Centre Manager – Glasgow Watersports (Pinkston)

Posted: 25th November 2025

Glasgow Watersports operates Pinkston Watersports in Port Dundas, close to the city centre.  This is a unique self-sustaining charity and urban community sports hub. Pinkston is home to Scotland’s only artificial white-water course with a large clean water canal basin. The Centre was an official legacy project of the Commonwealth Games 2014.

The Centre is a key venue for outdoor adventures both on and off the water, learning for schools and communities, for water rescue delivery training, and for club venue hire and secure storage.

Pinkston is also a venue for both national and international events. We are open all year round.

Centre Manager – Role purpose

To ensure the safe and effective running of the business operations, water sports and land-based outdoor activities

Key Accountabilities:

• Lead, manage and develop a multi-disciplinary team to deliver centre objectives safely and efficiently
• Manage budgets, resources, water quality and centre-user service
• Continually review, develop and improve centre operating procedures and ways of working

Essential skills & Experience:

• Proven ability to lead, manage, and develop multi-disciplinary teams to achieve organisational objectives safely and efficiently
• Strong organisational and operational management skills, including experience managing budgets, resources, and service delivery
• Experience in the outdoor industry (preferably in water sports or adventure activities)
• Experience in ensuring robust health and safety practices in public-facing outdoor or sporting environments
• Experience in developing and implementing systems and procedures for continuous improvement
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills for working with staff, users, and stakeholders
• Competence with Microsoft Office and general IT systems
• Full driving licence.

Desirable skills & experience:

• A sound understanding of the third sector and social enterprise
• Degree or further education in a relevant discipline

Reports to: CEO

Hours of duty: Due to the seasonal nature of the work and fluctuating demands, this role is offered on an annualised hours basis with 37.5 hrs per week, annual weekly average. Weekday and weekend working will be required.

Location: Pinkston Watersports, 75 North Canal Bank Street, Glasgow, G4 9XP.  This is a centre-based role.

As Centre Manager you will have overall responsibility for the management of the Centre.

Principally, this will ensure delivery of a wide range of services and activities to an extensive and varied audience.  The role has seasonal variability embedded.

You will support the CEO in delivering the following:

• Operating the centre in a robust and business-like manner with a focus on our charitable outcomes, building further resilience and sustainability.
• You will review and update policies in line with H&S, HR and other relevant legislation. In addition, you will carry out risk assessments and compliance with policies such as AALA, emergency planning etc, supported by the Activities Manager.  The Centre has support from outsourced HR, IT, H&S services.
• Supporting delivery of the Pinkston Community Project, which links with schools, youth groups and in-house youth work.
• Ongoing development of new initiatives to contribute to the organisation; you may be involved in session delivery to meet seasonal demand.
• Staff management includes a full-time team of admin, development and instructors, along with an annual seasonal team to manage summer capacity. This will include payroll / leave and implementation of HR polices. In addition, an active role in staff training, monitoring of ongoing CPD, safeguarding and NGB qualifications will be required.
• Assisting the CEO in developing new initiatives to contribute to income targets and growing sustainability. This will include reporting to Board sub-groups, such as finance and projects.
• Assisting the Activities Manager in supporting and developing good practice, including relevant licensing (AALA).

The Centre Manager will play an enthusiastic part in building the events calendar with user groups such as canoe polo and canoe slalom.  A central focus on customer service will help us achieve positive outcomes and impact.

Research shows that many talented individuals may hesitate to apply for jobs unless they feel they meet every single criterion. At Pinkston Watersports, we value diverse experiences and perspectives. If you are interested in this role and believe you have much to contribute.

Informal conversations are warmly welcomed in advance of the closing date – contact our CEO directly on jo@pinkston.co.uk

Applications with a CV and covering letter to jo@pinkston.co.uk

Closing date: 7 December 2025

Interviews in December

Expires: 08/12/2025

More Information: https://pinkston.co.uk/

Contact: Jo Airey, CEO - jo@pinkston.co.uk