Horsham District Council is looking for a Leisure Strategy and Client Manager to join our dedicated department. Reporting to the Head of Leisure and Culture, you will help maintain the quality of current leisure provision and be instrumental in shaping the strategic direction of leisure within the district.

You will develop and update the Council’s strategy for leisure, sport and recreation provision and ensure that services commissioned by the Council meet the community need and deliver value for money. Leisure services include leisure centres and other facilities operated under contract by external providers. In addition, you will directly manage the Council’s dynamic and highly regarded sports development service which aims to maximise the number of people participating in sport and physical activity in the district.

As Leisure Strategy and Client Manager, you will work with colleagues across the Council on opportunities to shape the strategic development of sports provision, including that provided directly by HDC and through community partners. This will require you to work closely with Sport England, sport governing bodies and a range of other organisations involved in delivering sport and recreation opportunities in the district.

A key responsibility is to prepare, review and administer the sports and leisure management contract in line with industry best practice to ensure quality services and best value including dealing with matters of interpretation and disputes as necessary. You will need to work closely with the incumbent leisure management contractor to ensure contract compliance and high-quality service delivery is achieved.

About you:

To succeed as Leisure Strategy and Client Manager you will be experienced in leisure contract management and be able to lead work with key stakeholders and partners to develop and deliver our leisure services strategy. You will be an enthusiastic advocate and innovator for leisure services with experience in budget management, business planning and project management.

You will have a systematic approach to your work and the proven ability to prioritise and meet deadlines. Furthermore, you will be a confident IT user, someone who's committed to continuous professional development and who's able to communicate effectively with colleagues and be an excellent team player.

This role requires traveling around the district and is an essential car user post, therefore, you will need a current and full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle.

For an informal discussion about this role please call Steve Hawker – Leisure Strategy and Client Manager on 01403 215261.

PPA

Applicants invited for interview will be asked to complete a Thomas’ Personal Profile Analysis (PPA) which provides a rapid and deep insight into behavioural preferences and communication style.

About us:

We have a friendly and supportive working environment and being a smaller Council, you can really get to know everybody.

We encourage and support our employees to have a healthy work life balance by offering 28 days’ (207.2 hours) annual leave plus bank holidays (pro-rata), and flexible/hybrid working options where applicable.

We offer a generous benefits package including an online platform offering discounts from online retailers and access to a car lease scheme. Staff are also eligible to join the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS), where the Council contributes circa 20% of pensionable salary.

To support employees’ professional development the Council provides reimbursement for professional subscriptions and a number of training opportunities, including extensive in-house learning resources, short courses, Apprenticeships, and qualifications such as Institute of Leadership & Management (ILM), Master of Business Administration (MBA).

Visit our Jobs and careers page to find out more about Working for Horsham District Council and Our employment commitments.

To apply:

If you would like to apply for the role, please visit our website.

We highly recommend you show clearly within the ‘Experience Section’ of the application form how you meet the essential criteria detailed within the Role Profile when applying. If you do not make this clear, it is unlikely you will be shortlisted for interview.

Closing date: 01 Mar 2024 12:00

Interview date: 11 Mar 2024

Ref: CS1641

To apply please click the Apply Now link below.