Duty Manager

London Youth; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 24,000 - 30,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

39 days annual leave

Health Care Cash Plan

Employee Assistance Programme

Free onsite parking

Uniform provided

Job summary

London Youth, Woodrow High House, is seeking a Duty Manager to lead a dedicated team and ensure a high-quality, safe experience for users of the leisure centre. You will supervise Lifeguards and Leisure Assistants and coordinate with teachers, groups and the public.

The role focuses on managing the pool area, health & safety, rosters, and customer service excellence, with a strong emphasis on safeguarding and inclusivity within a busy community setting.

Qualifications

• RLSS NPLQ (National Pool Lifeguard Qualification) is essential.
• Pool Plant Operator Certificate is highly advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Provide frontline duty management with lifeguard cover.
• Supervise leisure retail shop and manage bookings.
• Support roster staffing and training records.
• Ensure safety and KPIs for leisure facilities.

Skills

Customer service

Team supervision

Lifeguard operations

Health & safety

Communication

Computer literacy

Job description

Duty Manager

Application Deadline: 12 October 2026

Department: Operations (LC)

Employment Type: Permanent - Full Time

Location: Woodrow High House

Reporting To: Leisure Operations and Duty Manager

Compensation: £27,208 / year

Description

Our people are the heart of Woodrow. As the Duty Manager, you are part of a professional, enthusiastic, and passionate team that believes in the potential of every young person who comes through the door. The Duty Manager works alongside another Duty Manager, both of whom report into the Leisure Operations Manager. This role supervises a team of Leisure Assistants/Lifeguards; and works closely with the customer teams across the site, swimming teachers and lifeguards to maintain ongoing service delivery expectations.

The Duty Manager is responsible for supporting the smooth running of the swimming pool and delivering a high quality and safe experience for users of Leisure Centre facilities. We expect you to come with experience of having worked in a customer facing role, where you will be able to hit the ground running. Part of your role will support the management and maintenance of the pool plant. We are looking for someone enthusiastic, motivated, and customer focused. You must demonstrate a strong commitment towards ensuring excellence in customer service and enhancing customer experience. You must be ready to communicate with a diverse range of clients, including the public, children and young people, youth group leaders and teachers.

What you will be doing

Leisure Centre Operations

• Provide outstanding customer service experiences via a welcoming frontline duty management service, dealing with account enquiries and supporting bookings.
• You will work an early or late shift, on a rotational basis, to ensure lifeguard and duty manager cover is available while the Leisure Centre is open, Monday - Sunday.
• Support the organisation of lifeguard training, including NPLQ renewals, competency assessments, quarterly lifeguard observations and maintaining training records, as required.
• Supervise the leisure retail shop, including sales, inventory control and daily reconciliation.
• Cover lifeguard shifts where there are gaps to ensure ongoing operations.
• Support the Operations & Duty Manager to ensure the rota is proactively staffed each week.
• Ensure accurate and timely recording of staff attendance and absence data each shift.
• Support new leisure staff inductions and training requirements.
• Ensure your training and competence is achieved and maintained, taking responsibility for your ongoing professional development.

Centre Health & Safety

• Support management in maintaining the safety of the leisure facilities, ensuring working best practices and compliance with legislation, and completion of KPIs by the leisure team.
• Support the day-to-day management of the pool plant operation, ensuring regular maintenance tasks and KPI checks are undertaken according to schedule.
• Ensure the reporting of accidents, incidents and near misses are done in a timely manner.
• Ensure reporting of any hazards, damage or maintenance issues to the Facilities team.

Corporate Responsibilities

• Actively promote London Youth's policy and procedures to value and respect diversity and inclusion in all aspects of your duties and working relationships.
• Manage resources to the highest standards and act as a custodian of best practice.
• You will be expected to play a proactive part in the implementation of the work and policy of London Youth as a whole, supporting the vision, mission and aims of the charity.

Undertake any other duties as may be reasonably requested by Woodrow Management that ensure the ongoing operational success of the centre and delivery of excellent customer experiences.

Reflect our inclusive culture in your day-to-day work and support a positive health & safety and safeguarding culture in your interactions with colleagues.

Follow our organisation's anti-racism principles and practices as you actively promote and respect diversity and inclusion in all aspects of your work and working relationships.

What you bring to the role

Experience, Knowledge & Skills

• Experience working in leisure in a supervisory or management capacity as a Duty Manager, Senior Lifeguard Assistant, or similar.
• Experience working in a customer facing environment, providing the highest levels of customer service, managing communications, resolving conflict.
• Experience of working with a range of customers, including young people and adults, with different backgrounds and varying needs.
• Working knowledge of health & safety best practice and legislation in leisure facilities.
• Experience supervising and/or line managing people, including training and induction.
• Experience carrying out lifeguard observations.
• Computer literate and competent using Microsoft applications.

We would love to hear about if you have any:

• Experience in the use of CoursePro, or similar leisure bookings management systems.
• Experience in the use of Deputy, or similar employee scheduling, timesheet software systems.
• Experience managing external suppliers to support delivery of essentials services.
• Experience operating a pool plant room, and associated KPI management.

Qualifications

• Current RLSS NPLQ (National Pool Lifeguard Qualification) - Essential
• Pool Plant Operator Certificate - Highly Advantageous

Please let us know if you have:

• Swimming Teacher Qualification (Swim England or STA)
• First Aid at Work certificate
• NVQ in Leisure or Operations Management, or similar
• RLSS NPLQ Trainer Assessor

Attributes and Behaviours

• Customer-centric mindset with exceptional customer service skills.
• Able to quickly establish rapport and build effective relationships across a range of personas.
• Composed demeanour, able to keep calm under pressure and solve problems when they arise.
• Articulate communicator with a confident telephone manner and excellent written skills.
• Collaborative team player with a willingness to work effectively with others.
• Self-motivated with a positive attitude, growth mindset and keen willingness to develop.
• Able to work independently, demonstrating proactivity and initiative.
• Impeccable work ethic and a flexible approach to work.
• Good organisational skills, able to effectively prioritise workload.
• Analytical thinker with meticulous attention to detail.
• Absolute discretion and ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Passionate about leisure and sport opportunities to support health and wellbeing outcomes.
• Passionate and demonstrably committed to improving the lives of children and young people.
• Absolute commitment to London Youth's principles of equality, diversity and inclusi8on.

You are able to demonstrate living our values of being:

• Ambitious
• Collaborative
• Inclusive
• Accountable

Why work at Woodrow High House

• 39 days of annual leave (31 days + 8 bank holidays).
• Health Care Cash Plan to help cover your healthcare essentials.
• Free access for you and your family to the Employee Assistance Programme.
• Free onsite parking.
• Branded quality uniform provided.
• Free access to the 'Headspace' wellbeing app.
• Free access to the Charity Mentoring Network, as a mentee or mentor.
• Free tea and coffee available in the 'Tea & Coffee Bar'.
• Free meals provided whilst on duty when the kitchen is serving young people in residence.
• Magnificent location on an historic estate surrounded by nature.
• You'll be working with a fantastic team of passionate colleagues across London Youth.
• An outstanding culture and ethos where staff and visitors enjoy, challenge, and achieve.
• Occasional supply of sweet - sometimes savoury - always yummy - treats are guaranteed.
• You will be making a difference to the lives of young people!