Multi-Site General Manager - Full Time - Littlehampton Wave

Do you want to make a difference within your local community, supporting people to improve their lives through leisure? If you feel driven to inspire people to be more active, improve their wellbeing and would like a job that will make a real difference to local people’s lives then Freedom Leisure is the place for you! We are a not-for-profit leisure trust with a strong purpose and commitment to support our local communities and hard-to-reach groups encouraging them to become more active, contributing to improved lives.

We are looking for a Multi-Site General Manager to join our team. The role will provide inspirational leadership along with business and community focus, delivering the Freedom leisure business plan and ethos across the leisure facilities in the Arun District. We are looking for a Manager with proven entrepreneurial ability, financial acumen, who has a passion for high standards and can demonstrate a history of taking ownership and delivering results. You will have excellent commercial awareness which you can translate into the successful running of popular Leisure Centres. The ability to drive sales/income and manage expenditure are key qualities for this role.

Other key qualities include the ability to lead, motivate and support the centre team and to work with internal and external customers/stakeholders/local community. Your responsibilities will be varied and include:

• Business & Sales Management: Accountability for the business, budgetary and cost centre performance across both Centres. Ensuring that sales are driven forward, developing the business plan and leading colleagues to achieve key performance targets.
• Operational Management: Leading the team to ensure excellent operational standards and record keeping are in place. Working with the team to provide all activities in a safe and welcoming environment.
• People Management: Managing and recruiting a team where necessary, to deliver an exciting leisure offering to the highest standards, ensuring the service delivers the financial performance in line with the bid proposal, and engages with the whole community. Provide necessary support and leadership to colleagues for ongoing management and development.

You should have the necessary skills and experience to lead both Centres and engage with the local community. The ideal candidate will have the ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously, build, lead and motivate colleagues, and possess a passion for leisure and cultural services and events. The ability to deliver on tight deadlines under pressure is essential. This role will be based between Littlehampton Wave & The Windmill Entertainment Centre, and you will need to be able to travel across these sites.

Minimum Requirements:

• Experience of problem solving, customer service, and staff management
• At least three years in an operational management (or equivalent) role in a leisure environment
• A high awareness of industry developments, new activities, trends, and research
• An ability to lead and motivate a staff team
• Commercial awareness which translates into a successful and financially viable operation
• IT skills including the ability to produce and interpret reports and data
• Communication skills, demonstrated both verbally and in writing
• Time management skills - able to deal with multiple priorities
• Ability to present information confidently to individuals and groups
• Strong people management skills
• Team-oriented approach, able to work across organization boundaries, demonstrate interest, and be supportive of the work of staff and colleagues
• Ability to work flexibly with a good level of autonomy
• Mobility to travel across sites

We want you to love coming to work, feeling healthy, happy, and valued. That's why we've developed a benefits package with you in mind. Here’s what we can offer you:

• My Staff Shop, our very own staff benefit scheme, gives employees access to a great range of benefits. Get discounts on cinema tickets, travel bookings, high street e-vouchers, gift cards, days out, leisure activities, and your day-to-day spending.
• Discounted Staff membership (including family members)
• Incremental holidays
• Employee Assistance Programme - 24/7 confidential, independent, and professional counselling.
• Company pension
• Various insurance and saving schemes
• Financial advice
• Cycle-to-work and Car Leasing tax-efficient schemes (salaried staff only, depending on earnings).
• All this as well as fully funded training and career progression opportunities in a team working environment supporting your local community to improve lives through leisure.

Closing Date: 28th March 2025

Salary: Up to £38,660 per annum