Swim Manager - Cardiff International Pool & Gym

About us

Parkwood Leisure was established over 25 years ago and is one of the UK's leading operators of publicly owned leisure facilities. We’re a company that’s proud to deliver a first-class service to each of the facilities we manage and is committed to working with local communities to make a difference and provide a healthier and happier lifestyle to the communities we serve. The Company prides itself on its exemplary health and safety record and commitment to staff.

Is this you?

This is an ideal role for an individual who is motivated by managing a team of staff, is commercially driven and passionate about swimming. The Swim Manager is responsible for the commercial, sales, programming, development and operations of the Learn to Swim program at Cardiff International Pool.

Primary objectives and responsibilities for the Contract Swim Manager are:

Commercial Focus

• Understand and use KPIs to improve commercial performance of the sites pool programme

• Implement the organisation’s three-year growth and retention plan to drive income from the Learn to swim programme

• Create competitor analysis and SWOT to influence key objectives for the programme annually

• Manage the sales targets and provide clear communication to the teams who support the sales process. Continually review net gain as the key metric.

• Ensure the highest level of customer service is adopted at all times.

• Oversee feedback and enquiries from customers and ensure the best possible customer service is provided.

Managing the Swim Programme

• Maximise pool space and timetabling to promote convenient entry points and retention for customers.  By ensuring the correct classes are scheduled at the right time, reducing waitlists and preventing bottlenecks

• Follow and communicate procedural changes to all stakeholders on-site to ensure consistency in processes.

• Maintain a high level of knowledge within the swimming industry and keep up with changes within the industry.

• Ensure department communication is transparent and expectations are being met.

• Identify Wider participation pathways, develop commercially focused arguments and implement within the programme.

• Forge positive working relationships with the local Swimming Clubs, Swim Wales and Authority Sports Development Teams.

• Liaise and organise NGB L1 and L2 instructor courses as per centres needs.  Arrange quarterly CPD for swim instructors.

• Identify positive stories and assist business development by writing case studies in promoting good practice within the organisation.

• To undertake any other duties as reasonably required by your Line Manager and other Senior Management.

Observation and Mentoring

• Provide leadership as the direct report to a team of swim lessons instructors. For example, overseeing scheduling to ensure all shifts are covered and no classes cancelled due to a lack of an instructor.

• Ensuring NRSTC qualifications are up to date and staff attend training regularly.

• Work with the Centre/ Contract Manager to identify recruitment needs.

• Be responsible for interview, induction and training for new swim instructors.

• Regularly be on the poolside to observe the quality of the programme and provide feedback.

• Ensure swim safer, smarter, and stronger outcomes are delivered appropriately, and the instructor teaches the internal schemes of work.

• Ensure training records are maintained for all line management employees including safeguarding, DBS and GDPR.

Marketing

• Recognising positive stories and opportunities to create good content.

• Create a cohesive marketing calendar working with the Head Office marketing team and other site stakeholders.

• Understand when a marketing campaign is needed to promote and sell more spaces and bring it to the Centre/ Contract managers attention.

• Provide regular updates to swimmers via social media and direct routes.

• Understanding both the companies and the site-specific USP and capitalise upon these.

• Regularly collect and use customer feedback to enhance the quality of the programme.

• Ensure that in centre branding meets the company requirements in terms of both tone and quality.

**Communication **

• Attend regular managers meetings with all departments within the site

• Working as a team and using appropriate communication methods for all stakeholders

• Positively dealing with all staff conflict

• Work closely with other Swim Managers in the region

• Work with the Head of Aquatics as an indirect report to achieve commercial targets, implement departmental strategies and adhere to processes and procedures.

THE CANDIDATE

Qualifications and skills

• The candidate must demonstrate extensive knowledge of learning to swim programmes and the Swim Wales National Teaching Plan. Ideally, previous experience managing a team.

• The ideal candidate would be a fully qualified IOS Level 2 Swimming Teacher but this should not be a barrier to application

• NRASTC or NPLQ and First Aid at Work certificates are desirable.

Personal

Among the personal characteristics sought the applicant:

• Demonstrate ability to collaborate, develop partnership and work effectively as a member of a fast-paced, results-oriented team

• Demonstrate knowledge of national trends and best practice in the aquatic industry

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills

• Demonstrate success managing, supervising and mentoring employees or other relevant supervisory experience

• Demonstrate knowledge of lifeguard safety skills, aquatic event management and water safety.

• Demonstrate ability to work autonomously with initiative, critical and creative thinking

• The most important characteristic should be a passion for leisure, the drive to succeed and grow the learn to swim program!

DBS

The position of Contract Swim manager is classed as a regulated post and therefore will require a DBS Disclosure. In addition, where the individual does not already hold a DBS check, it may be necessary for the post holder to be submitted for a DBS check.

How to Apply

If you feel like you could bring some fresh ideas to the table we want to hear from you.  For an informal chat please contact rhys.jenkins@legacyleisure.org.uk or simply apply with a letter of why you would like to be considered for this role and attach your current CV.