Head of Leisure Operations

Location: Liverpool (4-5 days on site) Rate: £535 per day PAYE / £706.79 Umbrella Contract: 6 months (26 weeks) Start: May 2026

We are currently supporting a large, forward thinking public sector organisation in the North West to appoint an Interim Head of Leisure Operations to provide immediate leadership across a diverse and high profile leisure portfolio. This is a critical interim assignment focused on stabilising performance, driving service improvement, and shaping the future operating model of leisure services across a major city.

• Reporting into senior leadership, you will take full responsibility for the strategic and operational delivery of leisure services, including:
• Leading multi site operations across leisure centres, swimming pools and sports facilities
• Driving improvements in operational performance, customer experience and participation levels
• Ensuring full compliance across health & safety, safeguarding and statutory regulations
• Managing significant budgets, with a focus on commercial performance and income generation
• Leading and developing large, multidisciplinary teams
• Supporting organisational change and workforce development initiatives
• Building strong partnerships across health, community and sports sectors
• Contributing to longer term strategy around leisure services and estate planning

• We are looking for a proven senior leader with:
• Extensive experience in leisure operations, sport, or similar frontline service environments
• A track record of managing multi site operations or complex estates
• Strong financial and commercial acumen, including budget oversight and income growth
• Experience delivering service transformation and performance improvement
• Excellent leadership capability, with experience managing large teams and organisational change
• Strong understanding of compliance, health & safety and operational risk
• Public sector or local authority experience is highly desirable.

• On-site requirement: 4-5 days per week in Liverpool (non negotiable)
• Inside IR35
• Interviews will take place on-site in Liverpool

This is a fantastic opportunity to take on a visible and impactful leadership role, helping shape how leisure services contribute to community health and wellbeing across a major UK city.