Active North Yorkshire
Salary: £49,764 – £53,817 per annum
Grade: N
Hours: Full Time
Contract: Permanent
Location: Hybrid working available – base County Hall, Northallerton, cover sites across Craven, Pateley Bridge, Starbeck, Knaresborough, Harrogate, Selby and Tadcaster.
Shape the future of health, leisure, and wellbeing across North Yorkshire.
We are seeking an experienced and driven Area Operations Manager to join our newly established Active North Yorkshire service. This is a unique opportunity to play a leading role in the transformation and delivery of high-quality, inclusive and sustainable leisure services across the county.
Working closely with the Head of Service (Operations), you will oversee multiple leisure facilities, lead multi-site teams, and drive a service that balances commerciality with social impact. You will be central to ensuring our facilities are safe, customer-focused, and contribute meaningfully to local health and wellbeing outcomes.
What you will do:
- Lead and support teams across a portfolio of leisure centres to deliver excellent operational performance, innovation, and continuous improvement.
- Drive financial sustainability through effective budget management and income generation.
- Ensure safe, compliant and efficient operations aligned with council policies and national standards.
- Work collaboratively with partners to embed leisure centres as health and wellbeing hubs within local communities.
- Support the integration and transformation of services with a strong focus on inclusion, community impact and customer experience.
What we are looking for:
- A skilled leader with extensive experience in operational management of sport, leisure, health, or wellbeing facilities.
- Proven ability to manage multi-site teams, budgets, and change initiatives.
- Strong knowledge of the regulatory environment, health and safety compliance, and performance frameworks such as QUEST.
- A collaborative mindset with the ability to build strong partnerships across the public, private and voluntary sectors.
- Relevant qualifications in leisure, management, or related fields (e.g., CIMSPA, IOSH, NEBOSH).
Why work for us?
North Yorkshire Council is one of the largest local authorities in the country, offering a broad range of career development and progression opportunities. As part of our Active North Yorkshire service, you’ll join a forward-thinking and supportive team that values innovation, inclusion, and continuous learning.
With a clear focus on making a positive difference to communities across the region, this is an exciting time to be part of our transformation.
- Supportive Work Environment: Join a collaborative team culture where professional development, staff wellbeing, and continuous improvement are at the heart of everything we do.
- Impactful Work: Play a key role in delivering vibrant, safe, and customer-focused leisure services that help build healthier and more active communities.
- Attractive Benefits: Enjoy 28 days of annual leave (rising to 34 with continued service) plus public holidays, access to a generous local government pension scheme, and flexible working arrangements that support your work-life balance.
Ready to take the next step in your leadership journey?
Apply now and help shape the future of leisure and wellbeing in North Yorkshire.
To apply, simply complete the short application form and upload your CV.
For more details about the role, or if you have any questions, feel free to reach out to, David Ashbridge, Head of Sport and Active Wellbeing (Operations) on David.Ashbridge@northyorks.gov.uk .
Key Documents
Key Dates
Closing Date: 25th May 2025
Interviews: Week commencing 02nd June 2025.
NYC are committed to directly recruiting staff and will not accept applications nor services from agency suppliers in respect of our vacancies.
We are committed to meeting the needs of our diverse community and aim to have a workforce reflecting this diversity. We are also committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults. We expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
North Yorkshire Council (NYC) advertise vacancies on behalf of schools and external organisations (third parties) in North Yorkshire. NYC are not responsible for the recruitment/employment practices of third parties and accept no liability in relation to the vacancy and any subsequent recruitment/employment processes. Enquiries regarding the vacancy or practices should be made directly with the third party.
North Yorkshire Councils’ purpose is to deliver services and facilities to the diverse residents and visitors of North Yorkshire. To ensure we deliver inclusive services we strive to have a diverse workforce where everybody can be themselves by respecting differences and embedding equality of opportunity. We celebrate diversity and recognise each other’s contributions; we therefore welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds.
North Yorkshire Council are committed to the health and safety of our employees and of others including the general public. It has a responsibility to ensure employees who hold a position that is deemed to be safety critical as it requires the performance of duties which are directly related to the safe operation or security of a facility, piece of equipment or vehicle, handling of chemicals or work at height or in confined spaces and which, if not performed properly, could result in a serious safety risk or environmental hazard to employees, a facility or the general public , do not attend work whilst under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Individuals offered employment with North Yorkshire Council will be subject to the Workplace Substance Misuse policy. For safety critical roles as detailed above, random alcohol and drug testing may take place during the course of employment.
