About The Role
Reporting to the Director Community, the Willoughby Leisure Centre Manager provides strategic leadership for the Council's aquatic and leisure portfolio. The role is responsible for leading the facility through completion, operational launch and ongoing growth.
Responsibilities
The Leisure Centre Manager is the primary driver behind the transition of a major redeveloped asset into a thriving community destination.
... - Launch & Operational Readiness: Oversee operational readiness and launch preparation, ensuring full alignment of systems, safety frameworks and workforce capability.
- Business Performance: Lead the centre as a high-value business entity, focusing on revenue growth, membership acquisition, and smart financial management.
- Strategic Vision: Design and execute long-term strategies that keep the facility ahead of industry trends and deeply integrated with the community’s needs.
- Facility & Asset Management: Partner with technical teams to maintain peak performance of aquatic systems, plant equipment, and sustainability initiatives.
- Community & Stakeholder Relations: Act as a professional liaison between the Council, local clubs, schools, and the public to ensure the centre is a welcoming hub for all.
Professional Experience & Skills
We are seeking a seasoned leader who can navigate the complexities of a large-scale leisure centre.
- Industry Leadership: A proven background in managing significant aquatic, fitness, or multi-purpose recreation centres.
- Business Acumen: Highly skilled in financial modelling, budgeting, and using data to make informed decisions that improve facility yield.
- Compliance & Risk Expertise: Deep understanding of the regulatory landscape, including WHS, child safety standards, and aquatic-specific legislation.
- Change & People Management: Experience building teams from the ground up and managing large-scale, casualized workforces through periods of change.
- Strategic Communication: The ability to influence and engage with everyone from elected officials to commercial partners and community members.
- Educational Background: A degree in Sports Management, Business, or a related field—or extensive senior-level experience in the industry.
Key Challenges
The successful candidate will need to be resilient and adaptable to handle the following:
- The Commercial/Community Balance: Finding the "sweet spot" between running a profitable business and providing accessible, inclusive services for the public.
- Competitive Positioning: Standing out in the Sydney North Shore leisure market by constantly innovating and improving the customer experience.
- Workforce Consistency: Maintaining high service standards and strict safety compliance across a large, shift-based team.
- Public Visibility: Managing a high-profile facility under the eye of the community and local government, where transparency and accountability are paramount.
- Operational Synergy: Juggling the competing needs of swim schools, gym members, and event organizers to maximize the use of the space.
Essential Criteria
- Experience in swim school design, membership acquisition/retention, and fitness programming.
If this is of interest, please send your CV along with a cover letter to daniel.perry@randstad.com.au or apply below.
At Randstad, we are passionate about providing equal employment opportunities and embracing diversity to the benefit of all. We actively encourage applications from any background.