At a Glance
- Tasks: Manage and grow a vibrant sports centre while ensuring top-notch customer service.
- Company: Cranleigh School, a prestigious independent boarding school with a strong community focus.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25 days annual leave, pension contributions, free lunches, and access to fantastic sports facilities.
- Other info: Join a supportive environment that values growth, collaboration, and diversity.
- Why this job: Lead a dynamic team and make a real impact in the community through sports.
- Qualifications: Experience in managing sports facilities and a passion for customer service.
The predicted salary is between 32000 - 35000 £ per year.
This role is for someone who can run and grow a dual-use sports centre: managing day-to-day operations, leading a team, and driving commercial income while ensuring excellent customer service for students, members and external partners.
You will be responsible for the operational performance and commercial development of the Trevor Abbott Sports Centre (TASC) at Cranleigh School. Your focus will be on maximising facility use, growing membership and bookings, developing new revenue streams, and maintaining high standards of health, safety and customer experience across the site.
What you'll be doing (responsibilities)
- Oversee daily operation and bookings across the sports hall, 3G pitch, grass/astroturf pitches, 25m pool, studios, tennis/netball courts and nine-hole golf course, prioritising School needs while maximising external use.
- Act as primary contact for members, clubs, schools and community partners; manage enquiries and ensure smooth booking processes.
- Lead commercial activity: develop membership growth, external bookings, partnerships, ancillaries (cafe, merchandise) and other income opportunities.
- Manage leisure management and booking systems to streamline customer experience and reporting.
- Line manage TASC staff: recruitment, rotas, training, performance reviews and day-to-day supervision.
- Ensure facilities, equipment and pool plant are maintained, safe and compliant with required standards; elevate repairs and manage contractors as needed.
- Coordinate relationships with external activity providers and seasonal event operators; ensure staffing, lifeguard cover and operational checks are in place.
- Work closely with key school stakeholders to ensure the smooth and effective delivery of school sport.
- Coordinate and deconflict any potential clashes between school and commercial bookings, ensuring facilities are used efficiently.
- Work collaboratively with the Assistant Deputy Head, Director of Sport and Commercial Manager to ensure the school’s strategic, community and commercial objectives are aligned and successfully delivered.
- Maintain high standards of H&S and compliance across the Centre and contribute to strategic plans aligning TASC with School objectives.
- Undertake reception duties and act as a key holder when required.
What we're looking for
Essential
- Proven experience managing a sports, leisure, fitness or multi-use facility with responsibility for bookings, memberships and external users.
- Strong operational knowledge of facility management, customer service and health & safety compliance.
- Demonstrable commercial awareness with experience of generating income and improving financial performance.
- Experience leading and developing staff, including rotas, recruitment and training.
Desirable
- Experience working in a dual-use environment (independent school, university, club) or with community partnerships.
- First Aid, Pool Lifeguard, Pool Plant or other relevant sports/leisure qualifications.
- Experience using leisure management, booking or CRM systems and running membership-based services.
About the team or department
TASC sits within the Enterprise (Bursarial) department and reports to the Commercial Manager. You will work closely with the Assistant Deputy Head (Co-Curricular), the School operational teams and external partners to balance School provision with community and commercial activity.
What we offer (benefits)
- 25 days annual leave per year
- Aviva pension (8% employer contribution, 4% employee contribution)
- Life assurance of three times basic salary
- Fee discount for eligible children (subject to availability)
- Membership and use of the School’s sports facilities (gym, squash, tennis, swimming pool, nine-hole golf course)
- Free lunches during term time
- Onsite parking
- Cycle to Work scheme
- Employee assistance scheme
About us
Cranleigh School is an independent boarding school. TASC is a well-equipped dual-use sports centre with established community memberships and strong local partnerships, offering significant scope for further commercial development. Cranleigh School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
All offers of employment are subject to satisfactory references, qualifications, experience checks, medical clearance, enhanced DBS checks, social media checks, and documentary evidence showing your entitlement to work in the UK. Cranleigh School recognises the positive value of diversity, promotes equality and challenges discrimination. We welcome and encourage job applications from people of all backgrounds. All applicants must have the right to work in the UK.
The post holder will be subject to a DBS check.
Sports Centre Manager employer: Cranleigh-School
Cranleigh School is an excellent employer, offering a unique opportunity to shape a new operational function within a supportive community environment. Located in the picturesque Surrey Hills, employees benefit from a competitive package and the chance to work closely with a dedicated Development team, fostering professional growth and collaboration while contributing to meaningful fundraising initiatives that enhance access to education.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Sports Centre Manager
✨Get Involved in Local Sports Communities
Dive into your local sports scene! Attend community games, coaching sessions, and meet-ups. Building relationships with coaches and team managers can help you uncover job opportunities before they even hit the job boards.
✨Leverage Internships and Volunteering
Even though you’re after a full-time role, don’t underestimate internships or volunteering in sports organisations. These positions not only give you hands-on experience but can also lead to permanent openings. Plus, it’s a fantastic way to make your face known in the industry!
✨Visit Sports Job Fairs
Keep an eye out for sports job fairs and career expos specific to the recreation management field. These events are goldmines for meeting hiring managers from organisations like Cranleigh-School. Bring your A-game and be ready to chat about how you can contribute to their team!
✨Apply Through Our Website
Don't forget to check out openings on our site! Our listings will often include positions at excellent organisations in sports recreation management, including Cranleigh-School. Applying directly through our platform increases your chances of getting noticed by recruiters. Let's get you that dream job!
We think you need these skills to ace Sports Centre Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Passion for Sports:In your cover letter, let your enthusiasm for sports and recreation shine through! We want to see your genuine interest in the industry and how it's shaped your career choices. Sharing specific experiences, like managing a team or organising an event, can really make you stand out.
Highlight Relevant Experience:When crafting your CV, focus on any relevant internships, volunteer work, or part-time jobs related to sports and recreation management. Make sure to quantify your achievements – did you increase team participation by a certain percentage or successfully lead a project? Numbers speak volumes!
Tailor Your CV for Sports Management:Use a CV format that emphasises your skills in leadership, teamwork, and event coordination. Don’t forget to include specific training or certifications that relate to sports management, as these can set you apart from other applicants. We love seeing candidates with relevant qualifications!
Express Your Long-Term Goals:In your application, we want to see your career aspirations in sports management. Don’t hesitate to include how you envision your future in this industry and how joining Cranleigh-School aligns with those goals. We’re looking for candidates who are not just a perfect fit for the role but are also excited about growing with us!
How to prepare for a job interview at Cranleigh-School
✨Highlight Your Passion for Sports
When chatting with Cranleigh-School, make sure to express your genuine love for sports and recreation. Share experiences that showcase your passion, whether it's managing a local sports team, organising events, or simply being an active participant in various activities. This helps them see you're not just a fit on paper, but also someone who truly cares about the field.
✨Showcase Your Management Skills
This role is all about managing resources and people, so be ready to discuss your leadership and organisational skills. Prepare some examples from your past experiences where you've successfully led a team or managed a project, particularly in a sports or recreation setting. Use the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) technique to make your answers concise and impactful.
✨Be Prepared for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect case studies or scenario-based questions that assess your problem-solving and decision-making skills. You might be asked how you would handle a tricky situation, such as resolving a conflict between team members or managing a crisis during a major event. Think through these scenarios and practice how you’d articulate your thought process and solutions.
✨Demonstrate Enthusiasm for Team Collaboration
In the sports and recreation management field, teamwork is essential. During the interview, be prepared to discuss how you work within a team and foster a collaborative environment. Share success stories where teamwork led to a positive outcome, emphasising how you built relationships and encouraged participation among team members to achieve a common goal.
