Company Introduction
Established in 2001, REEL Cinemas is proud to be one of the UK’s leading family-owned independent cinema chains, bringing the magic of the movies to communities across the country. We combine the scale to deliver quality with the independence to stay agile, personal and rooted in local life. In an ever-evolving industry, we lead with ambition, innovation and a clear focus on film-first experiences.
We believe in making cinema-going accessible and enjoyable for everyone. Our cinemas are rooted in their local communities, offering high-quality, great-value family entertainment without compromise. Every site reflects both the community it serves and REEL’s drive for consistently high standards.
What truly sets us apart is our personal touch. We pride ourselves on being approachable, welcoming and dedicated to outstanding customer service. Our teams go beyond simply showing films – they create moments of connection, joy and lasting memories for our guests.
About REEL Burnley
REEL Burnley is one of our most significant cinemas in the estate and an important flagship location for the business. Situated in Burnley town centre, the cinema plays a key role in serving the local community and delivering a high-quality, modern cinema experience in a prominent and accessible location.
With 7 screens (including a REEL Lounge) and a strong mix of mainstream film, family audiences, retail opportunity and local community engagement, REEL Burnley is a busy, high-profile operation that requires strong, visible leadership and excellent day-to-day execution.
We’re looking for a hands-on, organised and people-focused Deputy General Manager to support the General Manager in running this important cinema. You’ll help lead a high-performing team, support all aspects of day-to-day operations, and play a key role in delivering outstanding guest experiences, strong retail results and high operational standards.
This is a brilliant opportunity for someone ready to step up in a large, fast-paced cinema environment – gaining exposure to the full commercial and operational running of one of REEL’s key sites.
Role Purpose
As Deputy General Manager at REEL Burnley, you’ll be the General Manager’s right hand — helping to lead the team, embed standards and ensure the cinema runs smoothly, safely and profitably every day.
You’ll be highly visible on the floor, confident running shifts, coaching managers and team members, and driving performance across admissions, retail and overall guest experience.
Key Responsibilities
Support the Business
Support the General Manager in delivering strong commercial performance across admissions, retail and overall cinema profitability.
Help monitor costs, waste, stock control and rota efficiency to protect margins and drive productivity.
Identify opportunities to grow spend per head, repeat visits and local partnerships.
Support delivery of targets for admissions, retail sales and site performance.
Represent REEL positively in the community, supporting relationships with schools, groups and local organisations where appropriate.
Deliver Exceptional Experiences
Be a visible leader on the floor, role-modelling a warm, customer-first culture.
Handle customer feedback and complaints with professionalism, pace and care.
Support the delivery of a consistently high-quality cinema experience for every guest, every visit.
Maintain excellent presentation standards across front-of-house, screens and all guest areas.
Ensure Operational Excellence
Run daily operations, including opening/closing, shift leadership and duty management cover.
Maintain high standards across health & safety, food hygiene, security, cash handling and compliance.
Build confidence and competence in projection and technical systems, acting as first-line support where required and coordinating with central teams.
Ensure the team is trained on emergency procedures and follows SOPs consistently.
Work closely with other site leaders and Support Centre teams to share best practice.
Lead and Develop the Team
Support recruitment, onboarding and training, helping build capability and consistency across the team.
Coach and develop duty managers and team members through feedback, 1-2-1s and on-shift leadership.
Help create a positive, inclusive culture with fair rotas, clear expectations and consistent accountability.
Support performance management and encourage progression across the team.
What We’re Looking For
Proven leadership experience — ideally 2+ years in cinema, hospitality, leisure or entertainment venue operations.
A strong service mindset and a natural ability to lead from the front.
Confidence in running shifts, managing priorities and making decisions in real time.
Commercial awareness — able to understand performance drivers and spot opportunities to improve sales and standards.
Experience supporting local marketing, events, community engagement or guest-driving initiatives is desirable.
Strong communication and relationship-building skills.
Comfortable in a fast-paced, customer-facing environment.
Confident with IT systems and tools including MS Office, POS systems and AV/tech equipment.
Desirable (but not essential)
Experience in a larger-volume or high-footfall site.
First Aid, Food Hygiene, Health & Safety or Personal Licence qualifications.
Perks & Benefits
Competitive salary.
28 days of annual leave – time to recharge and refresh.
Free movies and discounts – complimentary tickets for you and guests, plus discounts on snacks and drinks.
Supportive workplace culture – be part of a passionate, collaborative team.
A chance to develop your leadership career in one of REEL’s key cinemas.
Death in Service Life Insurance – 4 x salary
Employee Assistance Programme for wellbeing and financial support
24/7 Virtual GP appointments
Why Join Us?
At REEL Cinemas, we’re more than just a place to watch films — we’re a community-driven, customer-focused company that’s passionate about creating unforgettable cinema experiences.
If you want to be part of a busy, high-profile cinema, lead from the front and help drive standards, service and performance at REEL Burnley, we’d love to hear from you.
