Trent Park House of Secrets
Operations and Commercial Manager
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Operations and Commercial Manager
Employer: Trent Park Museum Trust (registered charity no. 1169382)
Location: Trent Park House, Enfield, London EN4
Contract: Full time, permanent
Salary: £38,000 to £42,000 per annum depending on experience
Reports to: Museum Director
Working pattern: Five days per week including regular weekend working on a rota. The museum is open to visitors Tuesday to Sunday.
About Trent Park House of Secrets
Trent Park House of Secrets is a landmark Grade II listed heritage site in Enfield, London. Once the glamorous 1930s home of Sir Philip Sassoon and later a centre of secret intelligence during the Second World War, the House has been restored and transformed into a major new museum. Visitors discover extraordinary stories of espionage, wartime secrets and high society, brought vividly to life through exhibitions, learning programmes and community engagement. The museum opened to the public in summer 2026 and this is an opportunity to join the team at a pivotal moment in its growth.
Purpose of the role
The Operations and Commercial Manager is the museum’s second most senior member of staff after the Director and is the key operational leader responsible for the museum’s day-to-day running.
Having recently opened to the public, Trent Park House of Secrets is entering an exciting new phase of growth. This is a genuinely hands-on leadership role and a rare opportunity to help shape the commercial future of one of Britain’s newest museums. Working closely with the Director, the successful candidate will oversee the overall onsite visitor experience, manage the museum shop to maximise sales, establish and develop the online shop and be responsible for the delivery of the museum’s venue hire business, making a lasting contribution to the organisation’s long-term sustainability.
Acting as the Director’s operational deputy, the postholder will lead the museum’s visitor operations, commercial development and day-to-day operational management. The Director leads the museum’s strategy, and this post is responsible for its day-to-day delivery, contributing to strategic thinking as the museum grows.
The postholder will line manage the part-time Visitor Services Assistant and oversee the volunteers who staff the ticket desk and museum shop. The role reports to the Director and works closely with the Volunteer Manager and the museum’s large and committed volunteer team.
Key responsibilities
Visitor operations
- Lead the museum’s day-to-day visitor operation, ensuring an outstanding visitor experience
- Open and close the building on operating days, carrying out daily checks of the galleries including switching on and off audiovisual displays and ensuring all rooms are ready for visitors
- Work closely with volunteers and the Volunteer Manager, ensuring that front of house areas are staffed in line with health and safety and operational requirements
- Line manage the Visitor Services Assistant and oversee the ticket desk and retail volunteers
- Oversee admissions, booking, ticketing and point of sale systems
- Maintain the highest standards of presentation, accessibility, safety and security
- Manage and respond to visitor enquiries received by email or social media
- Oversee opening, closing and financial control procedures
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Commercial development
- Manage the museum shop, working with the retail consultant to maintain adequate stock levels, source new products, monitor margins and grow sales
- Manage retail stock control to ensure that best selling products are in continuous supply, completing stocktakes and implementing actions to help minimise write offs and potential loss
- Establish the museum’s e-commerce offer, overseeing the day-to-day administration of the online shop and processing and fulfilling orders
- Deliver the museum’s venue hire business, working with the Director to maximise commercial opportunities, and managing enquiries, quotations, bookings, contracts and event administration from initial enquiry through to successful delivery, negotiating favourable terms with clients and suppliers
- Identify and develop new commercial opportunities across the museum’s activities, working to agreed targets
- Monitor and analyse visitor, retail and commercial performance, using data to identify opportunities to improve income and the visitor experience
- Prepare commercial budgets, forecasts and regular performance reports for the Director and trustees
- Manage the museum’s relationship with the café concession operator, ensuring effective liaison, compliance with the concession agreement and a joined-up visitor experience
General
- Act as duty manager on a regular rota across the six day operation, holding operational responsibility for the museum on open days and providing cover during the Director’s absences
- Contribute to operational policies, procedures and risk management
- Support special events, evening functions and the museum’s public programme
- Undertake other duties commensurate with the role as reasonably required by the Director
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Person specification
Experience and knowledge
Essential
- Significant experience of visitor-facing operations in a museum, heritage, cultural or comparable visitor attraction setting
- Experience of managing ticketing and point of sale systems, ideally Shopify or a comparable platform
- Experience of managing or supervising staff and/or volunteers
- Experience of cash handling, reconciliation and financial reporting
Desirable
- Experience of retail management, including stock, merchandising and sales reporting
- Experience of developing commercial income, including private hire, events or e-commerce
- Experience of working with concession or catering operators
Skills and abilities
Essential
- Excellent organisational skills, with the ability to run a busy daily operation calmly and reliably
- Strong customer service skills and a genuine commitment to visitor experience
- Confident numeracy and budgeting skills, with the ability to prepare and interpret commercial reports
- Strong IT skills, including confident use of e-commerce and point of sale platforms
- Clear and professional written and verbal communication
Personal qualities
Essential
- Warm, welcoming and professional, setting the tone for the visitor experience
- Hands-on and flexible, comfortable moving between strategic and operational tasks in a small team
- Commercially minded and entrepreneurial, with the initiative to identify opportunities, solve problems and pursue new income streams
- Reliable and calm under pressure, with good decision making skills
- Commitment to the museum’s values and to sharing the stories of Trent Park with the widest possible audience
Desirable
- Interest in twentieth century history and heritage
Conditions of employment
Appointment is subject to satisfactory references, proof of right to work in the UK and a Basic DBS check. Due to the nature of the role, during the museum’s operational opening hours the successful candidate will be working 100% on site. Please note that this role is not eligible for sponsorship.
How to apply
To apply, please send a CV and covering letter of no more than two pages of A4 to director@trentparkhouse.org.uk with the subject heading Operations and Commercial Manager. The closing date for applications is Sunday 2 August 2026. Interviews will be held on Thursday 13 and Friday 14 August 2026. We ask that candidates submit applications written in their own words, so applications generated or substantially assisted by AI may not be considered.
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