Duty Lead – Castle Point Borough Council

Working for Essex; Essex; On-site; GBP 35,000 - 39,000; Full time

Job summary

Castle Point Borough Council is seeking a Duty Lead to oversee operations across Waterside and Runnymede Leisure Centres. You will lead shift teams, welcome customers, and help drive the move to an active wellbeing model that encourages participation in activity and improves health outcomes.

The role includes staff deployment, safety checks, risk assessments and incident response, with opportunities to recruit, train and develop colleagues while maintaining high cleanliness and safety standards.

Qualifications

• National Pool Lifeguard Qualification (NPLQ) required.
• Pool Plant Operator qualification required.
• First Aid at Work qualification required.
• Strong customer service skills and people management experience.
• Commitment to safety, cleanliness and high service standards.

Responsibilities

• Engage with customers during your shift to create a welcoming experience.
• Lead and coordinate staff deployment, rotas, and coverage across centres.
• Carry out inspections, water testing and health and safety checks.
• Oversee pool plant operation and safe handling of chemicals.
• Support recruitment, inductions, and staff development.
• Respond to incidents with appropriate first aid and center procedures.
• Promote activities and programmes to attract new customers.

Skills

NPLQ

Pool Plant Operator

First Aid at Work

Customer service

People management

Health & safety awareness

Job description

Duty Lead - Castle Point Borough Council

Castle Point Borough Council

Permanent,Full Time

Grade 6 , SCP 22 – 26 (£34,811 - £38,510)

Location:Castle Point

Closing Date: 20th November 2026

Help uscreate greatexperiences and healthier communities

Are you passionate about people, wellbeing and creating great customer experiences? We’re looking for a Duty Manager to lead our teams on shift, be the welcoming face of our centres and help shape our move to an active wellbeing model, making sure our services reach the people who will benefit from them most whilst still serving our fantastic customer base.

Our leisure centres are about much more than facilities. We’re transitioning to an active wellbeing model, working with partners to support residents who are least active, living with long-term health conditions or facing barriers to getting active. You’ll play an important part in making that change happen on the ground.

Working across Waterside and Runnymede Leisure Centres, you’ll play a key role in how our centres feel to the people who use them. From getting to know our customers and supporting colleagues to keeping our facilities safe, clean and a place for our community to come and get fit and healthier!

About the role

As Duty Manager, you’ll be the visible, approachable face of the centre during your shift: talking with customers, listening to their feedback and making sure every visit is a positive one. You’ll also take responsibility for operational decisions and respond effectively when priorities change.

Your responsibilities will include:

• Engaging with customers throughout your shift, building relationships and creating a welcoming, inclusive experience for everyone.
• Championing our active wellbeing approach, helping people who are inactive, living with health conditions or facing barriers to take part feel confident and supported.
• Coordinating staff deployment, rotas and cover to support the centres’ activities.
• Carrying out operational inspections, pool water testing and health and safety checks.
• Overseeing pool plant operation and the safe use and storage of chemicals.
• Maintaining high standards of cleanliness, presentation, security and equipment readiness.
• Resolving customer enquiries and feedback professionally, and using what you hear to improve the experience.
• Responding to incidents and emergencies, providing first aid and coordinating staff in line with centre procedures.
• Supporting recruitment, staff inductions, training and development.
• Promoting activities and programmes to reach new customers.
• Providing reception and lifeguard cover when required.

You’ll also contribute to reviewing risk assessments and operating procedures, coordinating maintenance and working with contractors and suppliers.

About you

You’ll be a people person who enjoys engaging with customers and genuinely cares about the difference physical activity can make to people’s health and wellbeing. You’ll bring strong communication skills and the ability to organise competing priorities in a busy leisure environment. You’ll be confident supporting and directing colleagues, using your initiative and making sound decisions while keeping safety at the forefront.

The role requires the below (Training can be provided for the right candidate):

• A National Pool Lifeguard Qualification (NPLQ).
• A Pool Plant Operator qualification.
• A First Aid at Work qualification.
• Knowledge of customer service and day-to-day people management.
• An understanding of, or real enthusiasm for, the role leisure can play in improving health and wellbeing and reducing health inequalities.
• A practical approach to problem-solving and maintaining safe, well-presented facilities.

You’ll need to work across both leisure centres and undertake emergency keyholder responsibilities when required.

Apply

If you’re ready to create great customer experiences and help more people in Castle Point lead active, healthier lives, we’d like to hear from you.

For an informal discussion: Jonathan Vadden - [e-mail]