Careers in Sports and Leisure
At Edinburgh Leisure, we’re all about creating a brilliant place to work, with part-time and full-time leisure jobs in Edinburgh to suit different lifestyles.
We welcome around 5.7 million customers a year at our facilities all across Edinburgh – and every single one of those visits is made better by our team.
Whether you’re happiest by the pool, in the gym, behind a café counter, or leading teams by keeping everything running smoothly, our staff and volunteers are the ones who turn up, get stuck in, and make people glad they came through the door. We’re a supportive, fast-moving team and genuinely enjoy what we do. We give everyone the chance to learn, grow, and feel part of something that matters to the city.
Find out more about our diverse opportunities below!
Venue Operations
Our venue operations roles are at the heart of our busy leisure centres, delivering hands-on service, sparkling spaces, and unforgettable experiences every day.
Whether you’re keeping swimmers safe, greeting visitors with a smile, or maintaining spotless facilities, these roles offer variety and the chance to make a difference. Here's a peek at our most popular roles...
Wet Leisure Attendants: Our lifeguards are the ultimate watchful heroes, ready to dive in and keep everyone safe with a sharp eye and quick reflexes. The role mixes hands-on action: cleaning and polishing the areas, welcoming swimmers with a smile, and being ready for any rescue. It’s never boring – one minute they’re tidying up, the next they might be jumping in for a rescue. They are flexible, helpful, and excellent team players who enjoy chatting with people in a busy pool setting.
Dry Leisure Attendants & Sports Attendants: In the sports halls and dry zones, our Sports and Leisure Attendants whip equipment into shape for games, classes, and events, then pack it away like pros. They deliver top-notch customer service, listening to needs and leaving visitors happy and eager to return. They’re the tidy-up wizards, banishing litter, sprucing toilets and changing rooms, until everything sparkles and is ready for action. Outgoing and reliable, they’re team players who love the energy and variety of busy shifts.
Welcome Hosts: As the cheerful face of our venues, our reception teams greet customers at the door with a warm hello, point the way, and sprinkle a bit of magic to kick off every visit with a bang. They answer questions with a positive attitude, maintain clean and orderly spaces, and help create visits to remember. Vibrant and approachable, they’re people-lovers who thrive on connecting with everyone in a bustling, happy setting.
Catering Assistants: Behind the counter, our café team whips up simple hot bites, cold treats, and steaming drinks, serving them with a side of sunshine. They greet hungry visitors, make them feel right at home, and ensure every nibble is a hit. Keeping the kitchen and seating areas spotless and inviting, they are outgoing, proactive types with bundles of energy, who excel at customer care and enjoy the lively rhythm of food service.
Soft Play Assistants: In the colourful chaos of soft play, our team of playful pros oversees the bounces and giggles, keeping things safe yet wildly fun. They watch over play, lend a gentle hand and chat with kids and parents to enhance the joy. Exceptional customer service means everyone leaves grinning, while they keep every corner impeccably clean. Fun-loving and energetic with a great sense of humour, they create magical moments in this playful, lively area.
Cleaners: Our team of sparkle specialists uphold our shiny reputation, turning venues into gleaming gems – toilets, changing rooms, windows, grounds, the lot. They work during open hours, sharing friendly chats with customers along the way. Our cleaners are diligent, friendly team players who take pride in detail and enjoy contributing to a welcoming community hub.
Gym Instructors: Our gym team delivers lively programmes with energy and engagement, offers tips and motivation, and ensures safe, enjoyable workouts for all. From grown-ups to juniors, they spark exciting sessions that build skills and confidence. Warm and chatty with a true fitness passion, they create a supportive atmosphere that’s as uplifting as a perfect squat.
Operations Supervisors: In the heart of our busy leisure centres, our supervisors keep the wheels turning, oversee shifts, support the staff, and provide standout customer service. They lead the team with a cool head and a kind heart and handle both smooth situations and challenges with care and confidence. Confident yet caring communicators, they’re natural guides who love the thrill of a fast-paced leadership role
Seasonal Roles
From April to September our golf courses come alive, while during school holidays our holiday club crew brings bursts of energy to the kids’ clubs.
These seasonal roles offer flexible hours, fresh air, and the satisfaction of making summers unforgettable for golfers and children alike.
Assistant Greenkeepers: keep Edinburgh Leisure’s golf courses in top shape and welcoming for all. They mow, tidy, and nurture every fairway, green, and path so golfers can enjoy a perfect round in beautiful surroundings. From maintaining beautiful landscapes to supporting community events, they make sure our outdoor spaces into places where people can relax, connect and enjoy a great game of golf!
Golf Welcome Hosts: As the first friendly face golfers see, our Welcome Hosts make every visit easy and enjoyable. They handle bookings, answer questions, and keep the clubhouse buzzing with a warm, welcoming vibe.
Holiday Club Leaders – The fun-makers who transform school holidays into action-packed adventures for kids. They run safe, lively sessions full of sports, games, crafts, and themed activities that spark laughs and new friendships. Every holiday becomes a chance for the kids to discover new skills, explore their imagination, and leave saying, ‘That was the best day ever!’
Support Services
Based in our Head Office at Meadowbank Sports Centre, our support services teams are the behind-the-scenes stars who keep the whole operation ticking smoothly and successfully.
From solving customer queries, maintaining facilities, managing finances, or looking after our people, these roles offer variety and the pride of supporting something that matters to Edinburgh.
Customer Service: Our Customer Service and accounts team are the friendly problem-solvers everyone relies on. Whether it’s answering calls, replying to emails, or sorting queries face-to-face, they listen carefully, fix things fast, and leave customers feeling heard and happy. Calm under pressure, big on helpfulness, and brilliant at turning a question into a smile.
Bookings & Events: These are the organisers who make things happen. From birthday parties and corporate hires to big swim galas, they juggle bookings, liaise with customers, and keep events running like clockwork. Super-organised, great on the phone, and always ready with a “yes, we can make that work” attitude.
Learning & Development: These are the talent-boosters who help everyone level up. They design and deliver training – from compliance courses to leadership workshops – with energy and practical know-how that’s practical, fun, and actually useful. Patient, encouraging, and genuinely passionate about seeing people grow, they’re the ones who turn “good” into “great”.
Facilities Management: The behind-the-scenes experts who keep all venues safe, warm, and working perfectly. Boilers, lights, roofs, climbing walls – they plan the maintenance, sort the emergencies, and keep everything safe and ready for action. Practical, proactive, and proud to keep the show on the road, every single day.
Finance: Our number wizards who keep the pennies in perfect order. Paying bills, chasing invoices, budgeting for new projects – they crunch the numbers so the rest of us can concentrate on the fun stuff. Sharp-eyed, friendly, and always happy to explain the figures in plain English when the rest of us need a hand.
Funding: The grant-hunting, partnership-building dynamos who bring in extra money to keep fees low and programmes growing. They write bids, meet funders, and celebrate every “yes”. Determined, persuasive, and genuinely excited when new funding means more people can get active.
Marketing & Sales: The storytellers and crowd-pullers who let Edinburgh know what’s on. Social media posts that stop the scroll, posters that catch the eye, membership campaigns that fill classes – they tell our story with flair and pull in the crowds. Creative, energetic, and brilliant at turning “I might go” into “I’m definitely booking”.
IT: Our tech lifesavers who keep screens going, Wi-Fi flying, and systems humming. When the printer throws a tantrum or the network slows down, they swoop in, fix it fast, and explain it without the jargon. Calm, quick-thinking, and always one upgrade ahead.
HR: The people team who look after the people. Recruiting new stars, sorting payroll, supporting everyone through the ups and downs – they do it all with warmth and fairness. Approachable confidants, policy ninjas, and proper champions for keeping Edinburgh Leisure a great place to be every single day.
Health & Wellbeing: The friendly champions who get Edinburgh moving in all the best ways. They design and deliver programmes that bring exercise, confidence, and fun to people who need it most – from gentle sessions for older adults to community walks and health referrals. Out in neighbourhoods or partnering with GPs and charities, they’re warm, motivating, and brilliant at turning “I can’t” into “Look at me go!”
Health & Safety: The guardian angels who keep everyone safe without killing the fun. They’re the ones checking risk assessments, running safety drills, investigating bumps and bruises, and making sure every pool, gym, and play area is as safe as it is exciting. Calm, thorough, and quietly heroic – they spot the hazards so the rest of us can focus on the high-fives.
Coaching Roles
We’re the largest provider of sports coaching in the city and are always looking for enthusiastic people to spread the joy of movement across Edinburgh.
Being a coach with Edinburgh Leisure opens up a world of opportunities, whether you’re looking to build a full-time career, gain experience alongside other commitments, or simply share your passion for sport.
We deliver coaching across multiple sports, but we have six priority sports where we focus on providing high-quality coaching and development opportunities.
We offer a range of coaching roles, from permanent full-time positions to flexible part-time and casual opportunities, allowing you to shape your career to fit your lifestyle. Our coaching programme is built on a shared passion for inspiring and developing people of all ages and abilities.
Swim Teachers: They keep the fun flowing while turning wobbly paddles into powerful strokes and nervous smiles into proud grins. Patient and encouraging, they make lessons feel like playtime and help every swimmer find their rhythm in the water.
Required Qualification-Scottish Swimming Teaching Qualification (SSTQ)
Gymnastics Coaches: The upbeat spark behind every cartwheel and bounce, our gymnastics coaches mix high energy with patient guidance. Energetic and supportive, they help every participant discover their strength, their balance, and their love for movement.
Required Qualifications-Scottish Coaching Certificate (SCC) Level 1 in Gymnastics Coaching in one of the following disciplines: General, Women’s Artistic, Men’s Artistic, Trampoline, or Preschool and/or Gymnastics Activity Instructor (GAI)
Climbing Instructors: Calm hands and steady voices at the wall, our climbing instructors help beginners take their first steps off the ground and coach climbers to reach new heights. From teaching technique to cheering on that final reach, they make every climb feel safe, fun and full of achievement.
Required Qualifications-Rock Climbing or Climbing Wall Instructor qualifications
Tennis Coaches: The game-changers who will help you turn from ‘I will never be able to hit that’ into ‘I aced it!’. They bring expertise and encouragement into every session, helping players of all ages and abilities to build skills and confidence. Whether on sunny courts or under the lights, they inspire progress, teamwork and that unmatched feeling of ‘smashing your goals’!
Required Qualifications-Lawn Tennis Association (LTA) Level 1 Assistant and an up-to-date LTA Coach Accreditation.
Athletics Coaches:
The pacesetters who light up the track with enthusiasm – coaching technique, cheering every finish line, and inspiring athletes of all abilities. Patient motivators with a sharp eye for form, they make speed and strength feel achievable for everyone.
Required Qualifications - UKA Coaching Assistant or a SCQF Level 5 in Sports Leadership.
Diving Coaches: Masters of the perfect entry, our diving coaches guide every twist and tuck with calm expertise. They build trust splash by splash, keep safety rock-solid, and turn tentative toes-on-the-board into bold, graceful dives that earn big cheers.
Required Qualifications -Scottish Swimming Coaching Qualification (SSCQ) in Diving.
Multi-sports Coaches: The fun-jugglers who switch seamlessly between sports to keep everyone hooked. Our multi-sports coaches create lively sessions bursting with variety – from relays to ball games – building coordination, confidence, and friendships along the way.
Required Qualifications-SCQF Level 5 in Sports Leadership.
Sports Trainee Programmes
Looking to turn your passion for sports into a career? Our Sports Coaching & Teaching Trainee Programmes might be for you.
We offer opportunities for anyone, regardless of age, or prior experience, to become a qualified coach or teacher with us. You will be paid while you train, depending on the sport, you can expect a minimum of 7.5 hours per week, up to 25. Through expert guidance, hands-on experience, and industry-recognised qualifications, we’ll support you every step of the way.
