Community Engagement Manager

We’re partnering with a client championing one of the fastest-growing sports in the country - Padel! With ten clubs already open and significant expansion planned, this is a brand scaling quickly and ambitiously. Their goal is clear: to build the UK’s best padel clubs - not just in facilities, but in community, culture and overall experience. As they grow, execution at club level becomes critical. This hire will be central to making every launch and every club a success.

Title: Community Engagement Manager
Location: London (Clapham Junction + club sites)
Salary: £35,000–£40,000 DOE
Bonus: Up to 15–20%
Reporting to: CEO / COO

The Opportunity:

This is a highly practical, commercially focused role.

You’ll own club launches, local marketing and performance-driven campaigns across a growing national network. Your job is simple in principle: make sure new clubs open with momentum - and existing clubs keep growing.

This isn’t theory or brand strategy. It’s execution, optimisation and measurable impact.

Responsibilities:

Club Launches (Core Focus)

• Own end-to-end marketing plans for all new club launches
  • Pre-launch awareness and lead generation
  • Launch activation and opening campaigns
  • First 3–6 months of post-launch growth
• Work closely with Operations to ensure seamless execution
• Make sure every club opens with energy, bookings and strong community engagement

Local & Performance Marketing

• Monitor club performance and identify risks or opportunities
• Execute local acquisition campaigns (digital, partnerships, on-site activations)
• Support underperforming clubs with targeted recovery plans
• Build and manage local partnerships with schools, businesses and grassroots groups

Player & Member Communications

• Own player and member communications (email, WhatsApp, in-club messaging)
• Ensure messaging is timely, relevant and community-driven
• Adapt communications at club level while maintaining brand consistency

Paid Media & Campaign Management

• Plan and manage paid acquisition campaigns alongside the brand team
• Control budgets, track ROI and optimise performance
• Brief and manage agencies where required

Research, Insight & Reporting

• Run player research and feedback initiatives
• Translate insights into practical improvements
• Report clearly on campaign effectiveness and club performance

Club Setup & Digital Presence

• Own the full digital and operational setup for each new club pre-launch
• Set up club-specific email accounts, phone numbers and social pages
• Ensure all clubs are correctly configured across app, booking platform and website
• Maintain accurate information across all digital touchpoints
• Act as the central owner of club digital presence across the network

Candidate Criteria:

• 2+ years’ experience in events, digital, influencer partnerships or community engagement marketing
• Experience launching physical locations or scaling local markets
• Strong project management and organisational skills
• Commercial mindset with a focus on measurable outcomes
  

Nice to have:

• Background in hospitality, leisure, fitness, retail or sport
• Experience in fast-growing or founder-led businesses
• Passion for padel or community-led brands
  

Desirable Software Knowledge (Not Essential)

• CRM / email platforms (e.g. Mailchimp, HubSpot, Klaviyo)
• Meta Ads Manager / Google Ads
• Google Analytics / GA4
• Booking or membership platforms
• Project management tools (Asana, Monday, Notion)
  

What Success Looks Like

• New clubs open strongly and ramp quickly
• Marketing spend directly links to bookings and court occupancy
• Clubs feel supported and commercially driven
• Player retention and community participation grow steadily

This is a role for someone who enjoys ownership, pace and tangible results.

If it sounds like your kind of challenge, apply now!

If successfully shortlisted, Jordan from Robert Walters will be in touch to further assess suitability and discuss the process thereafter.

Robert Walters Operations Limited is an employment business and employment agency and welcomes applications from all candidates