Our Values

In line with our One Coventry Values, we want to ensure that our communities are represented across our workforce. A vital part of this is ensuring we are a truly inclusive organisation that encourages diversity in all respects, including diversity of thinking. We particularly welcome applicants from minority ethnic, LGBT+, disabled and neurodiverse communities to make a real difference to our residents so that equity and respect remains at the heart of everything we do. 

Our Values are:

• Open and fair: We are fair, open, and transparent.
• Nurture and develop: We help and encourage everyone to be their best and do their best.
• Engage and empower: We talk and listen to others, working together as one.
• Create and innovate: We embrace new ways of working to continuously improve.
• Own and be accountable: We work together to deliver the best services for our residents.
• Value and respect: We put diversity and inclusion at the heart of all we do.

About the team we are recruiting to

Coventry is the ninth biggest city in England and has ambitious plans to grow its economy, profile and quality of life.  Culture, sport, and events are at the heart of life in our diverse city, bringing people together, celebrating our cultures and heritage and contributing to growth in our visitor economy.

The Culture, Sport and Events (CS&E) Service leads and oversees an ambitious cultural capital investment programme; commissions a diverse range of inclusive community sports and physical activity programmes; and delivers festivals and events rooted in, and reflective of, our vibrant city. The Service supports the development of key sectors through partnerships, strategies, investment, and programmes. 

Coventry is a culturally diverse city that values diverse perspectives and experiences. We are striving to create a workplace culture that is inclusive, is accepting of all and is free from discrimination and bias.

What is the job role?

The Sport and Physical Activity Development Manager is a role within the Culture, Sport and Events Team.  The role will be place based, developmental and rewarding, as Coventry reaches the end of its current ten-year Sports Strategy 2014-2024 and looks forward to a new phase of  development and delivery across the sport, physical activity and wellbeing sectors, as we seek to increase participation and promote equity in sport and physical activity.   

As Development Manager Sport and Physical Activity you will manage the development and implementation of sport, physical activity initiatives, strategies and plans, leading on sports and physical activity programmes and projects and the management of key staff.

A key part of the role will be to develop effective partnerships and lead the continuous development within the sector to promote Sport and Physical Activity access and meet the needs of our diverse communities.  You will be responsible for supporting contract/grant management of leisure services and leading development programmes, with a specific focus on increasing participation, widening inclusion and achieving better outcomes for the local people.  The role will oversee development of new innovations within the sector in a place based systemic approach. You will manage and develop complex stakeholder relationships and represent the Council on regional and local partnerships.

Who are we looking for?

We are looking for a Development Manager who can think strategically; develop, manage and maintain key place based partnerships; develop and maintain strong local governance arrangements; manage a small team of people working across multiple projects with a diverse range of partners; and demonstrate understanding of the lived experiences of diverse cultures across our city.  You should be: 

A Leader – an inclusive leader who values diversity and promotes a culture of respect, with the skills to effectively manage a small team and lead local partnerships, essential programmes and initiatives to facilitate inclusive sector development and promote participation in Sport and Physical Activity.  

An Advocate – with the ability to advocate for key sports, leisure, physical activity and wellbeing projects and initiatives in delivering city priorities, promoting accessibility, tackling inequalities and achieving better outcomes for local people  

Strategic – able to  deliver against the emerging Sport and Physical Activity Strategy, with focus on infrastructure, partnerships and place based programmes to deliver Council priorities and raise the profile of Coventry as an inclusive, active and sporting city and centre for innovation, investment and growth.   

A Collaborator and Enabler – with a good understanding of place-based working; able to manage diverse partnerships and develop appropriate governance arrangements to facilitate delivery of complex development and infrastructure initiatives, projects and programmes for the benefit of local people 

An Organiser and Manager – with  financial and performance management skills; able to analyse and interpret  data and effectively manage contracts, grant-funded programmes and commercial partnerships  

You should have:

• knowledge of the structure and funding of the sports, physical activity and wellbeing sector in the UK, including an understanding of the role of local authorities in working to increase and widen participation in sport and physical activity.
• An excellent understanding of project and programme management, including a sound understanding of project monitoring, appraisal and evaluation systems.
• Experience of managing a small teams, including management of complex partnerships, finance and human resources.
• Experience of delivering partnership strategies and development plans within sport, and physical activity, or related sectors, to successfully promote access and widen participation.
• Experience of preparing funding bids, developing commercial partnerships and/or raising sponsorship to deliver clear priorities.
• A graduate degree in a related discipline OR substantial relevant experience.

Working Patterns and Posts

This is a full-time post, 37 hours per week, with a requirement to work flexibly in relation to hours, including unsociable hours, evenings, weekends and occasional overnight stays.  The role involves attending meetings and events in the Coventry area, with occasional travel within the region and nationally.

For an informal conversation about this challenging and rewarding role, please contact Jonathan Hunt (Head of Sport, Physical Activity and Wellbeing)
at Jonathan.hunt@coventry.gov.uk  

If you need help or support to complete your application, please visit our accessibility page to see how we can assist you.

Guaranteed Interview Scheme - As part of our commitment to inclusion, we offer guaranteed interviews for specific groups of people. To qualify, you'll need to meet the minimum requirements for the role and identify with one of the below criteria:

Members of the Armed Forces and veterans
Are currently in care or have previously been in care
If you consider yourself to be disabled or if you have a long-term health condition

For full details on the application process please read the attached document on our jobs page labelled 'Coventry City Council Application Process'. If there is any evidence of a candidate using AI to complete their application, then the application will be rejected unless the candidate can provide a justification which the Council considers to be reasonable.

Interview date: 30th October 2024

About Coventry

Coventry has a proud, innovative and creative spirit that throughout its history has seen communities come together to tackle problems and bring about real social change.

We are cutting-edge, challenging, youthful, vibrant and diverse.

At Coventry we are committed to excellence in everything we do. With around 5100 staff from a range of different backgrounds, our aim is to recruit and develop talented people who will focus on our customers, take responsibility, work together and find better ways of doing things.

To deliver the best services to our residents, we need the best people working for us to make a difference to our communities.

If you join us, we will provide a fantastic rewards and benefits package - to find out more please visit https://www.coventry.gov.uk/council-vacancies

Coventry City Council