General Manager

Places for People; Basingstoke; On-site; GBP 52,000 - 68,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Real Living Wage

Pension with matched contributions up

Bonus scheme

Annual leave buy/sell

Healthcare cashback plan

Wellbeing support

Place Rewards discounts

Training and progression

Recognition programmes

Inclusion focus

Free gym membership

Life assurance

Job summary

Places Leisure in Basingstoke seeks a General Manager to lead a busy leisure site, driving excellent customer service and strong financial performance. You will manage a multi-functional team, evolve member programs, and cultivate strong relationships with clients and the council.

You will set clear objectives, develop your leadership team, and ensure social value targets are met while creating an inclusive environment for colleagues and communities.

Qualifications

• Experience leading and developing a multi-functional operational team.
• Proven track record in managing a leisure facility or similar customer-focused operation.
• Ability to manage operational, commercial and financial targets using KPIs.

Responsibilities

• Lead the leisure site and team to deliver excellent services for active, healthy communities.
• Oversee membership sales, retention and revenue, ensuring high-quality customer experience.
• Act as liaison between Places Leisure, the site and the council to support contract delivery.
• Develop the leadership team and set objectives with effective induction and development planning.
• Collaborate with clients, community groups and partners to meet contractual commitments and social value targets.

Skills

Leadership

Operational management

Customer focus

Job description

Places Leisure is part of the Places for People Group, we're changing lives by creating active places and healthier people for communities to thrive. As one of the UK's leading Social Enterprises, Places for People believes it's people who make a community, which is why we build homes, deliver services and create opportunities that help communities flourish. At Places for People, we hire People, not numbers. We're looking for individuals who share our values, do the right thing, support their communities and are motivated to grow. We apply the same philosophy to our colleagues as we do to our communities, ensuring everyone feels valued, supported and empowered to succeed. Here, you're more than just a colleague, you're part of our cause. Join a community that cares about you. So, what are you waiting for? Join a community that cares about you!

More about your role

As General Manager, you will lead your leisure site and its team, delivering excellent services that help create active, healthy and thriving communities. You will take ownership of the site's financial, commercial and operational performance, using key performance indicators to identify opportunities and take effective action. You will oversee membership sales, retention and revenue, while ensuring customers consistently receive a high-quality experience.

You will also act as the key liaison between Places Leisure and Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, building a strong partnership and ensuring effective communication and collaboration to support the successful delivery of the contract.

You will develop your leadership team, set clear objectives and support colleagues through effective induction and development planning. Working collaboratively with clients, community groups, health and wellbeing partners and colleagues across the wider business, you will ensure contractual commitments are met, social value targets are delivered and the site is recognised as an example of excellent leisure management.

Essential criteria

• Previously experience of leading and developing a multi-functional operational team.
• Experience of managing a leisure facility or similar customer-focused operation.
• Proven ability to manage operational, commercial and financial targets.
• Confident using performance information and KPIs to improve results.

More about you

You will be an inspiring and visible leader who can bring people together around clear operational and financial goals. You will be results-focused, comfortable managing a range of responsibilities and passionate about providing an excellent service for customers and communities. You will understand how to manage financial performance and use commercial and operational information to make informed decisions. Experience within leisure facility management would be beneficial. You will also be confident working with clients and partners, developing your team and creating an inclusive environment in which colleagues and communities can thrive.

This role requires an Enhanced Disclosure check.

Benefits

• We pay the Real Living Wage as a minimum
• Pension with matched contributions up to 7%
• Bonus scheme
• Option to buy or sell annual leave days
• Healthcare cashback plan for everyday medical costs, with private GP and health support services available
• Comprehensive wellbeing support including counselling, flu jabs, our Employee Assistance Programme (EAP) and access to our Wellbeing Hub, supporting your mental, physical and financial wellbeing
• Access to Our Place Rewards, offering discounts and savings on groceries, travel, shopping, home products and other lifestyle purchases
• Ongoing training, professional qualifications, internal development programmes and career progression opportunities
• Recognition programmes including Star Awards and Colleague Awards, celebrating achievements and recognising great work
• Strong focus on inclusion, wellbeing and colleague engagement
• Free membership to Places Gyms
• Life Assurance to provide financial security for your loved ones, alongside access to will writing services to help you plan for the future with confidence