24 Leisure / Sport / Entertainment jobs in Southsea, City Of Portsmouth

Looking for a workplace that ignites your passion, values respect, encourages innovation, and embraces being dynamic? Look no further! This role offers you the opportunity to join a team that believes in empowering its colleagues to unlock their full potential with Horizon. The Trust: Horizon Leisure Centres is a leisure trust operating since 1997, with centres in Waterlooville, Havant and Guildford. We are passionate about health and wellbeing and are committed to making an outstanding positive impact on our customers and within our local community. Our mission is to support and inspire our local communities to live healthier and happier lives by providing affordable access to sport and leisure facilities to all. The Role: The Aquatic Development Manager will lead and develop Horizon's aquatics strategy, expanding beyond traditional swim school management. This role is responsible for the growth, quality, and operational excellence of all aquatic programs, ensuring a first-class customer experience and commercial success. The post holder will drive innovation in aquatic programming, workforce development, and strategic partnerships to enhance participation, margin growth and financial sustainability. Interested? Want to know how you can join our team? Take a look at this great opportunity! We are looking for a Aquatic Development Manager to join us in transforming our business from 'good' to 'great'! This is a thrilling time for our company, and we need a key team member like you to help us achieve unprecedented success. What does the role involve? A hands-on role that requires you to:

• Develop and implement a long-term aquatics strategy to drive participation, revenue growth, and community impact.
• Innovate and expand aquatic programming beyond swim school, including fitness-based swimming, adult programs, SEND swimming and school partnerships.
• Close liaison with the local swimming club to develop clear pathways through the Swim School into other aquatic disciplines such as competitive swimming, synchro and Rookie Lifeguard programmes.
• Lead on key development projects, such as facility upgrades, new swim initiatives, and digital transformation (e.g., digitalisation rollout and/or AI integration).
• Build and maintain strong relationships with national governing bodies (e.g., Swim England), local authorities, schools, and community organisations to enhance program delivery.
• Ensure all programs align with Horizon's broader health, wellbeing, and sustainability goals.
• Oversee the effective delivery of all aquatic programs, ensuring high operational standards and customer satisfaction.
• Report effectively on all aquatics KPI's, ensuring continued growth in all avenues.
• Drive commercial performance by optimising pricing structures, participation, and lesson occupancy rates.
• Ensure sales targets are in place for secondary sales (Swim England badges and various retail lines).
• Organise seasonal events such as swimathons, half term courses and themed activities.
• Manage and review KPIs regularly, identifying opportunities to increase participation, maximise pool space and financial performance.
• Work closely with marketing to develop promotional campaigns, engaging new audiences and increasing program visibility.
• Ensure the best use of pool space, balancing learn-to-swim programs with casual swimming, adult lessons and other aquatic programming.
• Develop and implement decisive action plans to address under performance, responding swiftly when required.
• Lead, mentor, and develop the aquatics team, including swim instructors and coordinators, to deliver outstanding service.
• Drive recruitment and retention strategies to ensure a high-performing and motivated aquatics workforce.
• Manage coaches to ensure parent portal KPI's are achieved.
• Oversee training and upskilling programs, ensuring staff are compliant with industry standards and best practices.
• Foster a culture of continuous improvement, customer focus, and teamwork within the aquatics department.
• Ensure all aquatic activities comply with national and industry standards, including health and safety, safeguarding, and risk management.
• Maintain robust operational procedures, ensuring all swim lessons and aquatic activities meet Swim England and RLSS guidelines.
• Lead on emergency action planning and compliance with pool safety protocols.
• Liaise with the Child Safety Officer lead on all incidents and risks.
• Monitor customer feedback, incident reports, and industry trends to continuously refine operations., This role will be based at Havant but will be expected to travel to other company site as the need requires.
Interview Process: The recruiting manager will review your CV and if shortlisted, you will be invited to a formal interview/assessment process where we will evaluate your suitability for the role. There may be times when due to the volume of applicants to need to close a vacancy early to avoid disappointment, be sure to get your application in as soon as possible!


• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, both written and verbal
• Strong time management with the ability to prioritise and meet strict deadlines under pressure
• Confident, calm, and adaptable in high-pressure situations
• Highly organised with strong attention to detail
• Good commercial awareness, understanding revenue growth, cost management, and performance metrics
• Results-driven, focused on achieving targets and continuous improvement
• Proficient in IT systems, including scheduling platforms and Microsoft Office
• Knowledge of funding streams or grant applications for sports and aquatics development.
Your Experience
• Proven experience in managing or developing aquatic programs within a leisure or sports environment.
• Strong leadership skills with experience managing teams, driving performance, and developing staff.
• A strategic mindset with the ability to create and implement business plans for aquatics growth.
• Commercial awareness, with a track record of increasing participation and revenue in swim programs.
• Excellent stakeholder management, with the ability to build relationships with schools, councils, and governing bodies.
• Strong understanding of health & safety regulations in aquatics, including RLSS and Swim England guidelines.
• A customer-centric approach, ensuring high service standards and customer satisfaction., Swim England Level 2 Teaching Qualification or equivalent.
• Pool Plant Operator qualification.
• Experience implementing/using customer systems (e.g., CoursePro).
• Understanding of inclusive swim programs for diverse community needs (e.g., SEND, adult learners, adult swimming).
  
  A comprehensive induction and training programme; you don't need to have worked in the leisure industry before. We will teach you all you need to know!
• Support from the wider team who have a great deal of combined knowledge and experience and who are eager to help you succeed!
• Variety; no two days is the same!
• An environment that encourages innovation and free thinking, surrounded by really dynamic, empowered individuals.
Benefits:
• Free access to our award-winning gym's and exercise classes for you and a +1
• Employee discounts and wellbeing platform
• Healthcare Cash plan
• Free 24/7 access to GPs using our SmartHealth plan
• Employee Assistance Programme - support for when you need it most
• 23 days annual leave + 8 days bank holiday
• Holiday purchase scheme
• Internal recognition schemes
• Opportunities for training, development and progression
• Free onsite parking - subject to availability
• Hybrid and family friendly policies
• Generous company sick pay scheme
• Employee referral scheme
• Company pension scheme
• Death in service benefit
• And much more....