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- Tasks: Lead and inspire teams across multiple leisure hubs to deliver exceptional community experiences.
- Company: Join a dynamic organisation focused on health, wellbeing, and community engagement.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, professional development, and opportunities for career growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in your community while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Proven leadership experience and a passion for community health and inclusivity.
- Other info: Be part of a collaborative culture that values diversity and personal development.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
As a Senior Operations Manager, you will provide inspirational and visible leadership across a portfolio of Leisure United hubs, guiding a high-performing team of General Managers, Dual-Site General Managers and Cluster Managers. You will be responsible for ensuring the delivery of high-quality, safe, and inclusive facilities that support community health and wellbeing, generate sustainable income, and strengthen Leisure United's reputation within each local area. The mix of facilities varies by city and may include football, fitness, multi-sport, and food & beverage operations. This is a hands-on senior role that blends strategic planning with day-to-day operational leadership. Your work will centre on delivering outstanding customer experiences, driving financial and environmental sustainability, and ensuring Leisure United continues to achieve its commercial and charitable objectives.
You will work closely with the COO to continuously improve operational performance, with a particular emphasis on health and wellbeing, community engagement, and social impact. You will take full accountability for the organisation, operation, and performance of service delivery across your hubs, including staff leadership, customer service, financial management, compliance, facility standards, and administration. The role supports the development of approximately 200 staff, contributing directly to Leisure United's strategic priorities and growth.
Strategic Leadership & Operational Excellence- Deliver high-quality facilities.
- Ensure a safe, inclusive, and premium experience for all users across your hub portfolio.
- Lead, support, and hold General, Dual site and Cluster Managers accountable for consistent service delivery and facility standards.
- Maintain outstanding facility standards and ensure consistent operational excellence, driving external validation through audit, compliance, and quality assurance processes.
- Develop, in conjunction with the COO, and support delivery of an operational business plan for all hubs in your portfolio aligned to organisational strategy.
- Conduct both announced and unannounced audits to drive service standards across all business areas.
- Monitor customer feedback systems and lead service-improvement initiatives across your area.
- Contribute to strategic planning, business development, and service innovation.
- Promote and implement environmentally sustainable practices across operations in collaboration with the Head of Facilities and wider operational teams.
- Report regularly to the Senior Management Team (SMT) on business performance.
- Develop and implement both commercial and social outcomes in line with Leisure United's strategic direction.
- Work collaboratively with the wider Development Team to align operations with organisational priorities.
- Engage proactively with Board-level expectations and contribute to strategic discussions.
- Drive commercial success and operational efficiency to create financially resilient hubs across your area, including memberships, programmes, secondary spend, and pricing strategies.
- Develop and monitor all operational budgets, income targets, and cost controls.
- Share best practice across your management teams.
- Track and manage KPIs through site scorecards to drive performance and accountability.
- Make physical activity and football more accessible by developing programmes and partnerships that promote inclusivity, health, and wellbeing.
- Support the removal of barriers to participation, especially in underserved communities.
- Lead partner-club engagement, ensuring alignment with Leisure United's strategic direction and club needs.
- Work with the Development Team to prioritise access and inclusive programming for women and girls, particularly during peak times.
- Support growth of female participation in football through targeted initiatives and partnerships.
- Reinvest surplus funds into local facilities to improve community offerings.
- Collaborate with local partners to enhance the social impact of each hub.
- Inspire, coach, and empower managers and teams to deliver high performance and excellent service.
- Provide clear direction, regular feedback, and ongoing professional development opportunities to strengthen capability across your portfolio.
- Create a high-performance, collaborative culture by being a visible, hands-on leader who supports site teams in delivering outstanding facilities and customer experiences.
- Take ownership of staff satisfaction across your area, working closely with General and Cluster Managers and regularly attending site meetings to share updates and best practice.
- Foster a collaborative, inclusive, and accountable team culture aligned with Leisure United's values.
- Champion high levels of staff engagement and promote inclusive practices across operations and customer experience.
- Drive recognition and reward initiatives that celebrate success and support improvements to staff benefits and wellbeing.
- Embed a culture of continuous learning and leadership development through training, coaching, and development pathways.
- Lead workforce planning, recruitment, performance management, and succession planning, ensuring teams are structured effectively and resources are deployed where most needed.
- Ensure consistent and fair application of company policies, procedures, and governance frameworks, promoting safe and transparent employee-relations practices.
- Use systems, data, and insight to inform decision-making, ensure consistent system use across hubs, and support accurate reporting for organisational accountability.
- Ensure full compliance with safeguarding standards and promote a safe environment for children, young people, adults, staff, and customers.
- Support wellbeing initiatives and respond appropriately to any safeguarding or wellbeing concerns.
- Ability to motivate and lead others.
- Excellent interpersonal skills.
- Customer orientated.
- Ability to manage priorities and time effectively.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills.
- Ability to plan, organise, and co-ordinate effectively.
- Ability to deal with conflict and difficult people under pressure.
- Up to date knowledge of Health and Safety and the ability to undertake Risk Assessments.
- Numerate and IT literate, including Microsoft Office.
- Strategic, visionary and values-driven leader.
- Collaborative, approachable and inspiring with a focus on enabling others.
- Confident, resilient and adaptable in a fast-paced and growing environment.
- Committed to equity, diversity and inclusion.
- Diplomatic and trusted, with high levels of integrity and professional credibility.
- Passionate about supporting people and communities to thrive.
- Level 5 qualification and working towards further First Aid Certificate.
- To be able to work independently and use own initiative.
- To be able to lead, develop and inspire teams.
- To be able to make sound decisions under pressure.
- Ability to respond, manage and control emergency situations efficiently and effectively, in line with agreed procedures, training and protocols.
- To maintain a professional, competent, and personable demeanor.
Senior Operations Manager - North of England (Field-based, across multiple-site) employer: Leisure United
Contact Detail:
Leisure United Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Operations Manager - North of England (Field-based, across multiple-site)
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the industry. Attend events, join local groups, or even hit up social media platforms like LinkedIn. The more people you know, the better your chances of landing that Senior Operations Manager role.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your leadership skills! When you get the chance to chat with potential employers, share specific examples of how you've inspired teams and improved operations in previous roles. They want to see that you can lead a high-performing team across multiple sites.
✨Tip Number 3
Be proactive! Don’t just wait for job openings to pop up. Reach out directly to companies you admire, like Leisure United, and express your interest. A well-timed email can make all the difference and show your enthusiasm for the role.
✨Tip Number 4
Keep learning and adapting! Stay updated on industry trends, especially around health and wellbeing, community engagement, and sustainability. This knowledge will not only help you in interviews but also demonstrate your commitment to the values Leisure United stands for.
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Operations Manager - North of England (Field-based, across multiple-site)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Leadership Skills: As a Senior Operations Manager, we want to see how you inspire and lead teams. Share specific examples of how you've motivated others and driven performance in your previous roles.
Highlight Your Operational Excellence: Make sure to detail your experience with managing facilities and ensuring high standards. We love candidates who can demonstrate their ability to maintain operational excellence and deliver outstanding customer experiences.
Be Data-Driven: We’re all about making informed decisions! Include any experience you have with tracking KPIs, managing budgets, or using data to improve service delivery. It shows us you’re ready to take accountability for performance.
Tailor Your Application: Don’t just send a generic application! Take the time to align your skills and experiences with our job description. We appreciate when candidates show they understand our mission and values, so let that shine through!
How to prepare for a job interview at Leisure United
✨Know Your Hubs Inside Out
Before the interview, dive deep into understanding the specific Leisure United hubs you'll be managing. Familiarise yourself with their unique offerings, community engagement strategies, and any recent developments. This knowledge will not only impress your interviewers but also show your genuine interest in the role.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Style
As a Senior Operations Manager, your leadership approach is crucial. Prepare to discuss your past experiences in motivating teams and driving performance. Use specific examples that highlight how you've inspired others and fostered a collaborative culture, especially in challenging situations.
✨Demonstrate Financial Acumen
Be ready to talk about your experience with financial management and operational efficiency. Bring examples of how you've successfully managed budgets, tracked KPIs, and driven commercial success in previous roles. This will reassure the interviewers of your capability to create financially resilient hubs.
✨Emphasise Community Impact
Leisure United places a strong emphasis on community health and wellbeing. Prepare to discuss how you've previously engaged with local communities and promoted inclusivity in your operations. Share ideas on how you would enhance community offerings and support underserved populations in your new role.
