At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the leisure centre, ensuring smooth operations and positive visitor experiences.
- Company: Swale Community Leisure Trust, promoting active and healthy lifestyles.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, pension scheme, training opportunities, and employee discounts.
- Other info: Flexible hours, supportive team environment, and opportunities for personal growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in your community while developing your leadership skills.
- Qualifications: Experience in leisure or customer service, strong communication skills, and ability to swim.
The predicted salary is between 28000 - 28000 £ per year.
Location: Sittingbourne, Kent, ME10 4NT
Salary: 28,470 plus excellent benefits
Schedule: 39 hours per week, flexible to work earlies, lates and weekends
Ready to impact a better future? Here at Swale Community Leisure Trust our goal is to encourage active, healthy lifestyles in an environment that is safe, warm, clean, friendly and fun. To be the destination of choice for being part of an active community. To deliver those services takes an enthusiastic and customer focused team - and right now we are looking to recruit for Leisure Centre Duty Manager to join our team.
As a Leisure Centre Duty Manager in our Swallows Leisure Centre you'll help keep our leisure services running smoothly so communities can enjoy safe, accessible, and welcoming spaces to be active. You'll play an essential role in shaping positive experiences for our visitors. From ensuring safe operations to supporting colleagues across the facility, your work will have a real, local impact - helping people feel confident, supported, and inspired to improve their wellbeing.
What you'll do as a Leisure Centre Duty Manager
- Act as a key holder, confidently opening and closing the centre
- Lead the day-to-day running of the facility, ensuring everything operates safely and efficiently
- Support and guide colleagues across reception, wet side, and dry side areas
- Allocate tasks, oversee shift operations, and make sure there's appropriate colleague cover
- Manage the daily booking diary and respond to customer needs and changes
- Deliver great customer care, handling enquiries, feedback, and complaints professionally
- Carry out and record routine health and safety checks, responding to issues promptly
- Follow Normal Operating Procedures (NOPs) and Emergency Action Plans (EAPs), dealing with incidents in line with guidance
Does this sound like you? You'll be a great fit for this role if you have:
- Previous experience in a leisure, fitness, or customer-focused environment
- Experience supervising or supporting colleagues in a fast-paced setting
- Strong communication skills and a calm approach under pressure
- The ability to swim confidently and willingness to obtain a National Pool Lifeguard Qualification (NPLQ)
- Great organisational skills with a flexible, reliable approach to shift work
Vetting and checks: An Enhanced DBS check is required for this role. This includes spent and unspent convictions, cautions, and any relevant information held by local police, in accordance with the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act and safeguarding requirements. You will also complete an Occupational Health Questionnaire to allow us to provide any support needed for you to succeed in the role.
What we offer
- Salary: Competitive salaries with annual reviews
- Pension: Up to 6% contributory pension scheme
- Holidays: 21 days' annual leave plus bank holidays
- Training and development: We offer a wide range of learning opportunities with over 1,100 internal courses available, funding for qualifications and apprenticeships, mentoring opportunities, and a focus on internal progression
- Wellbeing: 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme, BUPA Anytime Healthline, wellbeing app, Simply health cash plans to claim back money towards healthcare costs, 30% off at Serco-managed leisure centres
- Discounts: Save across around 1,000 retailers, from food and clothing to days out, entertainment and travel
- Employee networks: Dedicated networks where colleagues can come together to find support, share challenges, discuss ideas, network and be part of a community
- Charity: Support a charity or organisation with a paid volunteering day each year. You can also choose to donate to your favourite charity tax-free, through our Payroll Giving Scheme
Serco/Serco Leisure Operating Limited are appointed as the Trust's Managing Agents. We manage the recruitment process and the Trust's employees in the delivery of the service on their behalf. The Trust is committed to equal opportunities and requests any potential applicant to contact the Recruitment Team on 0345 010 4000 as soon as possible if an applicant has any additional queries, requirements or will need additional time in submitting an application. Applicants should be aware that in line with the company's policy, employees will have a DBS check where appropriate.
Locations
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Duty Manager - Swale Community Leisure Ltd, Sittingbourne
✨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 Serco Leisure. 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 Serco Leisure. 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 Duty Manager - Swale Community Leisure Ltd, Sittingbourne
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 Serco Leisure 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 Serco Leisure
✨Highlight Your Passion for Sports
When chatting with Serco Leisure, 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.
