General Manager - New Padel club

Leisure People Recruitment; Northampton; On-site; GBP 29,000 - 35,000; Full time

Job summary

A new sports club in Northampton seeks a General Manager to lead its launch and growth. The ideal candidate will have experience managing leisure venues, strong people-management capabilities, and a passion for sport. Responsibilities include overseeing operations, managing budgets, and building community engagement. This role offers a competitive salary of up to £35,000 plus bonuses and benefits, with a unique chance to shape the future of the club.

Benefits

Competitive salary

Bonus and benefits

Career development

Qualifications

• Proven experience managing a leisure, fitness, sports, or hospitality venue.
• Strong people-management skills to inspire diverse teams.
• Experience managing budgets and driving revenue.

Responsibilities

• Lead the pre-launch setup and day-to-day operation of the club.
• Recruit and develop a high-performing team.
• Ensure operational standards, including health and safety.
• Manage budgets and drive revenue across various channels.
• Build partnerships and promote padel in the community.

Skills

Leadership

People management

Commercial acumen

Operational management

Communication skills

Job description

General Manager – New Padel club

Up to £35,000+bonus + benefits+ career development

Our client is launching Northampton’s first dedicated indoor padel club, and we are looking for an ambitious, people-driven General Manager to lead it from pre-launch then through long-term growth. Reporting directly to the CEO, you will be responsible for delivering exceptional member experiences while driving commercial success and operational excellence.

This is a rare opportunity to join the company in its infancy and work with the founders to make this club a success with a view to opening more padel clubs in the future and progressing with the business.

Responsibilities

• Lead the pre-launch setup and day-to-day operation of the club, ensuring a smooth and successful opening.
• Recruit, lead, motivate, and develop a high-performing team across all areas of the club
• Create a welcoming, inclusive, and community-focused environment that drives participation and retention.
• Oversee all operational standards, including health and safety, facilities, and customer service.
• Manage budgets, control costs, and drive revenue across memberships, events, coaching, café and retail.
• Build strong local partnerships and promote the sport of padel within the community.

Key Requirements

• Proven experience managing a leisure, fitness, sports, or hospitality venue in a leadership role.
• Strong people-management skills with the ability to inspire and develop diverse teams.
• Commercially minded, with experience managing budgets and driving revenue growth.
• Highly organised, proactive, and comfortable working in a fast-paced start-up environment.
• Passion for sport, wellbeing, and community engagement (padel obsession encouraged but not mandatory)
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
• Willingness to work flexibly, including every other weekend.
• Self-motivated, resilient, and excited by the challenge of launching and growing a new concept.

For more information, please click apply and we will be in touch promptly if you have the right level of experience.