Recreation Manager

Also known as:

Arts/Recreation Manager
Entertainments Manager
Leisure/Recreation Manager
Sports/Recreation Manager
Leisure Services Manager

Introduction

Recreation managers plan, organise, promote, provide and develop leisure and recreational facilities. Responsibility may be for one of a number of different facilities such as swimming pools or dance halls.

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Work Activities

Recreation managers plan, organise, promote, provide and develop leisure and recreational facilities. They may be responsible for any one of a range of facilities including swimming pools, multipurpose sports or leisure centres, theme parks, bingo clubs, dance halls or historic buildings.

Duties, responsibilities and skills are similar, although managers usually choose a field of work according to their personal interests, academic background and experience.

The work of a manager may include:
• financial and budgetary management
• policy making and development planning
• staff supervision
• handling problems that may arise on a day-to-day basis.

The duties of any individual depend upon the size and structure of the employing organisation and the manager's degree of seniority. For example, in local authorities, the recreation manager's role is to implement decisions that have been made at city or council level.

Many managers undertake market research to find out what current users want and to attract new users. Facilities and special events such as exhibitions, sports tournaments, playschemes and concerts must be publicised. This may involve:
• arranging for the production, printing and distribution of leaflets and posters
• arranging for advertisements to appear in the press
• visiting schools and community groups to give talks.

The daily running of any sports or leisure centre and of special events requires careful organisation. Managers are responsible for personnel matters such as recruitment, training, staff rotas, catering facilities and the maintenance of sports equipment and buildings. They are also responsible for the health and safety management of their facilities.

Those responsible for countryside areas and historic properties have fewer visitors during the winter and use this time for forward planning, conservation work, revising written information and reorganising displays.

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Personal Qualities and Skills

You will need good organisational and time management skills in order to balance the many duties involved. You should be capable of identifying potential new projects and leading them through the development stage.

Excellent communication skills are essential, because you will work with the public as well as with a range of colleagues. As a manager, you must be able to lead and motivate staff and help them to achieve personal and overall organisational targets.

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Pay and Opportunities

The pay rates given below are approximate.

Recreation managers earn in the range of £16,000 - £21,000 a year, rising to £26,000 - £35,000. Higher earners can make around £38,000 a year. Commercial employers may offer salaries made up of basic pay plus performance bonuses.

Recreation managers work a basic 37-hour week. However, late finishes, weekend and work on public holidays is often required.

Most recreation managers work for local authorities. Other employers are commercial organisations, voluntary bodies or government-funded organisations.

Jobs may be advertised in journals such as Leisure Management, Leisure Week and Leisure Opportunities.

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Adult Opportunities

It is now illegal for any organisation to set age limits for entry to employment, education or training, unless they can show there is a real need to have these limits.

If you don't have the qualifications needed to enter your chosen degree or HND course, a college or university Access course (eg, Access to Business) could be the way in. No formal qualifications are usually required, but you should check individual course details.

The Institute of Sport and Recreation Management (ISRM) offers a three-stage pathway, by distance learning, leading to the Higher Professional Diploma.

• 9% of people in occupations such as recreation management work part-time.
• 16% have flexible hours.
• 3% of employees work on a temporary basis.

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