Recreation Manager

Company Description

Welcome to SLS The Red Sea, where bold creativity and unapologetic luxury come to life.

Part of Ennismore’s globally celebrated lifestyle portfolio, SLS Hotels are known for redefining hospitality through striking design, elevated service, and magnetic social energy. Now open on the Red Sea coast, SLS The Red Sea stands as one of Saudi Arabia’s most exciting lifestyle destinations.

The resort features 150 impeccably designed keys, five dynamic Food & Beverage venues, and a luxurious spa sanctuary, offering guests a seamless blend of indulgence, entertainment, and escape. From vibrant dining experiences to moments of pure relaxation, every detail is crafted to surprise, inspire, and connect.

More than a hotel, SLS The Red Sea is a living stage—a place where creativity thrives, individuality is celebrated, and bold ideas are encouraged. As the journey continues beyond opening, we are building a passionate team to shape the future of this iconic destination. If you’re driven by excellence, energized by lifestyle hospitality, and ready to be part of something extraordinary, this is where your story continues.

Job Description

At SLS The Red Sea, recreation is about creating experiences filled with energy, discovery and a little unexpected fun. As Recreation Manager, you will lead the resort’s complete recreation experience across the Kids & Teens Club, pool and beach, fitness and gym facilities, sports courts, and resort-wide recreational programming.

Combining creativity with strong operational leadership, you will develop engaging experiences for children, teens, adults and families while ensuring every facility operates safely, seamlessly and to the highest SLS standards. You’ll lead and inspire the Recreation team, bring fresh ideas to the resort calendar, and create memorable moments that encourage our guests to step away from the ordinary.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the overall Recreation operation, including Kids & Teens Club, pool and beach recreation, fitness and gym areas, sports courts and resort activities.
• Develop and deliver a dynamic daily, weekly and seasonal recreation calendar incorporating sports, fitness, leisure, cultural, family and lifestyle experiences.
• Oversee Kids & Teens Club programming, ensuring activities are creative, age-appropriate, engaging and delivered in accordance with safeguarding and safety standards.
• Create exciting pool, beach, fitness and sports programming, continuously introducing fresh concepts that reflect the destination and the bold, playful spirit of SLS.
• Lead, schedule, train and develop the Recreation team, ensuring exceptional guest engagement, appropriate coverage and consistently high service standards.
• Maintain a strong presence across recreation areas, engaging with guests, monitoring participation and using feedback to continuously evolve the experience.
• Ensure all recreation facilities, activity spaces and equipment are safe, clean, properly maintained and operationally ready at all times.
• Establish and maintain appropriate health, safety, child safeguarding, emergency and risk-management procedures across all recreation activities.
• Plan and coordinate special events, tournaments, themed activities, holiday programs and family experiences in collaboration with other hotel departments.
• Partner with Marketing and operational teams to effectively communicate and integrate recreation programming into the wider SLS guest experience.
• Manage departmental staffing, expenses, equipment, inventory and purchasing in line with operational requirements and approved budgets.
• Coordinate external instructors, suppliers and third-party activity providers, ensuring all partners meet required service, safety and brand standards.
• Maintain accurate schedules, participation records, inspections, incident reports, training records and departmental documentation.
• Ensure compliance with SLS standards, hotel policies and applicable health, safety, security and local regulatory requirements.

Qualifications

• Diploma or degree in Hospitality, Recreation Management, Sports Management, Physical Education or a related discipline is preferred.
• Minimum 4–5 years of recreation experience, including at least 2 years in a managerial or senior supervisory role, ideally within a luxury hotel or resort.
• Strong experience managing resort recreation programming, including Kids Club, sports, fitness, pool and beach activities.
• Demonstrated knowledge of child safeguarding, activity safety, risk management and age-appropriate programming.
• Creative mindset with the ability to develop engaging programs and experiences that drive guest participation.
• Strong leadership experience with the ability to train, coach, schedule and motivate a multicultural team.
• Excellent organizational skills with the ability to oversee multiple facilities, activities and operational priorities simultaneously.
• Energetic, engaging and guest-focused, with strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Experience managing budgets, purchasing, inventory, suppliers and third-party activity providers.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office and relevant hotel or recreation operating systems.
• Excellent English communication skills; Arabic and additional languages are advantageous.
• Flexibility to work shifts, weekends and public holidays in line with resort operations and programming.