Interim Head of Leisure Services

Job Description

Huntingdonshire District Council (HDC) is passionate about providing high quality services to our communities, residents and businesses. This means we need to employ and retain the most talented and dedicated people. Situated within the heart of the Cambridge-PeterboroughGrowth Area, Huntingdonshire is a beautiful district that boasts thriving market towns and many attractive villages, each with its own identity. We are an innovative and forward-thinking local authority whose residents are at the heart of our decision making.At HDC, our leisure services are integral to ensuring that as a council we deliver against our health and wellbeing agenda. In order to achieve this, we are seeking a change and transformation specialist on an 18-month fixed term contract to oversee theleisure, health and wellbeing services being delivered by the council.As the overarching lead for the service, which includes a number of leisure centres, specialist gyms and active lifestyle programmes, you will make certain that services continue to be delivered in line with our health and wellbeing agenda whilst makingrecommendations for the future direction of the services, ensuring that we explore all viable options to continue delivering these effectively. To accomplish this we need to be certain that they remain commercially and financially viable - and are sustainableand relevant - all whilst improving our customer experience and producing the best outcomes for our residents.You will require experience of transforming front line operational services and delivering change to improve outcomes whilst balancing the needs of the service and people to drive optimal performance, providing clear strategic direction and fostering a cultureof collaboration and excellence.You do not need to have previously worked in leisure services but must have a passion for people, leisure, health and wellbeing agendas and an understanding of the regulatory environments in which they operate, coupled with strong financial, communications,engagement and stakeholder management skills.The postholder will need to ensure ongoing financial stability remains a priority whilst exploring income generating options and ensuring that we continue to meet and exceed our commitment to the wider health and wellbeing agenda and that all available resourcesare used to best effect.This role reports directly into our Managing Director and is subject to holding an enhanced DBS.Should you have any additional questions or wish to discuss the role in more detail before applying, please contact our Recruitment Business Partner in order for them to facilitate this.We anticipate that interviews will be held on 5 April 2022. Apply To apply for this position please complete the application form.The closing date is noon on Monday 28 March 2022Please note that the official closing date is as above and will be the correct date. Some third party websites may have different dates so please always refer to the HDC website for the official closing date to ensure you do not miss out on applying.At HDC we want to employ staff who embody our icare values (Inspiring, Collaborative, Accountable, Respectful, Enterprising), all of which support our ultimate purpose of putting our customers first.For many of our roles (and where it is possible) we are currently working remotely and anticipate in the future returning to a hybrid office model on a flexible basis. This will still include work from home and flexi-time opportunities in order to providea good work life balance whilst still ensuring that teams benefit from in person interaction. Candidates should therefore be within commutable distance of our offices in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire or able to attend meetings as required if further afield.As an employer who values diversity of thought, we seek to employ candidates from a range of backgrounds in order to make our organisation more innovative. We are seeking candidates who are looking for their next career opportunity and are a supportive employer,enabling our staff to work in an environment that produces high standards of work in an employee-led environment.Equality, diversity and inclusion is at the heart of our recruitment and along with our values we are committed to creating an inclusive working environment, where diversity is valued and there is equality of opportunity. We therefore welcome applicationsfrom all sections of the community and we offer a range of benefits, including flexitime, to encourage a work life balance.Our benefits include:

• a highly competitive Local Government Pension Scheme
• an array of services, networks and training to support your health and wellbeing such as Mental Health First Aiders and access to our Employee Assistance Programme, which includes financial guidance, wellbeing support and family counselling, amongst otherservices
• generous holiday entitlement dependent upon length of service
• heavily discounted gym membership at our One Leisure Centres and Training Shed
• tailored learning and development on an individual basis, including access to Bookboon which has over 1,500 resources dedicated to development
• career progression opportunities including apprenticeships of all levels
• enhanced policies in many areas
• flexi-time and hybrid working (role permitting)
• cycle to work scheme
• occupational health programme
• digital parking permit
• long service award.

Keyskills :
HealthLeisureManagement