General Manager

Location: Primarily at Bo’ness Station nr Edinburgh, EH51 9AQ, Scotland.

Salary: £50,000 - £60,000 depending on experience - Permanent full-time position. 40 hours per week, which will include several weekends given the nature of the timetable operated.

We are looking for a General Manager, someone who has a passion for successful team-working to drive charitable and commercial success, that will undertake the lead managerial role on the Bo’ness and Kinneil Railway (B&KR), and to be responsible to the Scottish Railway Preservation Society Board for the day to day operation of the Society and its activities at all levels.

If you are a natural leader who has commercial acumen and a can-do attitude, who can take responsibility for getting tasks done, directly and through others, driven by the highest standards, and can build, unite and inspire a team of paid and volunteer staff to deliver the Society’s challenging strategic objectives, the General Manager role may be for you. The role is tasked with delivering strong leadership and high standards of compliance. You will be able to demonstrate role model behaviours, with commitment and dedication, working with a large team across a varied number of operations.

Role Description

The General Manager will combine strong business leadership with the sensitivity to work with the volunteers and employees that support the railway. It will require charismatic fundraising ability, supporting the Board and our Heads of Department to:

• Rraise the profile and fundraising reach of the Society
• To embed our new values and
• To ensure that we deliver against our big five priorities of membership growth, investing in our volunteers, marketing the Society and all of its activities, enhancing the Bo’ness visitor experience and investing in our traction and rolling stock.

This is a new role for our society as we seek to embark on a new 5-year strategy, intended to meet our goals of;

• Educating as many people as possible in Scottish railway heritage
• Being a 5 star visitor attraction
• Restore, preserve and improve our railway assets
• Achieve external recognition for the wonderful work that our volunteers do and
• Play an active role in our community

The General Manager will be expected to work with all areas of the Society, including the commercial activities of retail, catering and Mainline operations in the SRPS Railtours entity.

Experience

Effective leadership with senior management experience in managing a multi-functional business, preferably, but not exclusively, in transport, leisure/tourism and/or heritage sectors. A proven track record within an operational customer facing environment. Leadership and experience, preferably working with volunteers, and a proven track record in motivating staff at all levels. Experience of setting targets and developing and implementing strategy/policy making. Understanding of the importance of a safety critical environment. Experience of working effectively at Board level. Knowledge of regulation in a railway environment would be desirable but not essential.

Key skills and attributes

This role requires someone who has proven record in promoting and improving customer service, to achieve high levels of customer satisfaction. A proven record of strong organisational and planning skills. An effective and engaging networker. You should be an excellent communicator who understands the importance of building and nurturing relationships with our vast network of stakeholders including our neighbours along the 5 miles of the B&KR and in the wider railway eco-system.

You should be an experienced leader and a team player used to working with people to get the very best from them, with a can-do attitude, and who takes responsibility for getting tasks done in a safe and compliant manner.

You should have the ability to establish systems and processes to enable the smooth coordination of activities. You should personally align to our new values of:

• Preserving our traction and rolling stock, our infrastructure, our archives and our people. Preserving the best of, and learning from, our history
• Supporting our volunteers to achieve what they are passionate about, recognising that passion is different for different people
• Protecting – valuing a positive safety culture, training people to be mindful of the dangers of railways
• Promoting the aims of the Society internally, to the wider public and to industry bodies
• Participating – spreading joy and having fun. Looking after our people and creating a sense of belonging. Engaging with visitors. Advocating two-way communication. Being the SRPS family with one identity.

You will be responsible for ensuring ongoing compliance with Society policies, procedures and guidelines and placing the health and safety of visitors, staff, volunteers and contractors at the forefront of our thinking. You will be able to manage the administration of the Society’s day-to-day activities. You’ll need appropriate IT and communication skills to undertake this role effectively.

You will support the Board in delivering the Society’s strategic objectives, including the financial budget as well as pursuing the highest standards of quality in all work carried out and you will need to be the line manager for the departments that operate across the Society.

Benefits

• Join a fantastic, friendly team of over 20 staff and around 400 volunteers
• Work within a beautiful and unique location, immersed in Scottish railway history
• Employers’ Pension Scheme
• Free parking
• Work for a charity in the heritage sector where all profits are reinvested into further developing the museum, its people and our communities.

About the Society

The Scottish Railway Preservation Society (SRPS) operates passenger trains on the five-mile Bo’ness & Kinneil Railway (B&KR) on around 150 days per year, with a busy programme of special events and welcomed over 50,000 visitors in 2023.

As one of the country’s leading heritage railways, we have a reputation for high standards of customer service and commercial success.

Our museum tells the story of the history of the Scottish railway industry and our collection has been recognised as being of national significance.

We have a large, diverse audience and we rely upon talented people who are able to demonstrate exceptional skills and personal characteristics to deliver the outstanding experience we offer to visitors.

The railway also hosts filming and location hire, and our connection to the national rail network at Manuel enables trains to operate to and from the B&KR and further afield in the UK mainland.

If you believe that you are the right person for this role, send your CV and covering letter by clicking the 'Apply' button.