Area Manager - Leisure Trust

Love Recruitment; Winchester; On-site; GBP 46,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading leisure operator in the New Forest is seeking an Area Manager to oversee multiple sports and leisure centres. This is a strategic leadership role focused on empowering teams and fostering community engagement while ensuring excellent customer service and financial performance. The ideal candidate has at least 5 years of senior management experience in leisure, fitness, or hospitality, with a strong background in commercial strategy development. This opportunity offers competitive compensation and benefits.

Benefits

Benefits package

Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years’ experience in senior management within leisure or hospitality.
• Experience leading multi-site operations.
• Proven track record of commercial success.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a team of managers across multiple centres.
• Develop and implement a strategy to drive growth in key areas.
• Manage financial performance and identify growth opportunities.
• Ensure compliance with health and safety standards.
• Build relationships with stakeholders and community partners.

Skills

Leadership

People management

Coaching

Commercial strategy development

Stakeholder management

Job description

Area Manager - Leisure Trust

New Forest

Up to £55k plus benefits

I am recruiting for a fantastic Area Manager position for a leading leisure operator. This is a hugely exciting leisure job. It is your opportunity to join one of the UK’s most forward-thinking and community-focused leisure operators.

As an Area Manager you will oversee five diverse and high-performing sports, fitness, and leisure centres in the stunning New Forest . This is an exciting opportunity to take on a strategic leadership role with a fast-growing organisation that champions wellbeing, innovation, and service excellence. You’ll lead from the front, empowering site managers and their teams to deliver excellent customer service, strong financial performance, and meaningful community engagement.

What is the gig?

• Lead, coach and develop a team of managers, fostering a culture of accountability, innovation, and excellence.
• Develop and deliver a commercial strategy that drives growth across gym memberships, swimming lessons, sports programming, food & beverage, and retail.
• Ensure service schedules and programme offerings meet the needs of the community, increase participation, and support member retention.
• Take full financial responsibility, managing P&L, setting budgets, tracking performance, and identifying opportunities for growth and efficiency.
• Ensure all centres operate smoothly, safely, and in compliance with health, safety and industry standards.
• Build strong relationships with internal and external stakeholders, including local authorities, partners, and community organisations.

What We’re Looking For

• At least 5 years’ experience in a senior management role within leisure, fitness, hospitality or retail.
• Demonstrated multi-site leadership experience, such as Contract Manager, Area Manager, Regional Manager or Cluster GM.
• Proven ability to deliver commercial success and excellent customer experience.
• Strong leadership, people management, and coaching skills.
• Skilled at developing partnerships and managing community and stakeholder relationships.
• Knowledge of health & wellbeing objectives and the role of leisure in community development.
• Based in or willing to relocate to New Forest, Hampshire.

Your recruiter for this role is Helen Horton , Account Director at Love Recruitment group, and can be contacted simply by applying for the role below. Helen and Love Recruitment specialise in recruitment for the whole fitness and leisure sector and work on a number of jobs in the fitness and leisure industry. If keen to be considered please ‘Apply Now’.