DUTY MANAGER
Bridport Leisure Centre Bridport, Dorset
Salary: £30,000 – £32,500 per annum, depending on experience and qualifications
Hours: Full-time, permanent — between 30 and 40 hours per week, worked on a rota including early mornings, evenings, weekends and bank holidays
Annual leave: 5.6 weeks per year (inclusive of bank holidays), rising by up to a further 5 days with length of service
Pension: Workplace pension scheme with 3% employer contribution
Closing date: 09 September 2026
Apply to: CV to Human Resources — [email protected]
Work with us to run a single site community leisure centre
Bridport Leisure Centre is operated by Bridport & West Dorset Sports Trust Ltd, an independent charity. Every pound we make goes back into the pool, the gym, the courts and the programmes that keep West Dorset active — from children’s swimming lessons, through to GP-referred exercise and Active Wellbeing sessions.
We are looking for a Duty Manager to take charge of that operation shift by shift. It is a hands-on management role in a small team, which means the standards you set are the standards our customers experience. You will have genuine influence over how the Centre runs, direct access to the Senior Management Team, and the backing of a Trust with an exemplary health and safety record and a real commitment to developing its staff.
The role
As Duty Manager you hold responsibility for the safe, secure and efficient day-to-day running of the Centre. You are the most senior person on site during your shift, the first point of escalation for customers and staff, and a role model and mentor for the operational team reporting to you.
Day to day, you will:
· Take full responsibility for the day-to-day supervision of the facility and the security of the building, including opening and closing
· Ensure the safe supervision of all activities, with particular focus on pool safety and compliance with our Normal Operating Procedures and Emergency Action Plan
· Carry out plant room and water quality checks, and other quality assurance procedures
· Lead, train, and develop the operational team, and act as a visible role model in the centre
· Plan rotas, manage leave and organise shift cover across the operational team
· Deliver and uphold the highest standards of customer care, resolving issues on the spot wherever you can
· Maintain the highest standards of cleanliness and presentation throughout the facility
· Support first-line maintenance and the upkeep of equipment
· Take responsibility for cash handling, reconciliation and related financial procedures
· Support the reception team and the efficient running of front of house
· Apply our health and safety, safeguarding and HR policies consistently and fairly
About you
You are calm and level-headed, confident making decisions under pressure, and comfortable being the person everyone turns to when something goes wrong. You prioritise well, you follow things through, and you are keen to keep learning.
Essential
· A current National Pool Lifeguard Qualification (NPLQ)
· Supervisory or team leadership experience in a leisure, pool-based or comparable customer-facing environment
· A sound working knowledge of health and safety at work, and how it applies on a busy leisure site
· Excellent communication skills and a proven record in customer service
· Confidence with numbers and with computerised booking and membership systems
· The ability to analyse a problem and take the necessary action
· Genuine enthusiasm for sport, fitness and wellbeing, and for what a leisure centre does for its community
Desirable — or prepared to undertake fully funded training
· Pool Plant Operator certificate
· First Aid at Work certificate
· A qualification in Leisure Management, Sports Development or a related subject — or equivalent demonstrable experience
· Experience in a small or medium-sized organisation, where everyone turns their hand to what needs doing
If you hold the NPLQ and the right experience but not the rest, please still apply — we will support you to gain the qualifications you need.
What we offer
· Salary of £30,000 – £32,500, reviewed annually
· 5.6 weeks’ annual leave, rising by up to a further 5 days with length of service
· Workplace pension with 3% employer contribution
· Full complimentary Centre membership — pool, gym and classes – for you and one other
· Funded training and requalification, including NPLQ, Pool Plant Operator and First Aid at Work
· Uniform provided
· Free on-site parking
· A supportive, close-knit team and a genuine foundation for a career in leisure management
· The satisfaction of working for a charity whose purpose is the health and wellbeing of its own community
How to apply
Please send your CV, with a short covering letter telling us why this role appeals to you, to Human Resources at [email protected].
Closing date: 09 September 2026.
Want an informal conversation about the role before you apply? Contact Sally, Human Resources Manager on 01308 429902 — we are happy to talk it through.
If you need any adjustments to take part in our recruitment process, please tell us and we will make them.
Bridport & West Dorset Sports Trust Ltd is an equal opportunities employer and is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. The post of Duty Manager is a regulated position and is subject to an Enhanced DBS check with a check of the children’s and adults’ barred lists. Having a criminal record will not necessarily prevent you from being appointed; disclosures are considered individually and in line with our Recruitment of Ex-Offenders Policy. Satisfactory references and evidence of eligibility to work in the UK will be required prior to appointment.
Bridport & West Dorset Sports Trust Ltd — a registered charity operating Bridport Leisure Centre, Brewery Fields, Bridport, Dorset.
Pay: £30,000.00-£32,500.00 per year
Benefits:
- Free parking
- Gym membership
- On-site parking
Work Location: In person
