entertaining your community
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.
Leisure services development officers 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 liaisnig 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 & Interests
Leisure services development officers need to be:
- imaginative and innovative,
- energetic and enthusiastic,
- good at motivating other people,
- able to communicate clearly with all kinds of people, both verbally and in writing,
- patient – letting others have their say and taking their views on board,
- well-organised and able to juggle a number of priorities,
- keen to work with people and communities and provide a good service for them,
- a good negotiator,
- good with figures.
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 Institute of Leisure and Amenity Management (ILAM).
It may be possible to work towards relevant N/SVQs whilst in employment.
Estimated salary range
£20,364 - £32,256 per year.
Please note that salary information is a guide only and there may be local agreements in place. For further information about salaries for particular positions, please contact your local council directly.
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. You may also be able to move into other policy development and performance management roles at the corporate centre of the council.
Related Occupations
Follow this link to view a list of all related occuptions in Entertaining Your Community.
Alternatively, follow this link to view all career profiles placed in the same job area.
Further Information & Services
Institute of Leisure and Amenity Management www.ilam.co.uk
SkillsActive www.skillsactive.com
National Association of Sports Development http://www.nasd.uk.com
You may find further information about this area of work in your local Connexions service/careers office/school careers library - under MA or MB.
What should I do next?
Look for current local government Leisure Services Development Officer vacancies in the following places:
- LGjobs.com - the official recruitment website for local government.
- Weekly, bi-weekly or monthly jobs bulletins produced by local councils themselves, available from libraries, community centres, town halls/main civic buildings and central council personnel departments.
- Local council websites.
- Local newspapers
- National newspapers - The Guardian is particularly well known for its public sector job advertisements on a Wednesday.
Find out about the council and get some work experience if possible by:
- Making the most of work experience placements arranged through your school, college or university.
- Contacting councils close to your home to find out about the work experience opportunities they offer.
- Talking to someone who does the job you are interested in - ring your local council to see if someone can spare some time.
- Making an appointment to see a careers adviser for more specific information about jobs and training.