Emirates Golf Club is seeking a highly motivated Head of Recreation to oversee and develop our recreation programs, facilities, and guest experiences.
Role Purpose
The Head of Recreation is responsible for the strategic, operational and commercial leadership of all recreation and leisure facilities at Emirates Golf Club, ensuring safe, high-quality and commercially successful facilities, programmes and services. The role also leads Viya Padel operations across six venues and 29 courts, providing direction and consistency across venue operations, coaching, events, customer acquisition, member leads and revenue performance.
A visible, commercially aware and people-focused leader who is equally comfortable engaging with members, supporting frontline teams, managing external partners and presenting performance to senior management. The role requires a balanced approach to premium club service, operational discipline, team development and the commercial demands of a growing multi-venue recreation and padel business.
Key Responsibilities
Recreation & Leisure Operations
- Lead the day-to-day and strategic management of all recreation and leisure facilities and areas.
- Maintain consistently high standards of presentation, cleanliness, safety and customer service.
- Develop operating procedures, service standards and inspection routines, resolving issues promptly.
- Work closely with Facilities, Engineering, Housekeeping, Security, F&B, Marketing, Finance and other departments.
- Develop programmes, activities and services that increase participation, utilisation and member value.
- Provide overall leadership and operational oversight of Viya Padel across six venues and 29 courts.
- Ensure consistent service, operational and customer experience standards across all locations.
- Monitor court utilisation, bookings, programming, customer experience and commercial performance.
- Drive peak and off-peak occupancy through programming, packages, events and targeted initiatives.
- Oversee the work of the Academy Manager in relation to tournaments, leagues, social padel, corporate events, activations and community programmes.
- Identify opportunities for portfolio growth, improved programming and additional revenue streams.
Third-Party & Partner Management
- Manage relationships with third-party operators, suppliers, contractors and recreation partners.
- Ensure partners operate in accordance with contracts, service-level expectations and Club standards.
- Conduct regular operational and commercial performance reviews and address service issues promptly.
- Support contract negotiations, renewals and appointment of new operators where required.
Commercial & Revenue Management
- Take responsibility for recreation and padel revenue targets, annual budgets, forecasts and expenditure.
- Monitor revenue, costs, profitability, utilisation, participation, average spend and customer retention.
- Develop revenue through court bookings, academies, memberships, packages, tournaments, corporate events, sponsorship, retail, and recreation programmes.
- Prepare commercial strategies, business cases and recommendations for senior management.
- Support generation, management and conversion of membership and recreation leads.
- Use recreation and padel touchpoints to introduce customers to wider Club offerings.
- Work with Membership and Sales teams to build effective referral and follow-up processes.
- Convert academy, padel and recreation customers into longer-term members and repeat customers.
- Act on member and guest feedback to strengthen satisfaction, loyalty and retention.
Marketing & Business Development
- Partner with Marketing on campaigns, digital activity, promotions and seasonal recreation calendars.
- Build relationships with corporate organisations, schools, sporting organisations and community groups.
- Support sponsorship and partnership opportunities across recreation and Viya Padel.
- Monitor market trends and competitor activity across Dubai leisure, fitness and racket sports.
- Lead, motivate and develop recreation operational teams.
- Set clear objectives, responsibilities and performance expectations; conduct regular reviews and development discussions.
- Support recruitment, onboarding, training and succession planning.
- Build a positive culture focused on teamwork, accountability, wellbeing and service excellence.
Member & Guest Experience
- Maintain a visible leadership presence across recreation facilities and engage regularly with members, guests and customers.
- Ensure feedback and complaints are managed professionally and resolved efficiently.
Health, Safety & Compliance
- Ensure recreation facilities operate in accordance with applicable UAE and Dubai requirements, Club policies and recognised industry standards.
- Maintain risk assessments, emergency procedures, incident reporting and operating guidelines.
- Ensure staff and third-party providers maintain required qualifications, licences and certifications.
- Maintain appropriate safeguarding practices for junior activities and academies.
Strategic Development & Reporting
- Develop the longer-term recreation strategy in alignment with Club and Viya objectives.
- Identify opportunities to improve facilities, services, technology and programming.
- Use financial, operational and customer data to support decision-making and investment proposals.
- Provide regular performance reports, insights and recommendations to senior management.
Skills & Experience
- Significant management experience within recreation, leisure, sports, fitness, hospitality or private members’ club environments.
- Proven experience managing multiple facilities, venues or operational areas.
- Strong commercial awareness with experience managing budgets, revenue and profitability.
- Experience managing external operators, contractors, academies or commercial partners.
- Strong understanding of sports programming, coaching, events and customer experience.
- Demonstrated leadership of multidisciplinary operational teams.
- Excellent communication, stakeholder management and member/customer service skills.
- Strong analytical capability, with confidence using operational and financial data.
- UAE leisure, hospitality or sports-market experience is advantageous; padel or racket-sports knowledge is highly beneficial.
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