Duty Manager

Active Life; Maidstone; On-site; GBP 26,000 - 32,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee discounts

Gym membership

Friendly, supportive workplace

Ongoing training and development

Job summary

Active Life, Kingsmead Pools & Fitness in Maidstone, seeks a motivated Duty Manager to oversee daily operations, supervise the on‑shift team, and ensure a welcoming, safe environment for our community. You’ll coordinate opening/closing, manage lifeguard cover, and deliver exceptional customer service while safeguarding health and safety standards.

You will hold essential qualifications (NPLQ) and PPO where possible, with strong leadership and problem‑solving skills to support staff and maintain

Qualifications

• Hold a current NPLQ qualification (essential).
• Hold a current PPO qualification or be willing to undertake training.
• Experience of supervising a team in a leisure centre or similar operational environment.
• Strong leadership and communication skills, with experience of supporting, developing and motivating teams to deliver excellent customer service.
• Strong organisation and decision-making skills, with the ability to prioritise tasks, coordinate shift activities and respond calmly to operational issues.
• Sound understanding of health and safety, safeguarding and operational compliance, alongside strong organisation, problem-solving and digital skills.
• Be flexible and willing to work a variety of shifts, including early mornings, evenings and weekends.
• Share our commitment to creating a safe, welcoming and inclusive environment where everyone in our community feels valued.

Responsibilities

• Manage centre operations during shifts, including opening and closing procedures.
• Supervise and support the team on shift, allocate duties and coordinate breaks.
• Oversee end-of-shift reconciliation in line with centre procedures and report discrepancies.
• Carry out health and safety checks and safeguarding procedures.
• Oversee poolside operations and lifeguard cover and provide cover when required.
• Carry out pool plant checks and monitor water quality and record results.
• Deliver excellent customer service and handle enquiries and complaints on shift.
• Respond to incidents and emergencies and complete incident reports.
• Monitor cleanliness, equipment and facility presentation and report maintenance issues.
• Support staff induction and ongoing training and staffing levels during shifts.
• Work with colleagues to deliver activities and promote centre services.
• Provide clear shift handovers and inform the General Manager of issues.

Skills

Team leadership

Communication skills

Customer service

Health and safety

Decision making

Digital skills

Education

NPLQ

PPO

First Aid at Work (FAW)

Job description

We're looking for a motivated, reliable and community-focused Duty Manager to join our team at Kingsmead Pools & Fitness. If you're passionate about supporting teams, delivering excellent customer experiences and helping more people become active. As Duty Manager at Active Life, you'll oversee the safe and efficient running of Kingsmead Pools & Fitness during your shifts. Working with the General Manager, you'll coordinate the team, maintain high operational standards and ensure customers enjoy a welcoming and inclusive experience. Your responsibilities will include:

• Managing centre operations during your shifts, including opening and closing procedures, to ensure facilities are safe, welcoming and ready for use.
• Supervising and supporting the team on shift, allocating duties and coordinating breaks and cover to maintain service standards.
• Overseeing end-of-shift reconciliation in line with centre procedures, reporting discrepancies promptly.
• Carrying out health and safety checks, following safeguarding procedures and maintaining accurate operational records.
• Overseeing poolside operations and lifeguard cover, ensuring supervision arrangements follow centre procedures and providing cover when required.
• Carrying out pool plant checks and monitoring water quality in accordance with training and centre procedures, recording results and escalating concerns.
• Delivering excellent customer service, resolving enquiries and complaints on shift and escalating issues when appropriate.
• Responding to incidents and emergencies in line with training and centre procedures, coordinating the team and completing incident reports.
• Monitoring cleanliness, equipment and facility presentation, arranging activity set‑ups and reporting maintenance issues promptly.
• Supporting staff induction and ongoing training, and helping maintain appropriate staffing levels during your shifts.
• Working with colleagues to deliver activities smoothly, promote centre services and support accessible leisure opportunities.
• Providing clear shift handovers, keeping the General Manager informed of operational issues and contributing ideas for service improvements.

We're looking for a confident, approachable team leader with experience of supervising people in a busy leisure environment. You'll take a hands‑on approach, communicate clearly and remain calm when priorities change. With a strong focus on safety and customer service, you'll support colleagues and take ownership of day‑to‑day issues to help everyone enjoy a welcoming and inclusive experience.

• Hold a current NPLQ qualification (essential).
• Hold a current PPO qualification or be willing to undertake training.
• Experience of supervising a team in a leisure centre or similar operational environment, with responsibility for day‑to‑day service delivery.
• Strong leadership and communication skills, with experience of supporting, developing and motivating teams to deliver excellent customer service.
• Strong organisation and decision‑making skills, with the ability to prioritise tasks, coordinate shift activities and respond calmly to operational issues.
• A sound understanding of health and safety, safeguarding and operational compliance, alongside strong organisation, problem‑solving and digital skills.
• Be flexible and willing to work a variety of shifts, including early mornings, evenings and weekends.
• Share our commitment to creating a safe, welcoming and inclusive environment where everyone in our community feels valued.

Desirable Requirements Hold a current First Aid at Work (FAW) qualification.

Active Life is committed to safeguarding children and promoting their welfare. The successful candidate may be asked to complete a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check. Applicants must have the right to work in the UK.

At Active Life, we are at the heart of our community, committed to creating welcoming, inclusive spaces where everyone feels valued, supported and able to thrive.

We believe that being active should be accessible to everyone, and we're passionate about helping people of all ages and abilities lead healthier, happier and more active lives.

At Active Life, we support our people to thrive. In return for your hard work and commitment, we offer:

• Employee discounts.
• Gym membership to help you stay active.
• A friendly, supportive and inclusive workplace.
• Ongoing training and development.
• Opportunities to build your skills and progress within the leisure industry.