qualification
- Health & Safety Qualification
Why Join Us?
This is a unique opportunity to combine commercial leadership with a meaningful purpose. Every commercial success contributes directly to conservation, education and animal welfare, helping secure the long-term future of the National Zoo of Wales.
Benefits include:
- Competitive salary.
- Pension scheme.
- 33 days annual leave including bank holidays.
- Enhanced company sick pay following qualifying service.
- Flexible working arrangements where operationally possible.
- Free zoo admission for immediate family.
- Complimentary access to participating BIAZA zoos.
- Staff discounts.
- Employee Assistance Programme.
- Free parking.
- Ongoing professional development opportunities.
Please Highlight In Your Application
Candidates should provide examples of:
- Revenue growth achieved.
- Visitor or customer growth achieved.
- New products, services or visitor experiences launched.
- Commercial partnerships secured.
- Cost savings delivered without negatively impacting customer experience.
- Strategic projects successfully delivered.
To Apply
Please submit your CV together with a covering letter explaining why you are the right person to help shape the future of Welsh Mountain Zoo.
Previous applicants need not apply.
We reserve the right to close this vacancy early should a suitable candidate be appointed before the advertised closing date.
Closing date: 15th September 2026
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