Director Member

Volunteer Centre; Leeds; Hybrid; GBP 30,000; Full time

Job summary

A community-focused wellness cooperative in Leeds is seeking a Director Member to manage operations at their new sauna. You will lead a team, perform daily tasks, and collaborate in a cooperative setting. This role requires strong organizational skills and a commitment to building a community-oriented business. The position offers a competitive salary and benefits including holiday entitlement and sauna sessions.

Benefits

31 days holiday pro-rata

3% employer pension contribution

Free sauna sessions

One free guest-pass sauna per month

Qualifications

• Experience in a cooperative business is essential.
• Must be able to work weekends and evenings.
• Strong leadership capabilities.

Responsibilities

• Lead one of five teams in management and administration.
• Perform day-to-day tasks like welcoming customers.
• Work collaboratively and take initiative.

Skills

Organizational skills

Time-management skills

Team collaboration

Initiative

Job description

Overview

We are Leeds Community Sauna, a cooperative creating Leeds’ first community-oriented sauna space. We are in the final stages of the project build phase and aim to launch at our Kirkstall Valley Farm site in November. We are seeking two Director Members and one part-time Sauna Co-ordinator. This is an exciting start-up opportunity to contribute to systems, culture and business processes with learning opportunities as we move into the operational launch phase.

Leeds Community Sauna is a cooperative: the business is owned and run by its members, including employees and community investors. You will join as a probationary member, working towards membership of the Co-op. Employee-members participate in day-to-day operations and overall management, including welcoming customers and maintaining the site.

All employee-members sit on the Board of Directors, and we operate using a collective management model. This means day-to-day decisions are made collaboratively by employee-members, with major decisions brought to General Meetings.

Job purpose

To open and manage the site, and customer experience. To lead within your chosen Team and contribute to collective management and administration of the business.

Role and responsibilities

The Director Member will lead on one of five teams in the management and administration of Leeds Community Sauna. They are expected to spend a minimum of three shifts per week at the Sauna, performing day-to-day tasks such as opening the site, lighting the fires, welcoming customers, and cleaning the saunas. Administrative duties are estimated at ~12-15 hours per week (half on-site), with ~22 hours per week on operational duties. The role involves working within a flexible, fast-paced start-up environment.

Team options for this advert (please specify in your application):

• Operations
• Comms & Marketing
• Community
• Governance and Policy

There is also a Finance Officer position advertised separately.

Job specifics (Director Member – Operations Officer)

• Hours: 30 per week. Must be able to work weekends and evenings.
• Rate: £30,000 pro rata, with the possibility of rising to £35,000 pro rata depending on business health
• Duration: Permanent
• Holiday Entitlement: 31 days (6.2 weeks) pro-rata
• Pension: 3% employer contribution
• Location: Primarily at Kirkstall Valley Farm sauna site, Leeds; option to work from home one day a week

Benefits

• 31 days (6.2 weeks) pro-rata Holiday
• 3% employer contribution
• Free sauna sessions for yourself
• One free guest-pass sauna per month

Background

Leeds Community Sauna aims to bring sauna culture to Leeds with two high-quality saunas and plunge pools, creating an ethical and enjoyable workplace that supports good livelihoods for workers.

Background details: Leeds Community Sauna formed in 2024, led by three founder members; we are seeking two director members and one part-time Sauna Co-ordinator. The cooperative structure means members jointly own and run the business, with employee-members contributing to management and administration alongside workers and community investors.

About this role

Each Director Member leads on a team and spends a portion of time on another team to ensure overlap and deputisation. The typical split is approximately 2/3 on their primary team and 1/3 on a secondary team. You will need to work collaboratively and take initiative, with strong organisational and time-management skills, and a willingness to learn and lead. The selected candidate should be able to work both independently and as part of a small, fast-paced team.

Applications should indicate the preferred team and include the required information listed below.

Application requirements

• A 1-page cover letter outlining suitability for the role and ability to meet essential (and any desirable) requirements, including experience in a cooperative business; organize this with headings linking experience to requirements.
• A CV (max 2 pages) with work history.
• The job title and team you are applying for, and your name in the subject line of your email.