Academy General Manager

Temporary – 6-9 months with the possibility of becoming permanent.

Responsible to: Sport Development Manager

Job Location: Note: employees are required to be flexible in their approach to working location and may need to work from other sites.

Interview Date: TBA

Job Purpose

We are looking for a Sport Centre General Manager to work at our sport and leisure facility – Greenbank Sports Academy. We are very keen to hear from candidates who have management experience working in facility operations and who have a very good knowledge of both Sports/Leisure Centre operations and programming sports and leisure activities.

You will be responsible for the day-to-day running of a range of sports facilities at Greenbank Sports Academy, including a large double sports hall, gym, and rehabilitation/personal training studio. We are a busy multi-purpose Sports Academy that is used for an extensive range of sports, physical activities & disability sports.

We have a gym open to the public 7 days a week & we have private spaces available for booking by external trainers or therapists. In addition to this, the successful applicant will oversee the hiring of conference rooms, accommodation, and meeting space across Greenbank Sports Academy estate, and communicate/agree event operations with the onsite hospitality facility – currently hired by an external supplier – “The Wheelbarrow”.

The team the successful candidate will manage is made up of several Sports Leaders, a small reception/administration team, placement students, and volunteers. These staff support the commercial activity and delivery within the centre.

The two primary goals for this post are to:

• Maximise income across all of our facility operations whilst ensuring the team is offering high-quality support to our members, customers, students, and staff. You will work closely with the Business Manager and Sport Development Manager to ensure we have a highly efficient and well-run facility, as well as developing new sports programmes, stakeholders, funding sources, customers, members, and partnerships.
• You will need to be able to demonstrate excellent organisational and leadership qualities and a natural ability to problem-solve whilst overseeing customers and event operations.

You will need to take a flexible approach to your working week, which is a 35-hour contract, working 5 days out of 7. You will be expected to prioritise shifts during the weekends and evenings whereby facility usage is high (especially a leadership presence and operational support at weekend events).

Main Duties and Responsibilities

• To manage all staff at the Greenbank Sports Academy including permanent staff and coaches/instructors/reception.
• To agree on the budgets with the Greenbank Sports Academy senior managers/senior management team, and ensure budgets are monitored regularly, ensuring corrective action is taken where required.
• To drive income generation through sales targets agreed with Academy SMT.
• To continually develop the service through the production of business plans, ensuring they are implemented and regularly reviewed.
• To prepare a comprehensive training programme for staff including technical courses and coordinate a programme of continuous professional development courses.
• To ensure that all operational procedures and risk assessments are updated and reviewed regularly.
• To liaise with the estate team, ensuring that plant and machinery is maintained to the highest standards and within legislative parameters.
• To ensure that all utilities are carefully controlled and monitored.
• To coordinate a structured and regular programme of operational meetings and communication channels.
• To act as one of Greenbank’s Safeguarding officers, working with the current Academy Safeguarding Officer and Greenbank Designated Safeguarding lead to ensure that the highest possible standards are maintained. To ensure that ongoing training is undertaken in this respect.
• To support the Health and Safety Policy within the context of the sports centre and its programmes, ensuring that all documentation is up to date.
• To manage the security of income taken from the public, ensuring the organisation's financial regulations are adhered to at all times.
• To effectively promote and market the sports centre, working with the Marketing Department to provide a range of promotional materials.
• To develop effective working relationships with all stakeholders to meet respective aspirations of access and commercial targets.
• To balance the Charity operations and commercial timetable to maximise use and profitability.
• Support Greenbank’s mission and values and comply with all of its policies procedures and legislative requirements.
• Fulfil other duties assigned by Greenbank’s senior management as may be required from time to time, including providing absence cover for colleagues, inputting into grants and fundraising activities, attending key Liverpool City Region partnership bodies and influencing groups, and supporting other Greenbank colleges/events.

Additional vacancy details

We are an equal opportunities employer and welcome applications from all suitably qualified persons regardless of their race, sex, gender, gender reassignment, disability, religion/belief, sexual orientation or age. We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people, and vulnerable adults and adhering to the requirements of the Equality Act 2010.

Applicants should note that the successful candidate will be asked to apply to the Disclosure and Barring Service.