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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead strategic direction and operational excellence for community-focused leisure services.
- Company: Achieve Lifestyle, a charitable trust enhancing local health and wellbeing.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, pension, gym membership, free parking, and employee discounts.
- Other info: Join a values-driven team committed to community engagement and development.
- Why this job: Make a meaningful impact on community health while driving commercial success.
- Qualifications: Senior leadership experience in leisure or service-based environments required.
The predicted salary is between 42000 - 58000 £ per year.
Company Overview
Achieve Lifestyle is a charitable leisure trust dedicated to enhancing the health and wellbeing of the local community through inclusive, high-quality leisure services. We partner with local organisations to reach a broad spectrum of community members, fostering active and healthy lifestyles.
Summary
The Commercial Operations Director is a key executive leader, providing strategic and operational direction across the Trust's commercial, financial, and front-line service functions. The postholder ensures long-term operational excellence and financial sustainability while supporting the delivery of accessible, high-quality services that make a meaningful difference to the local community. With responsibility for multiple service areas, the role helps the Trust grow its impact, strengthen its commercial performance, and deliver services that align with its charitable objectives, strategic priorities, and contractual commitments. The postholder also deputises for the CEO when required, ensuring consistent, confident leadership and sound decision-making across the organisation.
Role and Responsibilities
- Strategic Leadership
- Lead the development and delivery of the Trust's commercial, financial, and operational strategies, ensuring alignment with the overall corporate plan.
- Translate strategic objectives into clear operational and commercial plans with measurable outcomes and KPIs.
- Identify opportunities for business development, income growth, service diversification and operational efficiencies.
- Contribute to long-term strategic planning, organisational design and change programmes.
- Commercial and Financial Performance
- Take responsibility for income generation across spa, fitness, programmes, and ancillary services.
- Drive a performance-led commercial culture focused on value, customer experience and sustainability.
- Oversee pricing strategies, product mix, and utilisation to maximise revenue.
- Lead financial planning, budgeting, forecasting, and monitoring for all operational activities.
- Analyse financial performance and implement corrective action to achieve or exceed targets.
- Operational Management
- Provide strategic oversight and hands-on leadership of day-to-day operations across all facilities.
- Develop, implement, and monitor operational plans and standards to deliver exceptional service and customer experience.
- Oversee staffing, scheduling, and resource allocation across operational teams to ensure optimal performance and coverage, and to ensure operational excellence.
- Drive continuous improvement in operational efficiency, customer pathways and service delivery.
- Ensure compliance with operational policies, health & safety regulations, safeguarding, and quality standards.
- Lead the integration of new services, programmes, or facilities to enhance operational capacity and service offer.
- Leadership & People Management
- Lead, motivate and develop managers and operational teams to achieve high performance.
- Promote strong staff engagement, wellbeing, and organisational values.
- Manage performance, capability, and professional development in line with company policies.
- Governance, Risk & Compliance
- Ensure compliance with all statutory, regulatory and contractual requirements.
- Contribute to corporate risk management by identifying, mitigating and reporting risks.
- Support the CEO in governance, Board reporting and strategic decision-making.
- Stakeholder & Partnership Management
- Build and maintain effective relationships with local authorities, partners, commissioners, and key stakeholders.
- Represent the Trust externally, promoting its reputation and strategic objectives.
- Support management in managing key contracts and partnership arrangements.
- Deputising for the CEO
- Provide organisational leadership in the CEO's absence.
- Attend Board and external meetings to ensure continuity of decision-making.
- Support strategic planning and organisational development initiatives.
Person Specification
Essential
- Significant senior leadership experience within leisure, fitness, wellbeing, sport, hospitality or a comparable service-based environment.
- Proven track record of driving commercial performance, managing operations and income growth.
- Demonstrable experience in financial planning, budgeting and performance reporting.
- Experience leading large, multi-disciplinary teams.
- Experience leading organisational change or service development.
Skills & Competencies
- Strong commercial acumen with the ability to analyse data and identify trends.
- Excellent leadership, people management and team development capabilities.
- Strong strategic thinking, planning and problem-solving capability.
- Ability to communicate effectively with stakeholders at all levels.
- Effective relationship-building, negotiation and influencing skills.
- Ability to manage risk and ensure compliance.
Knowledge
- Understanding of the leisure, sport, fitness or wellbeing sector.
- Knowledge of health & safety, safeguarding and operational compliance frameworks.
- Awareness of best practice in commercial leisure operations.
Qualifications
- Degree-level education or equivalent experience.
- Evidence of ongoing professional development.
Values & Behaviours
- Commitment to the Trust's mission, values and community impact.
- Inclusive, collaborative and values-driven leadership style.
- Resilient, adaptable and solutions focused.
- High integrity, professionalism and accountability.
Desirable
Experience
- Experience working within a leisure trust, charity, or public sector environment.
- Experience of reporting to a Board and contributing to governance processes.
- Experience leading capital projects or major service transformations.
Knowledge
- Understanding of charitable governance or commissioning structures.
- Knowledge of community-based service delivery and local authority partnerships.
Qualifications
- Relevant management, leisure, or business qualification.
- Professional leisure memberships.
Job Types: Full-time, Permanent
Pay: £49,000.00 per year
Benefits: Company pension, Discounted or free food, Employee discount, Free parking, Gym membership, On-site gym, On-site parking, Sick pay
Work Location: In person
Commercial Operations Director employer: Achieve Lifestyle
Contact Detail:
Achieve Lifestyle Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Commercial Operations Director
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the leisure and fitness industry. Attend events, join local groups, and don’t be shy about reaching out on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings!
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching Achieve Lifestyle and its community impact. Understand their mission and values so you can show how your experience aligns with their goals. Tailor your answers to reflect their focus on operational excellence and financial sustainability.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your leadership stories! Be ready to share examples of how you've led teams, driven commercial performance, and managed change. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses and make them memorable.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in being part of the Achieve Lifestyle team and contributing to their mission.
We think you need these skills to ace Commercial Operations Director
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in leisure, fitness, or service-based environments. We want to see how your skills align with our mission at Achieve Lifestyle!
Showcase Your Leadership Skills: As a Commercial Operations Director, strong leadership is key. Share examples of how you've motivated teams and driven performance in previous roles. We love to see candidates who can inspire others!
Demonstrate Financial Acumen: Since the role involves financial planning and income generation, include specific achievements related to budgeting and revenue growth. Show us how you’ve made a tangible impact in your past positions!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to submit your application directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for this exciting opportunity!
How to prepare for a job interview at Achieve Lifestyle
✨Know the Trust Inside Out
Before your interview, make sure you understand Achieve Lifestyle's mission and values. Familiarise yourself with their community initiatives and how they enhance health and wellbeing. This will show your genuine interest in the role and help you align your answers with their objectives.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Experience
As a Commercial Operations Director, you'll need to demonstrate your senior leadership experience. Prepare specific examples of how you've driven commercial performance and managed large teams. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses effectively.
✨Prepare for Financial Discussions
Since financial planning and performance are key aspects of this role, brush up on your financial acumen. Be ready to discuss your experience with budgeting, forecasting, and income generation. Highlight any successful strategies you've implemented in previous roles that led to increased revenue.
✨Engage with Stakeholder Management
This role involves building relationships with various stakeholders. Think about your past experiences in stakeholder management and be prepared to discuss how you've successfully navigated partnerships. Show that you can represent the Trust effectively and promote its strategic objectives.