General Manager - Full Time - Weldon Wellbeing Pavilion

Freedom Leisure; Ebbsfleet; On-site; GBP 27,000 - 33,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Company pension

Cycle-to-work and car leasing

Discounted staff membership

Employee Assistance Programme

Financial advice

Incremental annual leave

My Staff Shop discounts

Fully funded training and development

Insurance and savings schemes

Job summary

Freedom Leisure is seeking a General Manager for the Weldon Wellbeing Pavilion to drive commercial success and community impact. You will lead a team, manage the centre's income and expenditure, and ensure high standards of operation in a welcoming environment.

The role requires entrepreneurial flair, financial acumen, and a passion for delivering inclusive leisure services. You will collaborate with internal and external partners to engage local communities.

Qualifications

• Experience leading leisure facilities or similar venue environments.
• Ability to drive sales and income while controlling expenditure.
• Excellent commercial awareness with a track record of delivering results.
• Proven leadership to motivate, develop and manage staff and the centre team.
• Strong communication with internal/external customers and community partners.
• Commitment to high standards and continuous professional development.

Responsibilities

• Business & Sales Management: own budget, drive revenue, and deliver the business plan.
• Operational Management: maintain high standards and safe, welcoming operations.
• People Management: recruit, develop and lead the team to meet KPIs and community needs.

Skills

Entrepreneurial mindset

Financial acumen

Commercial awareness

Leadership

Stakeholder engagement

People management

Job description

If you feel driven to inspire people to be more active, improve their wellbeing and would like a job that will make a real difference to local people’s lives then Freedom Leisure is the place for you!

We are a not-for-profit leisure trust with a strong purpose and commitment to support our local communities and hard-to-reach groups encouraging them to become more active, contributing to improved lives. From swimming lessons to walking football and everything in between, we are driven to provide fun and welcoming sessions to support the whole community to be active, both within our leisure centres and in the local community.

About The Weldon Wellbeing Pavilion

The Pavilion aims to improve lives through leisure by providing inclusive, affordable and sustainable activity spaces for the entire community.

Developed in partnership with Ebbsfleet Garden City Trust, the Pavilion will be a vibrant local centre supporting health, fitness, sport and community events.

Facilities You’ll Be Part Of

• A fully equipped gym
• Multi use fitness studio for classes and group exercise
• Community hall (capacity up to 200 people) for sports & private hire
• 3G football pitch and tennis court
• Changing rooms and a fully accessible Changing Places facility
• On site café, breakout spaces & reception area

We are looking for a General Manager to look after Weldon Wellbeing Pavilion.

We are looking for a manager with proven entrepreneurial ability, financial acumen, who has a passion for high standards and can demonstrate a history of taking ownership and delivering results. You will have excellent commercial awareness which you can translate into the successful running of popular leisure centres. The ability to drive sales/income and ability to manage expenditure are key qualities for this role. Other key qualities would be the ability to lead, motivate and support the centre team and to be able to work with internal and external customers/stakeholders/local community.

Your Responsibilities Will Be Varied And Include

• Business & Sales Management - Accountability for the business, budgetary and cost centre performance across the whole centre. Ensuring that sales are driven forward, developing the business plan and leading colleagues to achieve key performance targets.
• Operational Management – leading the team to ensure excellent operational standards and record keeping is in place. Working with the team to provide all activities in a safe and welcoming environment.
• People Management – Managing and recruiting a team where necessary, to deliver an exciting leisure offering to the highest standards, so that the service delivers the financial performance in line with the bid proposal, and deliver our services in a way to engage with the whole community. Provide the necessary support and leadership to colleagues for ongoing management and development of all.

You should have the necessary skills and experience to lead the centre and engage the local community. The person we are looking for will have the ability to manage a number of priorities at the same time; will be able to build, lead and motivate colleagues and have a passion for the leisure and cultural services and events. The ability to deliver on tight deadlines under pressure is absolutely essential.

We want our employees and customers to have the best experience possible. So, if this sounds like you, we want to hear from you.

In the event that a high volume of suitable applications are received, the post may close prior to the specified closing date.

Hours: 37 hours a week, Monday to Sunday

Requirements

• To develop and grow the membership, activity and attendance at the site
• To manage and be responsible for the centre’s income and expenditure
• To be the lead contact at site and report to the Area Manager
• To ensure that Freedom Leisure Policies, Procedures and Processes are fully adhered to
• To ensure that relevant site audits processes are managed
• To produce reports on various areas of the centre's operation and KPI’s
• At least 3 years’ experience in leisure facilities
• Experience of identifying staff training and development requirements and identifying development opportunities
• A passion for the industry demonstrated through continuous professional development

Benefits

• Company pension
• Cycle-to-work and car leasing tax-efficient schemes
• Discounted staff membership (including family members)
• Employee Assistance Programme: 24/7 confidential, independent and professional counselling
• Financial advice
• Incremental annual leave entitlement
• My Staff Shop employee benefits scheme, offering discounts on cinema tickets, travel, high street e-vouchers, gift cards, days out, leisure activities and everyday spending
• Fully funded training and development, with career progression opportunities
• Various insurance and savings schemes

Closing date: 30th October 2026

Salary: up to £30,000 per annum

At Freedom Leisure, we believe a diverse workforce strengthens our organisation and enhances the services we provide. We welcome applications from suitably qualified candidates regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.