GLL is looking for a Sports Officer to join our brand-new flagship centre, Woolwich Waves. If you have the skills, energy, and ambition to help shape one of the UK’s most exciting leisure destinations, there’s never been a better time to join us.
The Sports Officer will play a vital role in creating vibrant, inclusive, and engaging sport and leisure opportunities for the local community. You’ll be responsible for bringing our sports and social sessions to life, ensuring every visitor enjoys a fun, safe, and high-quality experience.
Key Responsibilities
Activate leisure pool sessions featuring our centre mascot, creating memorable and engaging family experiences.
Manage a team of activators and sports coaches, ensuring sessions are delivered to the highest standard and in line with GLL values.
Oversee the Social Sports Programme, encouraging participation in informal, community-based sessions for all ages and abilities.
Coordinate and develop the dry sports course programme, including activities such as basketball, football, gymnastics, badminton, and more.
Support the wider centre team in delivering sports development and community engagement initiatives.
Build strong links with local partners, schools, and community groups to increase participation and reduce inequalities in access to sport.
Ensure programmes meet GLL’s principles of participation, reinvestment, access, and empowerment.
About You
You’ll be an enthusiastic and proactive team player, passionate about helping people get active and stay engaged through sport and leisure. You should have strong organisational and communication skills, with the confidence to manage a team and work collaboratively across departments.
Ideally, you’ll have experience in planning, leading, or coordinating community or sport-based activities and programmes. A degree in sport, leisure, or community development (or equivalent experience) would be beneficial but not essential.
You’ll also need:
A can-do attitude and real focus on customer service
A passion for sport, wellbeing, and inclusion
Knowledge of health and safety in a leisure environment
The ability to lead, motivate, and inspire a small team
Flexibility to work across evenings and weekends as required
What We Offer
Industry-leading pay as an accredited Living Wage Employer
Extensive Learning and Development support and clear career progression
Access to a pension scheme and health assurance services
Discounted membership for you and your partner across over 200 GLL centres
Access to GLL Extras, our employee benefits programme
The opportunity to join the GLL Society after probation, giving you a real stake in how we’re run
Uniform provided
About GLL
As the UK’s largest leisure operator and charitable social enterprise, we manage over 400 facilities across England, Wales, and Northern Ireland — from local leisure centres to elite sporting venues.
At Woolwich Waves, you’ll be part of something extraordinary — helping launch a landmark leisure destination.
We are an inclusive employer. We seek and welcome diversity in our teams.
All pay rates are subject to skills, experience, qualifications, and location.