Cinema General Manager

We are recruiting for an experienced and commercially focused Cinema General Manager to lead a busy cinema within a major cinema chain.

As General Manager, you will take overall responsibility for the performance of the cinema, leading the management team and wider operation to deliver outstanding customer service, strong commercial results and consistently high operational standards.

This is a highly visible leadership role where you will be expected to lead from the front, develop a high-performing team and create a positive culture where both employees and customers have a great experience.

You will work closely with senior operational leadership and take ownership of the cinema's financial performance, people development, customer experience, compliance and day-to-day operation.

Key Responsibilities

• Take overall responsibility for the successful day-to-day operation of the cinema.
• Lead, motivate and develop the management team and wider cinema team.
• Create a positive working culture that promotes engagement, teamwork, diversity and inclusion.
• Deliver an exceptional customer experience and ensure consistently high service standards.
• Implement the cinema's business plan, operational objectives and KPIs.
• Monitor performance against revenue, profitability, labour and customer experience targets.
• Review cinema performance regularly and implement action plans where improvements are required.
• Identify commercial opportunities within film schedules, events, premium experiences and local trading periods.
• Monitor customer attendance forecasts and ensure staffing levels are aligned appropriately with expected demand.
• Manage staff costs, labour budgets and overall cinema profitability.
• Ensure payroll information and staffing hours are managed accurately.
• Work with relevant internal teams to ensure film content, screenings and cinema technology operate effectively.
• Take ownership of recruitment, onboarding, training and retention across the cinema.
• Coach and develop managers and team members through regular feedback, performance reviews and development plans.
• Identify future talent and actively support internal progression and succession planning.
• Manage employee performance and address underperformance through structured and effective processes.
• Ensure the team completes all required training and compliance programmes.
• Maintain strong standards across Health & Safety, fire safety, GDPR, food safety and other relevant legislation.
• Oversee site maintenance and ensure operational issues are identified and resolved quickly.
• Ensure high standards are maintained across cleanliness, screen presentation, stock management and overall cinema appearance.
• Monitor stock levels, wastage and operational costs to support profitability.
• Lead by example during peak trading periods, including evenings, weekends and major film releases.
• Build strong relationships with internal stakeholders and the wider business.
• Support local marketing and community initiatives to strengthen the cinema's position within its local market.
• Regularly review customer feedback and implement improvements to enhance the overall cinema experience.

You will be a confident and experienced operational leader who is comfortable managing a large, fast-paced customer-facing business.

You should combine strong people leadership with commercial awareness and have the ability to manage multiple priorities while maintaining high standards across the operation.

You will ideally have:

• Previous experience as a General Manager, Venue Manager, Cinema Manager or senior operational manager.
• Experience within Cinema, Entertainment, Leisure, Hospitality, Retail or another high-volume customer-facing environment.
• A strong track record of leading and developing large teams.
• Experience managing managers and creating high-performing leadership teams.
• Strong commercial awareness with experience managing budgets, P&L, labour costs and KPIs.
• The ability to analyse business performance and implement effective action plans.
• Strong experience in recruitment, performance management, employee relations and talent development.
• Excellent customer service standards with a proven ability to improve customer experience.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• The confidence to influence and engage stakeholders at all levels.
• Excellent organisational and time-management skills.
• A proactive and solutions-focused approach to operational challenges.
• Good knowledge of Health & Safety and operational compliance.
• Confidence using IT systems, including Microsoft Office and Excel.
• The ability to quickly learn cinema-specific technology and operational systems.
• A genuine passion for the cinema, entertainment and leisure industry.
• Flexibility to work across a 7-day operation, including evenings, weekends, school holidays and major film releases.

The Ideal Candidate

This role would suit a commercially driven General Manager who enjoys combining people leadership, customer experience and operational excellence within a high-energy entertainment environment.

You will be someone who leads from the front, develops strong managers and creates a culture where employees are motivated to deliver their best.

You will be equally comfortable analysing financial performance and labour costs as you are supporting a busy evening shift, speaking with customers or coaching a member of the management team.

For an experienced leader looking to progress their career within a major cinema chain, this is an excellent opportunity to take full ownership of a high-profile venue and make a genuine impact on its people, performance and customer experience.

• Annual Bonus
• Free Tickets
• Discounted Food & Beverage
• Free Parking