General Manager

Organisation: Leisure United
Salary: £35,734.40
Location: Friar Park Rd, Wednesbury WS10 0JX
Contract type: Permanent (Full time)
Closing date: 28 July 2025
Interview date: 6 August 2025
Job Description: At Leisure United, we are united in delivering the best football and fitness experiences for our communities. Our hubs offer modern, safe and inviting spaces to play, train, learn, eat, drink and socialise.
We are ambitious and have set our goals high. Our people all pitch in to drive the charity forward with energy and passion. It’s our goal to find the right people and invest in them to help us and our
partners achieve these goals.
You will lead one of our flagship community hubs, inspiring and managing a multi-functional team across grassroots football, site operations, catering, and customer service and engagement. With a strong commercial mindset and a track record of growing revenue, you will ensure the hub is run efficiently, safely, and sustainably.
Taking full ownership of the site’s performance, you will oversee financial management, staff development, service quality, and the presentation of a best-in-class facility. You’ll be passionate about sport, community engagement, and customer excellence, and take pride in the difference your hub makes every day.

Job activities

Leadership & People Management
• Lead, coach and support staff across all functions including reception, catering, gym, football programming
maintenance and cleaning.
• Create a high-performing, motivated team culture focused on collaboration, customer experience and
continuous improvement.
• Ensure all team members follow procedures within the Standard Operating Procedures Manual and are
trained appropriately, including holding valid First Aid certification and safeguarding qualifications.
Financial Performance & Sales
• Drive football and gym sales through targeted marketing activity, campaigns and community engagement -
using commercial awareness to meet and exceed income targets.
• Work with senior managers to agree annual sales forecasts and budgets, ensuring cost control and value for
money across all areas.
• Lead the team with a sales-driven approach, ensuring performance aligns with business goals and surpasses
commercial expectations.
• Operate and optimise the pitch bookings to maximise pitch utilisation for traditional football pathways and
under-served groups.
Customer Experience & Community Engagement
• Deliver exceptional customer service at all times and ensure the hub is a welcoming, inclusive, and safe
environment for all.
• Build and strengthen relationships with local grassroots clubs, professional club foundations, user groups and
wider partner organisations to promote community engagement inline with our charitable purpose.
• Play an active role in wider stakeholder meetings and collaborate with non-traditional partners to ensure
new opportunities are co-designed with communities.
• Respond promptly and effectively to customer complaints and feedback, aiming to resolve issues at the first
point of contact.
Operational Management
• Maintain outstanding cleanliness and facility presentation standards.
• Take full responsibility for all day-to-day operations within the hub, ensuring smooth, safe and efficient
delivery of all services.
• Manage compliance with all financial procedures, including income reconciliation, cash handling, and
banking.
• Oversee stock control and ordering processes for catering and retail operations in line with demand and
supplier arrangements.
• Act as keyholder, responsible for building security, and emergency response
EXPERIENCE (essential)
PERSON SPECIFIcation
• At least three years’ management experience in a leisure, sport, or fitness facility.
• Demonstrable commercial acumen with a track record of growing income and identifying new opportunities.
• Experience in staff recruitment, leadership, supervision, and development.
• Proven responsibility for budget control, financial reporting, and cost management.
• Evidence of building and sustaining effective teams.
• High standards of customer service delivery and responsiveness.
• Experience working in partnership with external agencies, clubs, and community stakeholders to deliver
community impact.
• Demonstrated responsibility for health and safety within a leisure or community environment.
• Experience developing and delivering business plans and managing performance through KPIs.
• Track record of successfully managing and improving multi-functional leisure or sports facilities.
• Experience using sport and physical activity to promote community engagement and participation.

SKILLS & ABILITIES (essential)

• Strong leadership skills with the ability to inspire and motivate a diverse team.
• Ability to work independently and use initiative to solve problems.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, both verbal and written.
• Customer-focused with a commitment to continuous improvement.
• Strong organisational and time-management skills, with the ability to prioritise effectively.
• Able to manage conflict and challenging situations calmly and constructively.
• Good understanding of Health & Safety legislation, risk management, and implementation of safe practices.
• Competent in using IT systems and digital tools to support operations.
• Numerate and able to interpret basic financial data.
OTHER REQUIREMENTS
• Calm and effective decision-making under pressure and in emergency situations.
• Maintains a professional, confident, and approachable manner at all times.
• Committed to creating an inclusive, respectful, and supportive workplace.
• Understanding of safeguarding and working with young people and vulnerable adults.
• Flexible approach to working hours, including regular evenings, weekends, and bank holidays.
DESIRABLE
• Knowledge of commercial catering operations and stock control processes

For our full recruitment pack, please visit our website - https://leisureunited.com/work-with-us/
How to apply: READY TO APPLY? Send your CV and a covering letter highlighting your motivation for the post and indicating how your skills and experience meet the criteria for the role. to: hr@leisureunited.com