General Manager

Bowls Canterbury Inc.; Christchurch; On-site; NZD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Bowls Canterbury Inc. in Christchurch seeks a proactive General Manager to provide strategic, operational and people leadership across the organisation.

You will work with the Board to deliver priorities, ensure financial sustainability, stakeholder engagement, programme delivery and strong organisational performance. The role requires senior leadership experience, excellent communication and the ability to translate strategy into practical actions.

Qualifications

• Proven senior leadership and management experience.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and relationship management skills.
• Experience managing budgets, reporting, and organisational performance.
• The ability to translate strategic goals into practical actions.
• Excellent communication, planning, and organisational skills.
• A collaborative leadership style with volunteers and community organisations.
• High levels of integrity, initiative, and professionalism.
• Experience in sport management, community sport, or the not-for-profit sector (desirable).
• Knowledge and understanding of Bowls (desirable).
• Commercial, sponsorship, or partnership management experience (desirable).
• Knowledge of trust, grant, and community funding processes (desirable).

Responsibilities

• Lead the implementation of Bowls Canterbury's strategic direction and annual plans.
• Provide high-quality advice and reporting to the Board.
• Develop strong relationships with clubs, members, volunteers, sponsors, funders, and sector partners.
• Support and strengthen clubs through effective engagement and service delivery.
• Manage organisational operations, programmes, events, and administration.
• Prepare and oversee budgets, financial reporting, forecasting, and funding processes.
• Lead and develop staff and volunteers to achieve strategic and operational outcomes.
• Ensure compliance with governance, health and safety, and legislative requirements.
• Identify opportunities to improve systems, processes, and service delivery.

Skills

Senior leadership

Stakeholder engagement

Budget management

Communication

Planning & organisation

Collaborative leadership

Integrity & professionalism

Not-for-profit sector experience

Bowls knowledge (desirable)

Sponsorship/partnership management

Job description

Bowls Canterbury Inc. – Christchurch, South Island

Reporting directly to the Board, the General Manager provides strategic, operational and people leadership across the organisation. The role is responsible for delivering Bowls Canterbury's strategic priorities while ensuring effective day-to-day operations, financial sustainability, stakeholder engagement, programme delivery, and organisational performance.

Key responsibilities

• Lead the implementation of Bowls Canterbury's strategic direction and annual plans.
• Provide high-quality advice and reporting to the Board.
• Develop strong relationships with clubs, members, volunteers, sponsors, funders, and sector partners.
• Support and strengthen clubs through effective engagement and service delivery.
• Manage organisational operations, programmes, events, and administration.
• Prepare and oversee budgets, financial reporting, forecasting, and funding processes.
• Lead and develop staff and volunteers to achieve strategic and operational outcomes.
• Ensure compliance with governance, health and safety, and legislative requirements.
• Identify opportunities to improve systems, processes, and service delivery.

About you

• Proven senior leadership and management experience.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and relationship management skills.
• Experience managing budgets, reporting, and organisational performance.
• The ability to translate strategic goals into practical actions.
• Excellent communication, planning, and organisational skills.
• A collaborative leadership style with the ability to work effectively with volunteers and community organisations.
• High levels of integrity, initiative, and professionalism.
• Experience in sport management, community sport, or the not-for-profit sector (desirable).
• Knowledge and understanding of Bowls (desirable).
• Commercial, sponsorship, or partnership management experience (desirable).
• Knowledge of trust, grant, and community funding processes (desirable).

About us

Bowls Canterbury is the regional body responsible for supporting, promoting, and developing the sport of bowls across Canterbury. Working closely with clubs, members, Bowls New Zealand and community partners, our vision is to connect more people to the sport and create thriving clubs and welcoming environments for participants of all ages and abilities.

Applications for this role will close on Sunday the 20th of September at 5pm.

Please contact *********@bowlscanterbury.co.nz for more information