Liverpool
Public Sector
Interim
25-03-2026
03-04-2026
SA-786-1062
£535.00 per day/Limited or Umbrella £706.79 per day
Job Purpose
We have an excellent opportunity for an Interim Head of Leisure Operations. The successful candidate will provide strategic and operational leadership across the city's leisure facilities and associated services. Ensuring the safe, efficient and commercially sustainable operation of the city's leisure estate while supporting the council's ambitions to improve health, wellbeing and participation in sport and physical activity across the city.
The role will lead operational teams delivering services across leisure centres, swimming pools, sports facilities, GP referral and community programmes, ensuring high standards of customer service, regulatory compliance and financial performance.
This is a key leadership role responsible for stabilising and improving operational performance, supporting workforce development, and helping shape the future operating model for leisure services.
Please note the working arrangements are 4/5 days in the office.
Your new role
- Provide strategic leadership for the delivery of the council's leisure operations and physical activity services.
- Contribute to the development and delivery of the city's leisure, sport and physical activity strategy.
- Support the council's wider public health and wellbeing priorities through increased participation in sport and active lifestyles.
- Lead the day-to-day operation of the council's leisure facilities, ensuring services are safe, accessible and customer focused.
- Oversee operational performance across leisure centres, swimming pools and sports facilities.
- Ensure compliance with health and safety, safeguarding and statutory regulatory requirements.
- Manage significant operational budgets and ensure services operate efficiently and sustainably.
- Identify opportunities to improve income generation, utilisation of facilities and commercial performance.
- Monitor performance against financial and operational targets.
- Provide leadership and direction to operational managers and wider leisure teams.
- Drive a positive organisational culture focused on service improvement and customer experience.
- Work collaboratively with HR and trade unions on workforce matters including organisational change where required.
- Develop strong partnerships with local sports organisations, community groups, schools and health partners.
- Represent the council in regional and national leisure networks.
- Work with partners to maximise the impact of leisure services on community wellbeing.
- Identify opportunities to modernise services and improve the operating model.
- Lead initiatives to improve participation levels, customer satisfaction and operational efficiency.
- Support longer-term strategic planning for the council's leisure estate.
What you will need to succeed
- Senior leadership experience managing leisure operations or similar frontline service environments.
- Experience overseeing multiple leisure facilities or a complex operational estate.
- Strong financial and commercial management experience.
- Experience leading large operational teams and managing workforce issues.
- Strong understanding of health and safety and compliance requirements in leisure services.
- Experience delivering service improvement or transformation programmes.
Key Skills
- Strategic leadership and decision-making.
- Operational performance management.
- Financial and commercial acumen.
- Stakeholder and partnership management.
- Strong people leadership and organisational change capability.
If you're interested in this role, click 'apply now' or call us on 020 7096 2981 for further details.
