Join the Team at Chester City Baths – Baths Operations Manager
Are you ready to take a leading role in the smooth, safe and successful running of one of Chester’s most iconic venues? Chester City Baths is seeking a dynamic, practical and safety-focused Baths Operations Manager to oversee the day-to-day operations of our historic facility.
This is more than an operations role—it’s a chance to make a real difference to our community, lead a committed pool safety team, uphold the highest standards of health and safety, and help ensure Chester City Baths continues to thrive as a welcoming, well-managed hub for aquatic excellence.
Role details
· Location: Chester City Baths
· Contract: Permanent
· Hours: 37 hours per week
· Working pattern: Flexibility required, including evenings and weekends as needed
· Competitive salary commensurate with experience
· Pension and other benefits to be discussed upon appointment
· Support given for relevant training and professional development
· Opportunity to play a key leadership role in a valued community facility
· Reports to Board of Trustees
What You’ll Do
As Baths Operations Manager, you’ll be at the heart of daily life at Chester City Baths. You’ll oversee operations, maintenance, safety and security across the facility, working closely with colleagues, contractors, customers and user groups to ensure everything runs smoothly, safely and efficiently.
Your responsibilities will include:
· Lead the daily operation of Chester City Baths, ensuring the facility is safe, clean, secure, well maintained and welcoming from opening to closing.
· Take ownership of wet-side operations, including pool plant, water quality, chemical control, filtration systems, poolside standards, changing areas and associated compliance checks.
· Act as Principal Health and Safety Officer, overseeing the Health and Safety Policy, risk assessments, accident records, fire safety checks, safe systems of work, staff safety training, and Pool Safety Operating Procedures including Normal Operating Procedures and Emergency Action Plans.
· Recruit, rota, manage, motivate and develop pool safety staff, ensuring the team delivers consistent, safe and excellent customer service.
· Work with the Aquatic Business Manager and wider team to coordinate pool sessions, maximise pool use and respond effectively to customer, user group and operational needs.
· Maintain strong relationships with customers, user groups, colleagues and maintenance contractors, resolving issues promptly and supporting continuous improvement across the facility.
· Track and report to the Board on health and safety data, staffing levels, maintenance issues and other business plan objectives, while contributing to budgeting, operational planning, business development and marketing activity.
Who We’re Looking For
You’re a confident, hands-on operational leader with a strong understanding of pool safety, plant operations and facilities management. You bring energy, calm decision-making and a proactive approach to problem solving, and you know how to motivate a team while keeping customer service, safety and compliance at the centre of everything you do.
You’ll be a strong communicator and team player, comfortable working under pressure, adapting to changing circumstances and building positive relationships with colleagues, customers, contractors and stakeholders. Commercial awareness and an understanding of current industry trends and health and safety legislation will also be important.
We would ideally like applicants to demonstrate many of the following skills, qualifications and experiences. However, we do not expect every candidate to meet every point, and training or support may be available for the right person.
· Strong understanding of pool safety, plant operations, facilities management and relevant health and safety legislation.
· Experience supervising and developing a team, including rota planning, training, performance management and staff support.
· Excellent communication, customer service, problem-solving and decision-making skills, with the ability to work under pressure and adapt to changing circumstances.
· Commercial awareness and the ability to build strong relationships with colleagues, customers, contractors and stakeholders.
· RLSS UK National Pool Plant Operator Certificate or equivalent,
· RLSS National Pool Lifeguard qualification,
· Enhanced DBS check.
· RLSS National Pool Management Qualification or equivalent management-level pool safety qualification
· First Aid at Work qualification
· IOSH Managing Safely qualification
· Swim England Safeguarding in Aquatics qualification
Why Chester City Baths?
We’re proud of our heritage, but we’re not stuck in the past. Our vision is bold, inclusive and community-led. As Baths Operations Manager, you’ll help shape a future where Chester City Baths continues to be a safe, welcoming and vibrant place for swimmers, staff, clubs, families and the wider community.
We’re an equal opportunities employer and welcome applicants from all backgrounds. If you’re passionate about operational excellence, health and safety and community facilities—and you’re ready to lead with purpose—we’d love to hear from you.
For Further Information:
If you have any questions or would like to learn more about the role, please email [email protected]
Apply Now:
To apply, please send a CV and covering letter that tells us why you'd be a great addition to our team to [email protected] by 21 September 2026.
Expected hours: 37.0 per week
Benefits:
Work Location: In person
