General Manager

Job Title-General Manager
Business Area-The Lifestyle Centre (Wythenshawe)
Contract Type-Permanent, Full time Year-round
Working Pattern-5 days per week (On a rota basis)
Pay Scale- Negotiable

Role Purpose
Woodhouse Park Lifestyle Centre (to be known as The Lifestyle Centre) is entering an exciting new phase under the management of Navigators, building on its established role at the heart of the Wythenshawe community. Navigators bring a strong commitment to people-first leadership, community impact, and long-term sustainability.
We are seeking an exceptional General Manager to lead this transition and shape the centre’s future under Navigators’ leadership.
A central focus of this role is the successful TUPE transfer and integration of the existing staff team into Navigators, ensuring continuity, stability, and a positive employee experience during a period of change.
This is a leadership role first and foremost. You will cultivate a strong, inclusive culture aligned with Navigators’ values, unlock talent within the existing team, and ensure the centre continues to respond to local priorities including health and wellbeing, youth engagement, inclusion, skills development, and community cohesion.
In addition, this role requires a strong commercial and entrepreneurial mindset, with responsibility for identifying opportunities to generate income, maximise use of the centre’s assets, and operate the centre with a “business within a business” approach while maintaining its community-first ethos.

Key responsibilities

Leadership & Team Development

• Provide inspirational, people-centred leadership to a transitioning staff team joining Navigators.
• Directly line manage centre-based functions including reception staff, catering teams, and caretaking colleagues, ensuring clear expectations, accountability, and high performance.
• Reset expectations where needed, creating clarity around roles, standards, and behaviours aligned to Navigators’ values.
• Bring people together under a shared purpose, building a cohesive, motivated, and high-performing team culture.
• Identify, nurture, and develop existing talent, creating opportunities for progression and growth.
• Promote a culture of trust, collaboration, and continuous improvement.

Commercial Development & Income Generation

• Develop and deliver a clear approach to income generation, ensuring the centre maximises its commercial potential while retaining community accessibility.
• Identify and implement opportunities to generate additional revenue through room hire, events, partnerships, programmes, and services.
• Adopt an entrepreneurial mindset, effectively running the centre as a sustainable “business within a business.”
• Explore innovative community-led enterprise opportunities that align with local needs and centre capabilities.
• Build relationships with local organisations, businesses, and stakeholders to increase utilisation and diversify income streams.
• Monitor financial performance and contribute to financial planning, ensuring long-term sustainability.

TUPE Transition & Change Leadership

• Lead the successful transfer and integration of staff into Navigators under TUPE, ensuring legal compliance and best practice.
• Act as a visible and approachable representative of Navigators throughout the transition.
• Build trust and confidence through clear, consistent communication and strong relationship-building.
• Balance Navigators’ vision with sensitivity to legacy practices, knowledge, and team dynamics.
• Support staff to feel valued, secure, and optimistic about the future.

Operational Delivery

• Oversee the day-to-day running of the Centre under Navigators’ management.
• Ensure delivery of high-quality, safe, and inclusive activities for young people and the wider community.
• Maintain strong operational standards aligned with Navigators’ expectations and policies.
• Manage staffing, programming, facilities, and centre operations effectively.

Community Engagement & Partnerships

• Act as a key local ambassador for Navigators, building a strong and visible community presence.
• Proactively engage with external partners, community groups, and stakeholders to enhance the centre’s reach and relevance.
• Develop partnerships that increase participation, improve outcomes, and support both social and commercial objectives.
• Ensure services align with both Navigators’ mission and the Wythenshawe Community Needs Assessment, including:
  • Health and mental wellbeing
  • Youth engagement and positive activities
  • Inclusion and community cohesion
  • Education, skills, and employability
  • Tackling economic hardship
  • Community safety and resilience

Conflict Resolution & Staff Wellbeing

• Apply excellent conflict resolution and mediation skills to support staff through transition and beyond.
• Manage change-related challenges with professionalism, empathy, and fairness.
• Foster a supportive environment reflective of Navigators’ people-first ethos.

Facilities & Sustainability Awareness

• Support and maximise the benefits of the centre’s recent decarbonisation investment.
• Promote efficient, sustainable use of the building in line with Navigators’ sustainability ambitions.
• Ensure the centre remains welcoming, safe, and fit for purpose.

Performance & Impact

• Monitor outcomes and impact, ensuring delivery aligns with Navigators’ strategic goals.
• Contribute to reporting, evaluation, and continuous improvement.
• Ensure the centre delivers both social value and financial sustainability.

Skills and abilities

Leadership & People Management

• Ability to lead, inspire, and develop multi-disciplinary teams, including front-of-house, catering, and facilities staff.
• Skilled in bringing teams together around a shared vision and common purpose.
• Confident in setting clear expectations, managing performance, and embedding accountability.
• Experience of leading through change, including resetting culture and ways of working.

Commercial & Entrepreneurial Skills

• Strong commercial awareness with the ability to identify and maximise income-generating opportunities.
• Able to think entrepreneurially and operate a “business within a business” approach.
• Skilled in balancing financial sustainability with community accessibility and social value.
• Ability to develop, implement, and monitor revenue streams (e.g. room hire, events, partnerships, programmes).

Communication & Relationship Building

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to engage and influence a wide range of stakeholders.
• Ability to build strong relationships internally and externally, including with community groups, partners, and local organisations.
• Confident in representing the organisation and developing a strong community presence.

Partnership & Community Engagement

• Skilled in developing partnerships that enhance service delivery, participation, and impact.
• Ability to engage communities effectively, understanding local needs and responding with relevant provision.
• Experience of working collaboratively across organisational and sector boundaries.

Operational & Organisational Skills

• Strong organisational and planning skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities.
• Experience overseeing day-to-day operations and ensuring high standards of service delivery.
• Ability to use data and insight to inform decisions, monitor performance, and drive improvement.

Problem Solving & Decision Making

• Able to make sound, timely decisions in a dynamic environment.
• Strong problem-solving skills, with a proactive and solution-focused approach.
• Comfortable managing complexity and ambiguity during periods of change.

Conflict Resolution & Emotional Intelligence

• Highly developed interpersonal awareness and emotional intelligence.
• Ability to manage conflict sensitively and effectively, supporting positive outcomes.
• Skilled in building trust, maintaining morale, and supporting staff wellbeing.

Experience and Qualifications

Experience

• Proven experience in a leadership or management role within a youth work, community, leisure, or similar public-facing environment.
• Demonstrated experience of managing and developing diverse teams, including front-line, operational, and facilities-based staff.
• Experience of leading teams through change, transformation, or organisational transition (including TUPE exposure where possible).
• Track record of delivering high-quality community services or programmes that respond to local needs.
• Experience of developing partnerships with external organisations, stakeholders, and community groups.
• Experience of generating income, managing budgets, or contributing to the financial sustainability of a service.
• Experience of managing day-to-day operations within a community facility, centre, or similar setting.

Essential:

• Relevant professional qualification (or equivalent experience) in Youth Work, Community Development, Leadership, Management, or a related field.
• Minimum Level 3 qualification (or equivalent) in a relevant discipline.
• Safeguarding training (or willingness to obtain prior to/shortly after appointment).
• Health & Safety awareness/training appropriate to managing a public-facing facility.
• Maths and English GCSE or equivalent (Functional skills level 2)
• Full driving licence and access to own vehicle (with business insurance)

Desirable:

• Level 5 or above qualification in Leadership, Management, Youth Work, Community Development, or a related field.
• Chartered Management Institute (CMI), ILM, or equivalent recognised leadership/management qualification.
• Degree-level qualification in a relevant subject area.
• Formal training or qualification in business development, enterprise, or commercial management.
• Accredited safeguarding qualification (e.g. Designated Safeguarding Lead).
• First Aid qualification.
• Project management qualification (e.g. PRINCE2, Agile or equivalent).

Other Requirements

• Ability to work flexibly, including evenings and weekends, in line with centre operations.
• Commitment to continuous professional development.
• Enhanced DBS check (essential).

Behaviours and Values

Empathy & Respect

• Demonstrates genuine understanding and respect for the needs of staff, young people, and the wider community
• Promotes an inclusive environment by valuing diversity and actively listening to others

Integrity & Honesty

• Acts with transparency, professionalism, and accountability in all decisions and actions
• Communicates openly and consistently, building credibility and trust

Resilience & Commitment

• Maintains a positive, solution-focused approach in the face of challenge and change
• Shows strong personal commitment to delivering high-quality outcomes

Trust & Authenticity

• Builds trust through open, genuine, and consistent behaviour
• Leads with authenticity, creating a supportive environment where others feel confident to contribute

Declarations
We aim to create and maintain a safe environment and community where all young people and adults feel safe, secure and valued. We work hard to create strong relationships and show a commitment to safeguarding all young people.
Our work is classified as Regulated Activity as defined in the Safeguarding Vulnerable Groups Act 2006 (SVGA). This role will include regular contact with Children 121 or group setting. This includes those that could be classified as vulnerable and both an understanding of and experience in adhering to UK safeguarding legislation is required.
Further information relating to our Safeguarding, Child Protection, Ex-offender or Safer Recruitment policies are available upon request.
All applications are assessed on an individual basis in relation to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (ROA) 1974.

This post will require the successful candidate to complete our Disclosure Barring Service, Vulnerable Child and Adult register checks as well as reference checks. We may also carry out additional online searches such as social media as part of the selection process.