Head of Facilities [Active Merri-bek]

Belgravia Group; Brunswick; On-site; AUD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Belgravia Leisure seeks a Head of Facilities to lead aquatic operations, asset management, compliance, safety and facility management across six venues in Merri-Bek. The role reports to the Area Manager and guides Operations Managers and Coordinators to deliver safe, compliant and exceptional facility experiences.

You will champion safety initiatives, audits, workforce planning and continuous improvement, developing a positive, high-performing culture and ensuring communities enjoy high-quality

Qualifications

• Experience leading aquatic or facilities operations at scale.
• Strong knowledge of safety, risk and workplace health and safety.
• Proven ability to develop and lead high-performing teams.
• Experience managing contractors and asset programs.
• Commitment to diversity, inclusion and community engagement.
• Excellent stakeholder management and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead safety, compliance and risk management across six venues.
• Oversee asset management, audits and lifecycle planning.
• Drive continuous improvement and performance across operations.
• Coach and develop Operations Managers and coordinators.
• Support workforce planning and seasonal recruitment.
• Ensure exceptional customer experiences across the portfolio.

Skills

Leadership experience

Safety & risk management

People leadership

Team & contractor management

Continuous improvement

Diversity & inclusion

Education

Pool Lifeguard Certificate

Aquatic Technical Operators Certificate

First Aid Certificate

CPR Certificate

Working with Children Check

National Police Check

Job description

Lead Operational Excellence Across Six Community Facilities

Active Merri-bek is seeking an experienced and motivated Head of Facilities to lead aquatic operations, asset management, compliance, safety, and facility management across our portfolio of six aquatic and recreation venues.

Reporting to the Area Manager, this senior leadership position is responsible for ensuring the highest standards of aquatic supervision, risk management, environmental sustainability, operational performance, and customer experience. The role provides leadership and support to venue-based Operations Managers and Coordinators, while driving continuous improvement and fostering a positive, high-performing culture.

This is an exciting opportunity for an accomplished facilities or aquatic professional to make a significant impact on community recreation services while leading the delivery of safe, compliant, and exceptional facility operations.

About the Role
The Head of Facilities plays a pivotal role in maintaining operational excellence across the Active Merri-bek portfolio. You will be responsible for overseeing compliance frameworks, leading safety initiatives, supporting workforce planning and development, and ensuring facilities operate efficiently and effectively.

Working collaboratively with leaders across the business, you will champion best practice, identify opportunities for innovation, and ensure our venues continue to deliver outstanding experiences for the communities we serve.

Key Responsibilities

Safety, Compliance and Risk Management

• Lead the development and implementation of Aquatic Supervision Plans across all venues.
• Ensure compliance with industry standards, legislative requirements, and organisational policies.
• Support facilities through external and internal audits, including ISO, WHS, and Aquatic Facility Safety Audits.
• Maintain venue risk registers and oversee risk mitigation strategies.
• Ensure emergency response procedures are current and staff are appropriately trained.
• Investigate incidents and implement corrective actions to prevent recurrence.

Operational Leadership

• Drive consistency in operational standards across all facilities.
• Support contractor, asset, and environmental management programs.
• Monitor operational performance and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Promote innovation and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Deliver high-quality customer experiences across the portfolio.
• Lead, coach, and develop Operations Managers, Coordinators, and the Operations Officer.
• Support workforce planning, training, and seasonal recruitment activities.
• Foster a positive, inclusive, and safety-focused workplace culture.
• Provide clear direction, accountability, and performance support to team members.

Business Performance

• Contribute to the achievement of business objectives and growth opportunities.
• Monitor operational outcomes and address performance gaps where required.
• Support effective decision-making through reporting and analysis.
• Represent Active Merri-bek professionally and positively within the community.

Asset Management

• Ensure all assets are maintained, inspected, and serviced in accordance with legislative requirements and manufacturer recommendations.
• Monitor asset condition, performance, and lifecycle requirements to support safe effective operations and prevent downtime.
• Maintain accurate asset registers, records of inspections, servicing, and lifecycle management activities.
• Promote a culture of asset stewardship by ensuring employees understand their responsibilities for asset care and reporting.

About You

You are a confident and capable leader with extensive experience in facility or aquatic operations. You have a strong understanding of safety, compliance, and risk management, combined with a passion for developing teams and delivering outstanding customer outcomes.

You will bring:

• Demonstrated leadership experience within aquatic, recreation, leisure, or facility management environments.
• Strong knowledge of operational compliance, risk management, and workplace health and safety.
• Exceptional people leadership, coaching, and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience managing teams, contractors, and operational programs.
• A proactive and solutions-focused approach to continuous improvement.
• A commitment to diversity, inclusion, and community engagement.

Essential Qualifications

• Pool Lifeguard Certificate
• Aquatic Technical Operators Certificate
• Current First Aid Certificate
• Current CPR Certificate
• Current Working with Children Check (or equivalent)
• Current National Police Check

Why Join Active Merri-bek?
At Active Merri-bek, we are committed to creating welcoming, safe, and inclusive environments where our community can be active, connected, and healthy.

In this role, you will have the opportunity to:

• Lead operations across a diverse portfolio of community facilities.
• Influence safety, compliance, and operational excellence at a strategic level.
• Develop and mentor high-performing teams.
• Drive meaningful outcomes for the local community.
• Be part of an organisation that values innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

About the Company

Belgravia Leisure is part of the Belgravia Health and Leisure Group (BHLG) and is the fastest growing leisure organisation in Australia. Our core areas of business and facilities stewardship include health clubs, wellness and spa, golf, aquatic and sporting venues in 250 locations across Australia and New Zealand.

We are in an exciting period of growth and look to continue to diversify and deliver results while being a strong community citizen. With an annual turnover in excess of $180m, the group are looking for the best and brightest to assist with taking the organisation into the future.

We value diversity and encourage people from different backgrounds to apply, including Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, people from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) backgrounds, people of any age or gender, people identifying as lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and gender diverse, intersex and/or queer (LGBTIQA+) and people with disability.

We are committed to providing a child safe environment. Please refer to ourchild safety framework. Successful applicants will be required to obtain a national police check and a Working with Children check.