General Manager

Darlington Borough Council; North East, Darlington; On-site; GBP 41,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job description

General Manager (Ref: POS016635)

Hours and Pay

Salary £41,511 - £44,711 per annum
Salary Band £40,001 to £50,000
Post Type Permanent
Hours Per Week Full time

Job and Application details

Categories Youth / Community / Leisure Services
Directorate N/A
Published Date 08/04/2025
Closing Date 27/04/2025

An exciting and rare career opportunity is available for a leisure professional looking to join one of the region’s leading leisure facilities and work within a diverse and innovative business. The role will focus on the operational management of sports, fitness, catering, entertainment, aquatics and water education.

You will be part of the senior management team working closely with the Head of Leisure Services to drive standards and business performance. The Dolphin Centre is celebrating over 40 years in Darlington and provides a range of services and facilities including swimming and water education, sports and fitness, soft play and bowling, events and conferencing, catering and hospitality, gym, memberships and health referral services.

The centre is highly regarded within the industry and its success is built on a foundation of strong commercial drive that works in line with a commitment to fulfilling our social responsibilities as a local authority to promote health and leisure for all. The facilities are of the highest quality and continually react to customer feedback and industry trends and best practice to ensure the best possible offer for Darlington and visitors to the town. The next two years will attract some exciting developments of facilities and services that the successful candidate will be involved in including the installation of solar panels, mechanical and electrical upgrades within the building and a number of invest to save projects are under development to bring alternative facilities to site.

As a General Manager you will be responsible for all aspects of operational management and delivery of the centre and catering services. This will include quality assuring service delivery within facilities and programmes, maintaining health and safety standards and managing operations and risks within the leisure environment. A creative approach to problem solving is essential along with the ability to work well in a high paced and pressured environment. Operational expenditure management will be a key responsibility ensuring operations run both efficiently and effectively.

The Individual

• You will have experience of working within a leisure management environment and ambition to be an outstanding leader.
• We are looking for a highly professional candidate who values integrity and is motivated to make a difference and take the business forward through operational excellence.
• You should be passionate about customer service, standards and developing yourself and your team.
• Able to demonstrate an in-depth knowledge of industry standards and practice.
• Display enthusiasm to work closely with colleagues to quality assure all aspects of customer experience.
• Having confidence in dealing with challenging situations and embracing challenge as a positive are key characteristics.
• You should be an excellent communicator with the ability to communicate effectively at all levels including with partners and stakeholders.
• A commitment to creating a culture to support business performance is essential.

What's in it for you?

• 32 days Annual Leave plus Bank Holidays, with the option to purchase additional Annual Leave (pro-rata for part time working)
• Access to the Local Government Pension Scheme with option to make Additional Voluntary Contributions
• Flexi-time scheme
• Enhanced Maternity/Paternity and Adoption Leave payments
• Green Car Leasing Scheme (if applicable)
• Access to a wide range of training, learning and development
• Access to free physiotherapy sessions
• Access to free, confidential counselling
• First class health and wellbeing initiatives
• Cycle to Work Scheme in partnership with Halfords
• Reduced cost membership for the Dolphin Centre’s Fit for Life Package
• Season ticket car parking permits or subsidised Town Centre parking permits subject to criteria
• Loan and Savings scheme via payroll deduction
• Discounted Arriva Travel Pass
• Access to Childcare Vouchers scheme subject to criteria

Interviews to be held on 13 May 2025

General Information for Applicants:
All applicant email correspondence will come from [e-mail] and may be directed to your Junk folder depending on the settings of your email account. Please check both your email and Junk folder as all applicants will be notified whether they have been shortlisted.

For detailed information on this role, please refer to the Role Profile and Supporting Information in the Vacancy Information document. Contact Lisa Soderman, Head of Leisure Services 01325 406980 or Amy Bloomer HR Advisor 01325 405477.

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