Chief Operating Officer – Leisure & Attractions (UK HQ, European Travel Required)

Salary:                  £140,000+

Location               UK and Europe

I am delighted to be partnering with one of the UK’s most dynamic and rapidly expanding leisure and attractions groups to appoint a Chief Operating Officer. This is a rare leadership opportunity to join a high-growth business with a clear trajectory towards European market expansion and a long-term pathway to future CEO succession.

With an established UK presence, a strong and distinctive brand, and a reputation for delivering exceptional visitor experiences, the business now seeks a proven operational leader to guide its next phase of growth.

The Role

As COO, you will take full ownership of day-to-day operations across a diverse and expanding portfolio of visitor destinations. You will drive operational excellence, embed consistency and efficiency, and support local teams to maintain the distinctive energy and guest-focus that defines each site.

Strategically, you will partner closely with the CEO to shape the organisation for international scale—building the right structures, processes, and leadership capability to deliver ambitious growth plans across Europe.

Key Responsibilities

• Oversee multi-site operations, ensuring both operational performance and outstanding guest experience.
• Lead operational strategy to prepare the business for successful European expansion.
• Build and develop senior leadership capability across the portfolio.
• Balance commercial growth with brand integrity and customer-centricity.
• Act as a key partner to the CEO, with a succession pathway to a broader leadership role.

Candidate Profile

I am looking for a commercially astute, hands-on leader with a proven background in leisure, attractions, or high-volume visitor destinations.

• Senior leadership experience at COO, Operations Director, or equivalent level.
• Demonstrated success managing complex, multi-site operations at scale.
• Proven track record of expansion across UK and European markets.
• Strong commercial and strategic acumen.
• Inspirational leader with the ability to engage and motivate large, diverse teams.
• Ambitious, forward-thinking, and motivated by the opportunity to shape the future of a growth-focused business.

Why Apply?

This is a stand-out opportunity for a high-calibre operator seeking to make a lasting impact on a fast-growing, ambitious company within the leisure and attractions sector. For the right individual, this position offers both immediate influence and long-term progression at group leadership level. For more information contact david@corecruitment.com or call David Allen on 02077902666