Head of Operations - Horizon Leisure

Leisure People; Havant; On-site; GBP 65,000; Full time

Job summary

A community-focused leisure organisation in Havant is seeking a Head of Operations to lead service delivery and drive commercial growth. The ideal candidate will have over five years of senior leadership experience in the leisure sector, with a strong focus on operational excellence, safety, and customer satisfaction. Offering competitive salary and benefits including a 15% bonus, relocation package, and comprehensive healthcare.

Benefits

26 days annual leave plus bank holidays

5% matched pension contribution

BUPA Medical and Dental

Smart Health Online GP Access

Death in Service x3

Free Membership x 2

Access to Reward Gateway's discount platform

Qualifications

• Minimum of five years' experience in a senior operational or commercial leadership role.
• Proven success in managing multi-site operations.
• Strong track record of income generation and budgetary control.

Responsibilities

• Lead the operational strategy and delivery across all Horizon sites.
• Ensure health and safety compliance across all sites.
• Drive income generation across core areas.

Skills

Senior operational leadership experience

Commercial acumen

Change management

Excellent communication skills

Job description

Overview

Head of Operations 65K + 15% bonus. Relocation package available.

Location: Havant

Horizon Leisure Trust is a progressive, community-focused organisation operating major leisure centres in Havant, Waterlooville, and Guildford, alongside a dedicated Wellbeing Hub at the Meridian Centre in Havant. As part of our strategic growth and organisational development, we are seeking a highly experienced and capable leisure professional to join our Senior Leadership Team as Head of Operations.

This newly defined role will be central to delivering Horizon's five-year strategic plan. Reporting directly to the Chief Executive, the postholder will lead the operational delivery of our services, ensuring that all centres and community assets consistently meet the highest standards of service, safety, and performance. The role will foster a culture of innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement, while supporting Horizon's broader goals of commercial growth, community impact, and operational excellence.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the operational strategy and delivery across all Horizon sites, ensuring consistent high standards and a proactive, solutions-focused culture.
• Lead on health and safety across all sites, ensuring robust governance, empowering the Health and Safety Manager, and cultivating a proactive culture of safety and compliance.
• Drive income generation and commercial performance across core areas including Health & Fitness, Learn to Swim, Soft Play, Events, and Hospitality.
• Hold full profit and loss responsibility, ensuring financial targets are met and resources are optimised.
• Manage organisational change effectively, embedding continuous improvement and operational resilience.
• Provide strong leadership and development for operational and commercial teams, promoting ownership and high performance.
• Collaborate with the Marketing team to shape and execute commercial campaigns that drive engagement and growth.
• Support the Chief Executive in building and maintaining strategic relationships with external stakeholders, local authorities, and community partners.
• Lead and support major capital and business development projects aligned with Horizon's long-term objectives.

We are seeking a senior leisure professional who brings:

• A minimum of five years' experience in a senior operational or commercial leadership role within the leisure, health and fitness, or contract management sectors.
• Proven success in managing multi-site operations and delivering high-quality customer experiences.
• Strong commercial acumen with a track record of income generation and budgetary control.
• Demonstrated ability to lead change, challenge existing processes, and embed a culture of continuous improvement.
• A modern, people-focused leadership style with excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Experience in capital project delivery and strategic business case development.

Ina addition to a competitive basic salary of c£65,000 there is the potential to earn a 15% annual performance bonus. Benefits include 26 days annual leave plus bank holidays (increasing with service), a matched pension contribution of 5%, BUPA Medical and Dental, Smart Health Online GP Access, Death in Service x3, Free Membership x 2 and access to Reward Gateway's discount platform. A relocation package can be considered for the right candidate.

How to apply

To apply please forward your CV to David Peacock, Recruitment Director at our retained recruitment partners - Leisure People

For an informal discussion David can be contacted on 07974 313421.

Closing date Friday 10th October 2025