General Manager - Leisure Centre

Leisure People; Hereford; On-site; GBP 36,000 - 43,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

38 days holiday

Bank Holidays

Relocation package

Matched pension 6%

Medicash health plan

Life assurance

Job summary

Leisure People Hereford seeks a dynamic General Manager to lead a high-footfall leisure centre with a 2M+ turnover, 3,000-member base, and diverse facilities. You’ll drive performance, safety, and customer service while delivering ambitious KPIs and a structured programme of activities for the community.

You will manage ~70 staff and freelancers, oversee budgets and capex projects, and build strong partnerships with NHS wellness initiatives. Occasional weekends; relocation benefits included.

Qualifications

• Proven track record managing a large leisure centre or private gym.
• Strong commercial acumen with a flair for sales.
• Patient and personable approach when working with multiple stakeholders.
• Based within one hour's travel time to the leisure centre.

Responsibilities

• Provide day-to-day leadership to staff and managers, ensuring high standards of performance, customer service, and safety.
• Take responsibility for the financial and operational success of the centre, including managing budgets and delivering against ambitious KPIs.
• Meet and exceed monthly sales and retention targets for memberships and learn-to-swim participation.
• Develop and oversee a diverse programme of activities balancing commercial and community needs.
• Be responsible for new product launches and manage major capex investment in the gym.
• Collaborate with partners and community wellness and sports development bodies.
• Drive continuous improvement, championing standards such as Quest.
• Lead, mentor, and inspire the team.

Skills

Leadership

Financial management

Sales focus

Stakeholder management

People management

Job description

General Manager Hereford

£46,350 + 30 days holiday + Bank Holiday + Relocation Package

I am looking for an ambitious and inspiring General Manager to lead the operations of a high footfall and very successful leisure centre in Hereford . With an annual turnover of c£2m, the centre has a membership base of 3000 with an a very successful gymnastics programme, 70 class studio timetable, café soft play with a 9-hole golf course, athletics and cycle track and outdoor sports pitches. There is also a very successful healthy communities and wellness partnerships working in partnership with the NHS that is based at the centre. You will be leading a team of heads of department and will have a total of around 70 full and part-time team members and freelance instructors.

As General Manager, you will:

• Provide day-to-day leadership to staff and managers, ensuring high standards of performance, customer service, and safety.
• Take responsibility for the financial and operational success of the centre, including managing budgets and delivering against ambitious KPIs.
• Meet and exceed monthly sales and retention targets for both memberships and learn to swim participation.
• Develop and oversee a diverse programme of activities that balances commercial performance with community needs.
• Be responsible for new product launches and project manage a significant cap ex investment in the gym.
• Work with multiple stakeholders and community wellness and sports development partners.
• Drive continuous improvement, championing initiatives such as Quest and other quality standards.
• Lead, mentor, and inspire your team, ensuring they feel supported, developed, and engaged.
• Predominantly work Monday to Friday with the occasional weekend day. As GM you will not be on the DM rota,

I am keen to hear from candidates who have :

• A proven track record managing a large leisure centre or private gym.
• Strong commercial acumen with a flair for sales.
• Have a patient and personable approach to working with multiple stakeholders.
• Be based within one hour's travel time to the leisure centre.

In addition to a highly competitive basic salary of £46,350 there are a wide range of benefits that notably include 38 days holiday per annum (including 8 bank holidays), a matched pension scheme of 6%, Medicash health plan and life assurance.

Due to the anticipated high level of interest in this role only those candidates meeting the above criteria can be contacted,