Leisure Manager in Bedford

We're a thriving team passionate about working together to deliver excellence, all in a natural forest environment. This role is right at the heart of keeping our village running at its best. You'll look after a varied mix of leisure units, as well as working alongside our Activity Partners, making sure everything runs safely, smoothly and delivers the high standards our guests expect.

Working closely with the Village Head of Commercial you'll support your Unit Managers day to day - helping them build strong, capable teams and keeping operations running seamlessly across the board. You'll also keep a close eye on performance, making sure resources are used well and that we're delivering both great service and strong results. This is a hands-on leadership role where people really matter. You'll be visible, approachable and supportive, setting the tone for your teams and creating a positive, inclusive environment where colleagues can thrive and develop.

No two days are the same, so you'll need to be organised, practical and quick to respond when things change. If you're someone who enjoys variety, takes pride in high standards and knows how to get the best out of people, you'll feel right at home here.

What you'll be doing

• Operational Leadership - You'll take ownership of the day-to-day running of all Leisure units, ensuring they operate safely, smoothly and to a high standard. Visible across the village, you'll keep standards high, support planning with your Heads of Department, and ensure teams are set up to meet demand. You'll spot issues early and work with your teams to resolve them quickly before they impact the operation or guest experience.
• People & Culture - You'll bring Center Parcs' values to life, creating a positive, inclusive and high-performing culture. Leading your Unit Managers, you'll build strong, capable teams through coaching, development and clear progression. You'll turn colleague feedback into action and take ownership of recruitment, onboarding and performance, ensuring teams are engaged and set up for success.
• Guest Experience & Standards - You'll ensure every unit delivers a consistently high standard of service and a great guest experience. You'll use feedback and performance data to drive improvements, working closely with the Head of Village Experience and wider teams to ensure offerings meet demand. You'll maintain strong standards of presentation, service quality and readiness across all areas.
• Commercial & Performance – Reporting into the Head of Village Commercial you'll support strong commercial performance across Leisure, working with Unit Managers to manage costs, control stock and use resources effectively. You'll keep budgets on track, contribute to trading plans and use insight to improve performance and efficiency across the operation.
• Safety, Compliance & Wider Contribution - You'll ensure all areas operate safely and remain fully compliant with health and safety and audit requirements. Acting as a key escalation point, you'll support safe operations and respond confidently when needed. You'll also contribute to the wider running of the village, supporting communication, strategy and sustainability, and taking part in the Duty Manager rota.

What We're Looking For

• Experience leading a fast-paced operation and improving performance through strong people leadership.
• Comfortable working in a large or multi-site environment with shifting priorities (Leisure experience helpful, not essential).
• A strong sense of what great service looks like, with the ability to maintain high standards across teams.
• A confident people leader who can build capability, support development and create a positive team culture.
• Clear, approachable communicator who can use feedback and insight to make practical improvements and build strong working relationships.

What's in it for you

• Management bonus scheme (up to 18%).
• Pension Scheme with Life Assurance.
• Colleague Recognition and Reward Scheme – offering a choice of Center Parcs and High Street vouchers.
• Free use of our leisure facilities.
• Discounted Center Parcs breaks.
• 20% discount in our restaurant and retail outlets.
• Access to Perks at Work Portal - offering a wide range of retail and leisure discounts.
• An Employee Assistance Program - providing support on financial, health and legal matters.
• Excellent opportunities for career development and progression with the opportunity to gain externally recognised qualifications.

Our values Each colleague at Center Parcs is involved in building better worlds for our guests, colleagues, communities and our environment. Contributing to our purpose means living out our values: We care, we're brave, we're determined and we're naturally us. Sound like your kind of job? Apply online today.