General Manager/Club and Company Secretary

General Manager & Club Secretary – Sussex Yacht Club

Role Profile

We are excited to announce a rare opportunity to take on the position of General Manager at Sussex Yacht Club.

A private members’ club, established in 1892, our club is one of the oldest yacht clubs on the south coast, with approximately 1800 members, moorings on 2 sites, a busy boat yard and a purpose-built new clubhouse on our principle site in Shoreham-by-Sea. The General Manager reports to the Commodore who chairs the Board of Directors which sets policy and direction for the Club on behalf of the members.

The role involves overseeing day-to-day operations, financial management, staff and member relations, enacting policy decisions agreed at Board level and facilities maintenance. As the General Manager, you will play a pivotal role in driving our strategic vision and ensuring the smooth operation of daily activities.

Key responsibilities include: 

• Club Operations: Managing day-to-day operations and associated teams of staff (boat yard, bar & restaurant, office)
• Financial Management: Participating in developing and managing financial policies, monitoring budgets and implementing financial controls. 
• Member Relations: Developing and maintaining strong relationships with members and maintaining a high level of member satisfaction 
• Staff Management: Overseeing recruitment, training, development and day-to-day management of staff
• Facility Security, Maintenance, and Development: Ensuring the security, maintenance and optimisation of club facilities 
• Compliance and Regulations: Ensuring adherence to UK legislation and club policies including health & safety, environmental regulations, licences, insurances etc
• Company Secretary duties: Organising formal events such as Board meetings together with ensuring that the regulatory, financial and governance responsibilities of the Company Secretary are properly observed

Required Attributes: 

Strong leadership qualities, supervisory experience and teambuilding skills

Excellent communication skills to interact effectively with members, staff, and other stakeholders. 

Proven business acumen with a solid understanding and experience of financial management and strategic planning. 

Highly developed organisational skills with the ability to prioritise appropriately, find practical solutions and address challenges effectively. 

Networking and relationship building skills

Required Experience & Qualifications: 

• Essential:

Proven success in managing recreational (preferably water sports) facilities, hospitality venues or similar organisations

Evidence of effective team management

Strong financial acumen with a track record of financial management and budgetary experience

Familiarity with the Microsoft Office suite of software particularly Word, Excel and Teams 

The right to work in the UK

The ability to work flexibly when required including some evenings and weekends throughout the year

• Desirable:

Bachelor’s degree in hospitality management or equivalent

Corporate governance experience

An understanding of the yachting industry

Experience of facility management and upkeep

 We offer a salary in the range of £55,000 – £65,000 for the successful candidate, company pension scheme, 30 days holiday which includes statutory bank holidays (22 days leave plus 8 bank holiday days), optional health plan, and optional associate membership of the club.

We look forward to receiving your application via email to tim@sussexyachtclub.org.uk attaching a CV and a covering letter explaining how you meet the requirements of the role. 

The closing date for applications is 12 November 2024. 

Interviews will be held w/c 18 November 2024 and may include psychometric and written tests.