Leisure centre manager

As a leisure centre manager, you would:

• plan leisure activity timetables
•  organise and promote special events like competitions
•  recruit, schedule and manage staff
•  control budgets and monitor performance targets for your centre
•  manage maintenance programmes and health and safety
•  maintain accurate records, such as bookings and memberships

• business management skills 
• leadership skills
• customer service skills
• the ability to use your initiative
• excellent verbal communication skills
• patience and the ability to remain calm in stressful situations
• to be thorough and pay attention to detail
• maths knowledge
• knowledge of human resources and employment law
• active listening skills
• the ability to accept criticism and work well under pressure
• the ability to monitor your own performance and that of your colleagues
• the ability to understand people’s reactions
• thinking and reasoning skills
• the ability to read English
• the ability to think clearly using logic and reasoning
• knowledge of manufacturing production and processes
• the ability to sell products and services
• concentration skills
• a good memory
• to be able to use a computer and the main software packages competently

You can get into this job through:

• a university course
• a college course
• an apprenticeship
• working towards this role
• a graduate training scheme

With experience you may be able to become an area or regional manager, with responsibility for service development among a group of centres.

You're likely to have more opportunities for promotion in larger organisations.

You could use your experience in leisure centre management to move into related areas like sports promotion and development, or building partnerships with local authorities and national governing bodies for different sports.