Job Introduction
ACTIVITY MANAGER
Location: Various Neilson Beach Clubs overseas
Season: April – November
Experience Required: Extensive leadership and operational experience within the active sports, holiday, leisure or a similar industry
Eligibility: UK & EU passport holders
Salary: £1,400–£1,800 PCM gross, depending on resort, plus accommodation, meals, flights, and an excellent overall package.
As a UK-based business operating overseas, we’re able to arrange the required visas and work permits for UK and EU passport holders to work legally in our resorts.
As one of our senior management positions, priority will be given to candidates who are available for the full season.
In a Nutshell
- Lead the complete activity operation at one of our incredible Beach Clubs.
- Manage and develop a large, multi-skilled team across Watersports, Biking, Tennis, Fitness, entertainment and more.
- Take ownership of activity programmes, health and safety, equipment, budgets, standards and the overall guest experience.
- Use your leadership and operational experience to make a real impact in one of our most senior overseas roles.
About Us
For almost 50 years, Neilson has been creating unforgettable active holidays in some incredible Beach Club destinations.
From sailing and watersports to tennis, fitness, biking and much more, our guests are at the centre of everything we do.
We’re looking for enthusiastic, adaptable people with great personalities, a strong work ethic and a genuine passion for creating brilliant holiday experiences.
Our Activity Managers sit right at the heart of the operation. You’ll lead a large and varied team, maintain high standards across multiple departments and help create an environment where your team can thrive and our guests can have an unforgettable holiday.
About You
You’re an experienced operational leader who knows how to get the best from people.
You’ve built substantial experience within the active sports, holiday, leisure or a similar fast-paced operational environment and you’re comfortable taking responsibility for a large team and a busy operation.
You understand health and safety, budgets, operational planning, people management and the importance of getting the details right.
You’re highly organised, calm under pressure and confident making decisions, but you’re not somebody who manages everything from behind a desk.
You lead from the front. You’re visible, approachable and ready to get stuck in alongside your team. You know when to support, when to challenge and how to create an environment where brilliant people can do their best work.
Activity qualifications are certainly useful, but they’re not what will define the right person for this job. We’re much more interested in your leadership experience, operational knowledge, judgement and ability to successfully lead a large active operation.
Role Overview
As Activity Manager, you’ll lead the entire active operation within resort, overseeing our activity programmes, people, equipment, health and safety, budgets and operational standards.
Working across Watersports, Biking, Tennis, Fitness, guest entertainment and wider resort activities, you’ll make sure every department operates safely, professionally and with plenty of Neilson personality.
You’ll be responsible for developing your team, maintaining excellent operational standards and making sure our activity programme delivers a brilliant experience for our guests.
This is one of our most senior overseas operational roles. You’ll work closely with the wider resort management team and our UK office while taking day-to-day ownership of an operation that plays a huge part in our guests’ holidays.
What You’ll Be Doing
- Lead, motivate and develop the resort activity team, creating a positive, high-performing environment.
- Manage the activity programme across multiple departments, adapting it around operational requirements, weather conditions and guest needs.
- Maintain consistently high standards of instruction, customer service and activity delivery.
- Manage staffing rotas effectively, taking qualifications, experience and operational requirements into account.
- Coach and develop your team through regular feedback, one-to-ones, appraisals and ongoing training.
- Take ownership of health and safety across the active operation, including audits, operational paperwork, risk reporting and action plans.
- Make sure all activities operate safely and in line with Neilson procedures and local requirements.
- Oversee the maintenance, repair, security and ordering of activity equipment.
- Manage operational budgets, reporting and KPIs, identifying opportunities to improve performance throughout the season.
- Lead activity operations during resort set-up and end-of-season pack-down.
- Work closely with other resort departments, suppliers, local partners and UK-based teams to keep operations running smoothly.
- Support wider resort operations, including airport transfers, guest briefings, social events and entertainment when required.
- Be visible and approachable around resort, building great relationships with guests and leading your team by example.
- Support staff welfare and manage performance, disciplinary and grievance matters in line with Neilson procedures.
- Help coordinate staff accommodation alongside relevant resort teams and local property partners.
- Maintain a welcoming, energetic, safe and professional environment for guests and your team.
Skills & Experience
You’ll be great at this if you…
- Have extensive leadership and operational experience within the active sports, holiday, leisure or a similar industry.
- Have proven experience leading, managing and developing large or multi-skilled teams.
- Have strong health and safety knowledge and experience taking responsibility for operational compliance and risk management.
- Are confident managing budgets, financial reporting and operational KPIs.
- Understand how to run a busy operation while balancing safety, commercial performance, team welfare and the guest experience.
- Are comfortable taking responsibility and making sound operational decisions.
- Are an excellent communicator who can build strong relationships with guests, teams, suppliers and colleagues.
- Are highly organised and confident managing multiple priorities.
- Are calm and resilient under pressure and naturally look for solutions.
- Lead by example and aren’t afraid to get stuck in when your team needs you.
- Know how to motivate people while maintaining high standards.
- Have a strong work ethic and take genuine pride in your operation and your team.
- Have a good standard of spoken English.
- Are confident using Microsoft Office and everyday business systems.
- Understand safeguarding and child protection responsibilities.
It’d be a bonus if you also have…
- Recognised qualifications within one or more of our activity disciplines.
- Experience across several different active sports.
- Previous experience managing an overseas activity or resort operation.
- Experience delivering staff training and development.
- Experience working within a seasonal operation.
Qualifications
There is no mandatory activity qualification required to apply for the Activity Manager role.
Relevant activity qualifications are highly desirable and will undoubtedly help you understand the teams and programmes you’ll be responsible for, but they are not a substitute for the leadership and operational experience required for this position.
We’re particularly interested in candidates with extensive experience in:
- Leadership and people management.
- Health and safety.
- Operational planning and delivery.
- Budget and financial management.
- Risk management.
- Active sports, holidays, leisure or a similar operational industry.
If you also hold relevant activity, coaching or instructor qualifications, please include full details within your application.
First Aid Requirements
A valid Outdoor First Aid certificate is mandatory for the Activity Manager role.
Your certificate must be in place by your start date and remain valid for the duration of your contract.
ONLINE-ONLY FIRST AID COURSES ARE NOT ACCEPTED
For further information about Neilson’s First Aid requirements, please click here: First Aid Guidance
What’s in it for you?
Joining Neilson is more than just a summer job. It’s an opportunity to challenge yourself, develop new skills, build confidence, experience incredible destinations, and become part of a close-knit team creating unforgettable holidays every day.
The experience, resilience, and people skills you’ll develop along the way will stay with you long after the season ends – wherever life takes you next.
Alongside the experience, you’ll get:
- A paid seasonal role in an incredible overseas destination.
- Staff accommodation provided.
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner while on duty, so your meals are taken care of.
- Travel to and from resort, subject to staff travel policy.
- Use of selected resort facilities in your spare time, so you can enjoy the destination too.
- Friends and family holiday discounts, giving the people at home the chance to experience Neilson for themselves.
- Comprehensive training and ongoing support to help you settle in, develop your skills and make the most of your season.
- Opportunities to gain additional qualifications through the Neilson Academy.
- Career development opportunities through our Jump Up and Jump Higher programmes.
- Visa and work permit support where applicable.
- Role-specific uniform provided.
- One day off each week, plus accrued holiday.
- Emergency medical and dental insurance.
- 24/7 independent mental health support.
It’s a season that gives you more than a payslip – you’ll come home with new skills, new friends, incredible memories and an experience that stays with you long after you’ve left resort.
Please note: All Neilson Active employees are required to complete a DBS check as part of our safer recruitment process.
