Leisure Services Development Officer

Introduction
Leisure Services Development Officers are part of the management team that looks after all the leisure services provided by the council.  They are normally based in a particular area of leisure services, for example, parks and countryside, museums and galleries, libraries and information services etc.  Leisure Services Development Officers work with other professionals to design and develop ways of making the council's leisure services more effective and efficient, and more popular with the public.

Work Environment
Leisure Services Development Officers are based at the council offices, but often have to go out and visit a variety of leisure sites.  They normally work a standard 37-hour week, but some evening and weekend work may be necessary.

Daily Activities
The duties of a Leisure Services Development Officer vary according to their particular work area within leisure services.  However, they might be involved in any number of the following tasks:

  • consulting with other departments, council members, local organisations and community groups and leisure services staff and listening to their suggestions for improvements to current leisure services and developments for new ones;
  • examining ways in which to encourage more people to use leisure services, for example, in parks & countryside, considering the development of nature walks;
  • writing reports based on consultations and disseminating and presenting information and ideas to managers and councillors;
  • managing new leisure projects to ensure they run smoothly, including liaising with consultants, contractors and council colleagues;
  • continually evaluating leisure services, paying particular attention to cost effectiveness;
  • preparing estimates for budgets and monitoring expenditure;
  • carrying out marketing activities to promote leisure services;
  • responding to customers' complaints;
  • possibly managing a small team of staff within leisure services development.

Skills & Abilities
Leisure Services Development Officers need to:

  • be imaginative and innovative;
  • have the ability to engage people in activities and projects;
  • have communication skills both written and verbal;
  • be able to organise and prioritise workloads;
  • work with people and communities to provide services;
  • have negotiation skills;
  • have numeracy skills.

Entry Requirements
A degree in a relevant subject such as leisure management or sports development may be necessary.  However, often previous relevant experience in a leisure services/management role is more important.  It may also be desirable to have a relevant professional qualification and membership of the Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMPSA).  It may be possible to work towards relevant N/SVQs whilst in employment.

Future Prospects & Opportunities
There may be opportunities to progress to a more senior management level, both within leisure services and elsewhere in the council, for example, libraries or parks and countryside.  It may also be possible to move into other policy development and performance management roles at the corporate centre of the council.

Further Information & Services
Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity www.cimspa.co.uk
SkillsActive www.skillsactive.com

You may find further information about this area of work through Careers Wales www.careerswales.com  or in your local library, careers office or school careers library.

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