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- Tasks: Lead Liverpool's leisure facilities, ensuring safe and efficient operations while promoting health and wellbeing.
- Company: Join a dynamic council focused on enhancing community health through leisure services.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, leadership opportunities, and the chance to make a real impact in the community.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with opportunities for professional growth and community engagement.
- Why this job: Shape the future of leisure services and improve lives across Liverpool.
- Qualifications: Senior leadership experience in leisure operations and strong financial management skills.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 75000 £ per year.
Overview - 4/5 DAYS PER WEEK IN THE OFFICE DEPENDANT ON BUSINESS NEEDS
The Interim Head of Leisure Operations will provide strategic and operational leadership across Liverpool's leisure facilities and associated services. The postholder will ensure the safe, efficient and commercially sustainable operation of the council's leisure estate while supporting the council's ambitions to improve health, wellbeing and participation in sport and physical activity across the city. The role will lead operational teams delivering services across leisure centres, swimming pools, sports facilities, GP referral and community programmes, ensuring high standards of customer service, regulatory compliance and financial performance. This is a key leadership role responsible for stabilising and improving operational performance, supporting workforce development, and helping shape the future operating model for leisure services in Liverpool.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide strategic leadership for the delivery of the council's leisure operations and physical activity services.
- Contribute to the development and delivery of the city's leisure, sport and physical activity strategy.
- Support the council's wider public health and wellbeing priorities through increased participation in sport and active lifestyles.
- Lead the day-to-day operation of the council's leisure facilities, ensuring services are safe, accessible and customer focused.
- Oversee operational performance across leisure centres, swimming pools and sports facilities.
- Ensure compliance with health and safety, safeguarding and statutory regulatory requirements.
- Manage significant operational budgets and ensure services operate efficiently and sustainably.
- Identify opportunities to improve income generation, utilisation of facilities and commercial performance.
- Monitor performance against financial and operational targets.
- Provide leadership and direction to operational managers and wider leisure teams.
- Drive a positive organisational culture focused on service improvement and customer experience.
- Work collaboratively with HR and trade unions on workforce matters including organisational change where required.
- Develop strong partnerships with local sports organisations, community groups, schools and health partners.
- Represent the council in regional and national leisure networks.
- Work with partners to maximise the impact of leisure services on community wellbeing.
- Identify opportunities to modernise services and improve the operating model.
- Lead initiatives to improve participation levels, customer satisfaction and operational efficiency.
- Support longer-term strategic planning for the council's leisure estate.
Essential Experience
- Senior leadership experience managing leisure operations or similar frontline service environments.
- Experience overseeing multiple leisure facilities or a complex operational estate.
- Strong financial and commercial management experience.
- Experience leading large operational teams and managing workforce issues.
- Strong understanding of health and safety and compliance requirements in leisure services.
- Experience delivering service improvement or transformation programmes.
Key Skills
- Strategic leadership and decision-making.
- Operational performance management.
- Financial and commercial acumen.
- Stakeholder and partnership management.
- Strong people leadership and organisational change capability.
Head of Leisure employer: Trades Workforce Solutions
Contact Detail:
Trades Workforce Solutions Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Leisure
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the leisure industry. Attend events, join local sports clubs, or even hit up LinkedIn. The more people you know, the better your chances of landing that Head of Leisure role.
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your leadership skills! When you get the chance to chat with potential employers, highlight your experience in managing teams and improving operational performance. They want to see how you can drive a positive culture and enhance customer experience.
✨Tip Number 3
Be ready to discuss your financial savvy! Make sure you can talk about how you've managed budgets and improved income generation in previous roles. This is key for the Head of Leisure position, so have some solid examples up your sleeve.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! We’re all about making the application process smooth and easy. Plus, it shows you’re genuinely interested in joining our team and contributing to Liverpool's leisure scene.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Leisure
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to customise your CV and cover letter to highlight your experience in leisure operations. We want to see how your skills align with the key responsibilities outlined in the job description, so don’t hold back on showcasing your relevant achievements!
Showcase Your Leadership Skills: As a Head of Leisure, strong leadership is crucial. Use your application to demonstrate your experience in managing teams and driving operational performance. Share specific examples of how you've led teams to success in previous roles – we love a good story!
Highlight Financial Acumen: Since financial management is a big part of this role, make sure to include any relevant experience you have with budgets and income generation. We’re looking for someone who can ensure our services operate efficiently and sustainably, so show us how you’ve done this before!
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply directly through our website. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you’re considered for the role. Plus, it gives you a chance to explore more about our values and what we stand for at StudySmarter!
How to prepare for a job interview at Trades Workforce Solutions
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you’re well-versed in the council's leisure operations and the specific challenges they face. Brush up on Liverpool's current health and wellbeing initiatives, and think about how your experience aligns with their goals. This will show that you're not just interested in the role, but also invested in the community.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples of how you've successfully led teams in previous roles. Think about times when you improved operational performance or drove service improvements. Be ready to discuss your approach to managing large teams and how you handle workforce issues, as this is crucial for the Head of Leisure position.
✨Financial Savvy is Key
Since managing significant operational budgets is part of the job, be prepared to talk about your financial management experience. Bring examples of how you've improved income generation or managed costs effectively in past roles. This will demonstrate your commercial acumen and ability to ensure sustainable operations.
✨Engage with Stakeholders
Think about how you’ve built partnerships in the past, whether with local sports organisations, community groups, or health partners. Be ready to discuss your strategies for collaboration and how you can leverage these relationships to enhance the council's leisure services and community wellbeing.