Senior Manager – Sport and Leisure

Job Vacancy

KNOWLEDGE:

The post holder will manage the work of the Council’s Place services in one of the following areas:

• Building Services
• Estates and Property Management
• Housing Services
• Neighbourhood Services
• Planning, Economy and Communities
• Protective Services
• Sport & Leisure

Essential criteria

For all roles, it is essential that the post holder has a degree level qualification within any of the disciplines relevant to the role applied for, with clear evidence of commitment to continuing professional development.

For the Senior Manager – Planning, Economy and Communities role, as the post holder will be the Council’s Chief Planning Officer, it is essential that they hold a corporate membership of the Royal Town Planning Institute.

The post holder must demonstrate significant experience in the following areas:

• Working effectively at the strategic and corporate level of a large public sector organisation
• Management in one or more of the functional areas together with a clear understanding of the regulatory framework within which the service operate
• Service delivery and continuous improvement
• Project management
• Managing budgets and staff
• Sound knowledge of the funding and fiscal/financial environment

Desirable criteria

A post-graduate management qualification in a relevant professional discipline or completion of a recognised management development or leadership programme would be desirable.

In addition, for specific posts it will be advantageous to be a member of a relevant professional body/institution.

CLOSING DATE - Monday 30th March 2026

INTERVIEW DATE - Short leeting of applications - Thursday 2nd April 2026, 2nd stage short leet interviews - Thursday 23rd April 2026

Job Advert

Position Title: Senior Manager – Sport and Leisure

Directorate: Place

Location: Fairfield House, Dalkeith

Contract Status: Permanent

Hours of Work: 36 hours per week

Working Pattern: Monday to Friday

Weeks per year: 52

Please note that it is Midlothian Councils policy that successful applicants will be appointed to the first point on the salary scale.

Based on 36 hours over 52 weeks per year, the minimum actual salary for this position is £77,844.21 per annum.

Requirements

Compliance with the mandatory Cabinet Office PSN (Public Sector Network) Code of Connection requires the Council to meet a baseline personal security standard. This requires completion of a disclosure check for all employees who can access official information. The fee for this PSN Disclosure check will be met by the council.

Please note that Disclosure Scotland has changed the way certificates are issued. You will be notified by email from Disclosure Scotland that your certificate is available to view. Once you have viewed your certificate you will be allowed to share this with your employer and it is only available for 14 days from the first day you have viewed the certificate. If you do not grant access to Midlothian Council to view before access is removed, a further application will need to be generated, and this will incur an additional cost.

Additional Information

Midlothian Council is currently undergoing a period of transformation, changing and improving the way it delivers services in Midlothian. As a consequence, there are a number of existing employees for whom we are committed to seeking suitable alternative employment within the Council in accordance with our legal obligations. Candidates are advised that, for some vacancies, internal candidates in this situation will be interviewed before the wider selection pool and a slightly longer delay may be experienced before application outcomes can be advised to you. Thank you for your patience in this matter.

If you are a trainee of a Midlothian Council Training Programme, have a disability or you are a care experienced young person who has previously been a looked after child you are eligible for a guaranteed interview if you meet the essential criteria for the post.