Area Manager - Full Time - Kent & Tandridge

Freedom Leisure; Ashford; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

A growing leisure and cultural trust in Ashford seeks an experienced Area Manager to lead Leisure Partnerships in Kent & Tandridge. This role involves accountability for business performance, operational management of leisure services, and developing partnerships with local authorities. The ideal candidate will have a strong leadership background in leisure services, excellent commercial awareness, and the ability to motivate staff. The organization offers a range of benefits to support employee well-being and career development.

Benefits

Discounted Staff membership

Incremental holidays

Employee Assistance Programme

Company pension

Fully funded training

Cycle-to-work scheme

Car Leasing tax-efficient schemes

Qualifications

• Previous experience in a senior operational leisure role.
• Proven track record of leading and managing a change in culture.
• Experience of leading a multi-site operation that includes large scale events.
• Outstanding commercial awareness with experience of managing and delivering sales targets and income performance.
• Excellent IT skills to produce and interpret reports and data.
• Awareness of industry developments and trends.

Responsibilities

• Accountability for the business performance across sites in your area.
• Ensure high standards in the management and running of leisure services.
• Develop outstanding working relationships with local authority partners.
• Lead a staff team to achieve key performance targets.

Skills

Leadership

Change management

Commercial awareness

Problem solving

Customer service

Project management

Staff management

IT proficiency

Job description

We want you to love coming to work, feeling healthy, happy and valued. That's why we've developed a benefits package with you in mind, so what can we offer you?

About the role

An outstanding opportunity has arisen to join our team at Freedom Leisure, one of the fastest growing and successful leisure and cultural trusts in the UK. We are seeking an experienced and inspirational Area Manager to lead our Leisure Partnerships in Kent & Tandridge.

If you feel driven to inspire people to be more active, improve their wellbeing and would like a job that will make a real difference to local people's lives then Freedom Leisure is the place for you!

Responsibilities

• Business & Sales Management - Accountability for the business, budgetary and cost centre performance across sites in your area. Ensuring that sales are driven forward, developing the business plan and leading a staff team to achieve key performance targets.
• Operational Management - Ensuring the day to day management and running of the leisure services and events is of the highest standard.
• People Management - Ensuring that work standards and performance are at the highest level through the effective recruitment, day to day leadership, management and development of all staff.
• Partnership Management - Freedom Leisure operate leisure contracts on behalf of local authority Partners, as such you will develop outstanding working relationships and liaise regularly with the partners to ensure delivery of their objectives and compliance with the contract.

Hours: 37 hours a week - Flexible to meet the demands of the business

Qualifications & Experience

You may already be an Area Manager or an experienced leader in a public / private sector organisation looking for the next step. The person we are looking for will have the ability to manage a number of priorities at the same time; will be able to lead and motivate staff and have a passion for the leisure services and events. In addition to this you will demonstrate the following in your application:

• Previous experience in a senior operational leisure role
• Proven track record of leading and managing a change in culture
• Experience of leading a multi-site operation that includes large scale events
• Outstanding commercial awareness with experience of managing and delivering sales targets and income performance
• Excellent IT skills to be able to produce and interpret reports and data
• Awareness of industry developments and trends
• Problem solving, project management, customer service and staff management experience

Benefits

• My Staff Shop, our very own staff benefit scheme, gives employees access to a great range of benefits.
• Discounted Staff membership (including family members)
• Incremental holidays
• Employee Assistance Programme - 24/7 confidential, independent and professional counselling.
• Company pension
• Various insurance and saving schemes
• Financial advice
• Cycle-to-work and Car Leasing tax-efficient schemes (salaried staff only, depending on earnings).
• All this as well as fully funded training and career progression opportunities in a team working environment supporting your local community to improve lives through leisure.