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For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead and inspire a dynamic team across multiple leisure and sports centres.
- Company: Join BH Live, a leading charity and social enterprise in leisure and events.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, gym membership, health cash plan, and employee discounts.
- Why this job: Make a positive impact on community health and wellbeing while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in managing budgets, strong leadership, and knowledge of health and safety required.
- Other info: Flexible shifts with opportunities for training and career growth.
The predicted salary is between 43046 - 60464 £ per year.
Sites: BH Live Active – Portsmouth; Mountbatten Centre, Portsmouth Gymnastics Centre, Portsmouth Tennis Club and Charter Community Centre.
Geographical Location: Portsmouth
Salary: £43,046 per annum
Hours: 40 hours per week
Contract Type: Permanent
Closing date for receipt of applications: Thursday 5 February 2026
Proposed interview date: Thursday 12 February 2026
The role
We are seeking a General Manager, to lead our team across the Mountbatten centre, the city’s flagship leisure and sports centre, as well as Portsmouth Gymnastics Centre and Portsmouth Tennis Club and Charter Community Centre. Reporting into the Area Manager, you will lead, coach, and support a team of heads of departments, who in turn manage colleagues across a range of areas, including operations, health and wellbeing, sales, recreation, hospitality, coaching and junior activities across all four sites.
The Mountbatten Centre is located in the heart of Hilsea, just a short distance from Portsmouth’s city centre. Its large well-equipped gym has multiple zones with something to suit every activity preference and level of fitness. Dedicated training areas have lots of cardio kit to choose from, free weights, functional fitness spaces and more. With health and wellbeing professionals on hand, there is also an exercise referral team to offer guidance and support if recovering from an illness, injury or long term health condition. Group exercise classes run seven days a week and there is a 50 metre swimming pool with regular public swimming sessions, lane swimming, pool-based classes and lessons. There is also a smaller teaching pool for little ones and lessons. Mountbatten is home to AquaDash – a large pool inflatable course – great fun for young people, team building away days, and parties. Spa facilities include a sauna, spa bath and steam room.
The Portsmouth Tennis Club and Portsmouth Gymnastic Centre are both located right next door to the Mountbatten Centre, the gymnastics centre is one of the leading gymnastics facilities in the country and the tennis centre has four indoor courts and six floodlit outdoor courts. Charter Community Sports Centre is in Portsmouth’s busy university district and offers swimming, gym, and sports facilities.
You will
- Be fully accountable for the commercial performance and programming of the sites.
- Lead by example, coach, inspire and empower your team to outperform against all metrics.
- Have a strong focus on recruitment, colleague training and internal development.
- Consistently deliver great experiences for the customers on every visit.
- Deliver the highest levels of operational excellence and ensure compliance with health and safety.
- Continually encourage and deliver innovation within service and business plans.
- Write and prepare regular reports and analysis for both internal and external stakeholders.
To be successful you will need
- Commercial acumen with experience of managing P&L budgets up to £1.5 million pound turnover.
- Robust business planning knowledge and management of performance through KPIs.
- Inspirational leadership and coaching experience managing a large team of colleagues.
- Commercially astute with a strong background driving high volumes of sales and key performance indicators.
- Possess a comprehensive knowledge and understanding of health and safety.
- A professional management qualification or equivalent.
You will work a combination of shifts during the week and you will need to be available to work some weekends.
We offer
- Onsite parking
- Training and development opportunities
- BH Live Active - Gym membership
- Health cash plan
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Company pension matched up to 6% contributions
- Colleague discount on food and drink
- Colleague recognition
- Birthday / Celebratory day off
- Loyalty Rewards
About BH Live
We are one of the UK’s leading leisure and event venue operators – a registered charity and social enterprise. Our geographical reach spans across multiple venues, leisure centres and attractions across Portsmouth, Southampton, Croydon and the BCP region with millions of visits per year. Our organisational and charitable purpose is to generate:
- More participation – through the provision of leisure facilities to encourage active communities, improved health, and wellbeing
- Higher audiences – through the provision of a diverse range of cultural and artistic events that appeal to a wide audience
- Greater economic and social benefit – through hosting major conferences, exhibitions, and events for the benefit of the local, regional, and international economies and people
We are making a positive difference across the communities we serve.
To apply
All applications are to be made via the BH Live Careers site - https://careers.bhlive.org.uk/ The full job description for the role can be found on the BH Live Careers site. BH Live reserves the right to close the vacancy early should sufficient applications be received. We therefore highly recommend that you submit your application as soon as possible.
General Manager employer: Mountbatten Centre
Contact Detail:
Mountbatten Centre Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land General Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to your connections in the leisure and sports industry. Attend local events or join relevant groups on social media. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings or can put in a good word for you.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for those interviews! Research BH Live and its values, especially around community engagement and health. Think about how your experience aligns with their mission and be ready to share specific examples of your leadership and commercial success.
✨Tip Number 3
Showcase your passion for health and wellbeing! Whether it’s through personal stories or professional achievements, let them see that you’re not just about numbers but genuinely care about making a positive impact in the community.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining the BH Live team. Get your application in early to stand out!
We think you need these skills to ace General Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter for the General Manager role. Highlight your experience in managing teams and driving performance, as well as any relevant qualifications that match the job description.
Showcase Your Leadership Skills: We want to see how you lead and inspire teams! Share specific examples of how you've coached colleagues or improved team performance in previous roles. This will help us understand your leadership style.
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, keep it straightforward and to the point. Use bullet points where possible to make it easy for us to read through your achievements and skills.
Apply Through Our Website: Don’t forget to submit your application via the BH Live Careers site! It’s the best way for us to receive your details and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, we love seeing applications come through our platform!
How to prepare for a job interview at Mountbatten Centre
✨Know the Venues Inside Out
Before your interview, take some time to research each of the sites you'll be managing. Familiarise yourself with the facilities, services, and community impact of the Mountbatten Centre, Portsmouth Gymnastics Centre, and others. This will show your genuine interest in the role and help you answer questions more effectively.
✨Demonstrate Your Leadership Style
As a General Manager, your leadership skills are crucial. Prepare examples of how you've successfully led teams in the past. Think about specific situations where you inspired or coached your team to achieve targets, and be ready to discuss your approach to recruitment and colleague development.
✨Showcase Your Commercial Acumen
Since the role involves managing P&L budgets, come prepared to discuss your experience with financial management. Be ready to share examples of how you've driven sales and improved performance through KPIs. This will highlight your ability to contribute to the commercial success of the venues.
✨Prepare Questions for Them
Interviews are a two-way street! Prepare thoughtful questions about the company culture, team dynamics, and future goals for the venues. This not only shows your enthusiasm but also helps you gauge if the role is the right fit for you.
