Top three jobs in leisure operations
Recreation/Leisure Assistant – support the effective running of facilities.
Swimming Teacher – deliver swimming lessons, mostly to children.
Leisure Operations Manager – manage the facility and its people.
What can I do?
There are a broad range of jobs in leisure operations. You can support the effective running of facilities such as leisure or community centres, swimming pools, ice rinks, or sports pitches/stadiums.
The running of sports facilities is very hands on, and things can change from one minute to the next, making it a fast paced and exciting place to work.
Most jobs in this sector involve working weekends, early mornings, evenings and public holidays. High levels of customer care are also a necessity.
Below are a few of the different types of jobs in leisure operations.
Swimming Teacher
The role of the Swimming Teacher is to plan, deliver and evaluate a series of swimming lessons and provide a safe learning environment. They will help develop water confidence, safety and technical skills in a range of participants of different abilities, from non-swimmer to advanced.
Swimming Teachers provide learners with core aquatics skills and a range of pathways for continuous development. They also support the promotion and awareness of swimming opportunities and must be able to supervise and lead assistant teachers.
Pool Plant Operator
The role of a Pool Plant Operative is to manage the pool plant and surrounding amenities, ensuring a safe working environment is maintained and all legal requirements are adhered to.
Examples of employers include local authorities, schools, private pool owners, leisure trusts, facility management companies, holiday parks, the NHS and hotels. Pool Plant Operatives fulfil an important role in improving the standard of pool plant operations and ensuring the safety of bathers, staff, contractors, and other people in the pool environment.
Recreation/Leisure Assistant
The role of the Recreation Assistant is to support, enhance and deliver the day-to-day operations of a leisure facility. These operations typically service sport and activities in wet environments such as swimming pools, water slides, saunas and/or dry environments such as activity areas and sports pitches.
Working as part of a team, a Recreation Assistant undertakes a range of operational duties such as assisting with the opening and closing of the facility, maintaining the cleanliness and safety of the environment and ensuring programmed activities and services are available.
Lifeguard
The role of a Lifeguard is to facilitate a safe environment to enable users to participate in a range of water-based activities. They will typically work in environments such as swimming pools, inland water and beaches, and will safely supervise a range of aquatic activities using equipment specific to each environment.
A Lifeguard is responsible for the safe supervision, prevention, intervention and rescue of users within their care.
Assistant Swimming Teacher
The role of the Assistant Swimming Teacher is to provide an enjoyable experience to people learning to swim by delivering fun, safe and inclusive swimming activities. They support the swimming teacher in the delivery of swimming lessons to participants of all ages and abilities.
They ensure participants, regardless of ability, build confidence in the water and develop core aquatic skills. Under the supervision of the Swimming Teacher, the Assistant Swimming Teacher assists with the delivery of pre-planned activities to a small group of participants across the full range of development stages.
Leisure Manager
A Leisure Manager manages the processes through which organisations plan and organise sport and physical activity services. They efficiently deploy financial and physical resources and have leadership skills, whilst being able to contribute to strategic planning and managing change.
Chartered Leisure Manager
Chartered Leisure Managers have demonstrated their exceptional ability to operate as a leisure manager, not just by being effective in their role but as strategic leaders in the sector. They make fundamental and significant changes which affect not only their business but wider communities.
