Sports Centre Manager

Sports Centre Manager

Contract Type: Permanent

Salary: £32,000-£35,000 per annum

Closing Date: Friday 25th September 2026

This role is for someone who can run and grow a dual‑use sports centre: managing day‑to‑day operations, leading a team, and driving commercial income while ensuring excellent customer service for students, members and external partners.

About this role / why this role matters

You will be responsible for the operational performance and commercial development of the Trevor Abbott Sports Centre (TASC) at Cranleigh School. Your focus will be on maximising facility use, growing membership and bookings, developing new revenue streams, and maintaining high standards of health, safety and customer experience across the site.

What you'll be doing (responsibilities)

• Oversee daily operation and bookings across the sports hall, 3G pitch, grass/astroturf pitches, 25m pool, studios, tennis/netball courts and nine‑hole golf course, prioritising School needs while maximising external use.
• Act as primary contact for members, clubs, schools and community partners; manage enquiries and ensure smooth booking processes.
• Lead commercial activity: develop membership growth, external bookings, partnerships, ancillaries (cafe, merchandise) and other income opportunities.
• Manage leisure management and booking systems to streamline customer experience and reporting.
• Line manage TASC staff: recruitment, rotas, training, performance reviews and day‑to‑day supervision.
• Ensure facilities, equipment and pool plant are maintained, safe and compliant with required standards; escalate repairs and manage contractors as needed.
• Coordinate relationships with external activity providers and seasonal event operators; ensure staffing, lifeguard cover and operational checks are in place.
• Work closely with key school stakeholders to ensure the smooth and effective delivery of school sport.
• Coordinate and deconflict any potential clashes between school and commercial bookings, ensuring facilities are used efficiently.
• Work collaboratively with the Assistant Deputy Head, Director of Sport and Commercial Manager to ensure the school’s strategic, community and commercial objectives are aligned and successfully delivered.
• Maintain high standards of H&S and compliance across the Centre and contribute to strategic plans aligning TASC with School objectives.
• Undertake reception duties and act as a key holder when required.

What we're looking for

Essential

• Proven experience managing a sports, leisure, fitness or multi‑use facility with responsibility for bookings, memberships and external users.
• Strong operational knowledge of facility management, customer service and health & safety compliance.
• Demonstrable commercial awareness with experience of generating income and improving financial performance.
• Experience leading and developing staff, including rotas, recruitment and training.

Desirable

• Experience working in a dual‑use environment (independent school, university, club) or with community partnerships.
• First Aid, Pool Lifeguard, Pool Plant or other relevant sports/leisure qualifications.
• Experience using leisure management, booking or CRM systems and running membership‑based services.

About the team or department

TASC sits within the Enterprise (Bursarial) department and reports to the Commercial Manager. You will work closely with the Assistant Deputy Head (Co‑Curricular), the School operational teams and external partners to balance School provision with community and commercial activity.

What we offer (benefits)

• 25 days annual leave per year
• Aviva pension (8% employer contribution, 4% employee contribution)
• Life assurance of three times basic salary
• Fee discount for eligible children (subject to availability)
• Membership and use of the School’s sports facilities (gym, squash, tennis, swimming pool, nine‑hole golf course)
• Free lunches during term time
• Onsite parking
• Cycle to Work scheme
• Employee assistance scheme

About us

Cranleigh School is an independent boarding school. TASC is a well‑equipped dual‑use sports centre with established community memberships and strong local partnerships, offering significant scope for further commercial development.

Cranleigh School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All offers of employment are subject to satisfactory references, qualifications, experience checks, medical clearance, enhanced DBS checks, social media checks, and documentary evidence showing your entitlement to work in the UK.

How to Apply

For further details about the role and to apply, please visit our website.

Candidates are requested to submit a brief letter of application (no more than one side of A4), together with the online application and supported by a full CV (via the ‘Apply now’ button) as soon as possible and no later than 9:00 am on Friday 25th September 2026. Applications are considered as they are received and therefore the vacancy may close sooner than advertised.

Cranleigh School recognises the positive value of diversity, promotes equality and challenges discrimination. We welcome and encourage job applications from people of all backgrounds.

All applicants must have the right to work in the UK.

The School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The post holder will be subject to a DBS check