INTERNAL ONLY VACANCY. This post is open to existing Leeds City Council employees only. Applications will not be considered from external candidates.

Job title: General Manager
Salary: PO2 £39,862 - £42,839
Hours: 37
Contract: Permanent
Location: Rothwell / Kippax

At Active Leeds, we’re passionate about helping people move more. Our leisure centres play a vital role in supporting wellbeing across the city, and we’re looking for an inspiring leader to help us deliver outstanding experiences for our communities.

As a General Manager, you’ll thrive on leading motivated teams, driving high‑quality service delivery, and shaping the strategic direction of our leisure centres.

It’s not about simply keeping a centre running – it’s about creating vibrant, welcoming spaces where customers and staff feel supported, included, and part of something bigger.

Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.

About you

As a General Manager, you will bring to the role:

Substantial experience leading a management team within a customer-facing environment
Strong organisational and people‑management skills, with the ability to motivate, develop, and engage staff
The ability to work flexibly, respond to operational needs, and manage multiple competing priorities
Experience of budget management and confident use of financial and performance information
Excellent communication skills, with the ability to build effective partnerships internally and externally

About the role

This is an exciting opportunity to take a leading role in shaping the future of our leisure services and contributing to Active Leeds’ mission to increase physical activity across the city. You’ll be central to creating safe, high-performing, inclusive environments that support our communities’ health and wellbeing.

As our next General Manager, you’ll lead the day‑to‑day operation, development, and performance of a large centre or multiple leisure facilities, ensuring they thrive both commercially and socially. You’ll support your teams to deliver exceptional customer experiences, oversee health and safety, manage budgets, and champion continuous improvement across the service.

What we offer you

We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:

a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements
a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go furthe

How to apply

Please upload your CV and complete a personal statement of no more than 500 words.

Read our guidance for further advice on completing your application.

If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role please contact Helen Trenam-Yates, Deputy Operations Manager - helen.trenamyates@leeds.gov.uk

A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check against the Children’s or Adults’ barred list as applicable will be carried out on preferred candidates. Read our recruitment of ex-offenders policy.

We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, women, carers, veterans as well as LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care experienced people.

This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa.

If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visa route before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £41,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Please ensure you are eligible before applying.

Job Description

Job Purpose: Provide the effective and efficient leadership of the Leeds City Council Leisure Facilities and provide a lead role in the development of local partnerships at a larger centre/multiple sites.

Responsibilities:

Manage the operation, programming and development of a large facility/multiple leisure centres including the management of new and additional projects as required.
Lead performance management and improvements for the Leisure centres within their leadership, in line with corporate and departmental policies and priorities.
Contribute to increasing activity levels and specifically improving inactivity levels across the city.
Provide financial planning leadership as part of the budget review and setting process for your facilities.
Responsible for managing appropriate budgets including the centres budget planning process and implementation of financial and budgetary control systems in accordance with the Council’s financial regulations
Management and leadership of all members of staff under their control including the human resource planning of the centre, including recruitment, retention, disciplinary and grievance, training and development, in accordance with the Council’s HR regulations and procedures.
Provide leadership, purpose and direction to all staff members under their responsibility.
Responsible for development, monitoring and achievement of key centre and service performance criteria.
Lead and be responsible for the improvement of Health and Safety of the Leisure Centres.
Lead and be responsible for management of all staff and associated budget resources working to create mutually supporting team dynamics and shift cover.
Lead on the development and delivery of strategic plans as and when required and to develop, prepare and present reports to groups, Councillors and outside bodies.
Responsible for development, implementation and monitoring of centre service delivery plans & marketing plans, by working with the Business Support Team.
Implement training programmes, including the carrying out of training needs assessments, individual appraisal reviews and performance/attendance reviews, as necessary.
Contribute to the continuous improvement of the service.
Take a proactive approach to the development and delivery of strategic plans and staff succession planning.
Create and support effective working relationships with managers and stakeholders across Leeds City Council and to create and support effective formal partnerships with internal and external agencies.
Inform senior managers of implications and opportunities through changes in policy and legislation.
Lead responsibility for the correct and proper maintenance of the leisure centres, plant and equipment and manage/liaise with all appropriate agencies.
Support the correct and efficient operation of all licensed bar, catering & hospitality and commercial activities as required and to take a lead role in delivering a substantial events programme.
Responsible for the planning of the centre, including recruitment, retention, appraisals, disciplinary and grievance, training and development, in accordance with the Council’s regulations and procedures.
Create and support effective working relationships with managers and stakeholders across Leeds City Council and to develop and support formal partnerships with internal and external agencies.
Be on call for emergency call out purposes and to manage cover.
Undertake the accountabilities of the post in accordance with council policies including Safeguarding of Young People and Vulnerable Adults.

The duties outlined are not meant as an exhaustive list and will also comprise any other duties within the spirit of the post commensurate with the job evaluation outcome for this post.

Qualifications.

Essential:

Business/Sport management related degree or relevant management experience.

Desirable:

First Aid at Work certificate or NPLQ *.
CIMSPA National Pool Plant Operators certificate*
Institute of Safety and Health (I.O.S.H.) Managing Safely or equivalent. *
National Licensee certificate (Only at John Charles Centre). *

*As part of the requirement to actively participate in training and development activities to ensure up to date knowledge and skills, successful applicants who do not hold any of the desirable qualifications will be required to obtain these over the first year of employment.

Essential requirements It is essential that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria. Candidates will only be shortlisted if they can demonstrate that they meet all the essential requirements.

Substantive experience leading a management team within a customer facing environment.
Able to travel throughout Leeds City Council boundaries and move location within the service working at different sites /areas depending on need.
A flexible approach to working hours with the ability as required to change shifts, work out of normal hours including evening and weekends, emergency and short notice cover.
Able to lead and work effectively as part of a team demonstrating organisational and time management skills prioritising own and team’s work to meet conflicting deadlines.
Able to lead a team, support staff to feel motivated and engaged in the values, vision and direction of the service, promoting the values of the Council through appropriate behaviour and professionalism.
Able to communicate appropriately with a wide range of people, through a variety of different methods at all appropriate levels.
Able to accurately interpret management information and enter and retrieve data and information from digital and manual systems producing reports and data.
Able to motivate and manage staff, regularly monitoring performance and skills development and provide feedback.
Able to develop and work in partnership with local agencies and organisations.
Able to develop and implement a business and marketing plan.
Able to develop, evaluate and implement changes in services and systems.
Able to ensure the service is effectively promoted and marketed across the area.
Able to work to accounting and financial procedures and manage the effective and efficient use of allocated budgets and resources within the area.
Able to manage conflict and make decisions.
Able to manage a diverse workforce / programme.
Demonstrate commitment as a team member with a dynamic and innovative team.
Knowledge of health and safety legislation.
Knowledge of quality assurance systems.
Knowledge of successful management of a large hospitality / events programme
Experience of management of staff training
Experience of business planning process and developing business/marketing plans
Experience of working on and delivering large scale major events
Ability to manage a large complex facility or multi-site facility comprising of a large staffing team.

Essential Behavioural & other Characteristics

Understand and embrace Leeds City Council Values and Behaviours and codes of conduct.
Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Best City Ambition of Health & Wellbeing, Inclusive Growth and Zero Carbon
Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council policies and procedures.
Carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health, Safety and wellbeing.
Willingness to actively participate in training and development activities to ensure up to date knowledge and skills.
Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
Participate in appraisal, training, and development activities.
Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, equality & diversity of Leeds City Council.
Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person.
The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol, and the role will be expected to work within these parameters.

Desirable requirements It is desirable that the candidate should be able to demonstrate the following criteria. Candidates are not required to meet all the desirable requirements however these may be used to distinguish between candidates.

Experience of cross sector working
Experience of delivering/partnering to achieve sports development outcome
Experience of sports development programmes / Health Programs
Experience of working within a Quality Assurance system
Experience of working on and delivering large scale major events

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