Job Introduction
Are you passionate about increasing participation in sport and physical activity?
We are seeking an enthusiastic and experienced manager to lead the Medway Sport Development Team and drive forward our ambition to create high-quality, inclusive and accessible sporting opportunities for residents across Medway.
This is an exciting opportunity for an existing Medway Council employee to play a leading role in delivering innovative sports development programmes, increasing participation, generating income and strengthening partnerships that support healthier, more active communities.
About the Role
As Sport Development Manager, you will provide strategic and operational leadership for Medway Sport, ensuring the successful delivery of projects, programmes and events that enable residents to Play, Compete and Spectate.
Working closely with the Development and Delivery Manager, you will be responsible for delivering participation and income targets, managing budgets, developing staff and identifying opportunities to grow sport and physical activity provision both within leisure centres and across community settings.
You will build strong relationships with internal and external partners, securing funding opportunities and ensuring Medway Sport remains at the forefront of community sport and physical activity development.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead and manage the Medway Sport Development Team.
- Develop and deliver sports development projects and programmes.
- Support the achievement of service plan, participation and income targets.
- Manage budgets and ensure effective financial control.
- Identify opportunities to increase participation and generate income.
- Develop and maintain effective partnerships with clubs, schools, governing bodies, community organisations and funding partners.
- Secure external funding to support the delivery of sport and recreation initiatives.
- Ensure exceptional customer service standards are maintained.
- Lead staff performance, training and development, including PDRs.
- Create safe, inclusive and accessible opportunities for all residents.
About You
We are looking for a motivated leader who can demonstrate:
- Experience of managing staff, projects and budgets.
- Knowledge of sport development, physical activity programmes and community engagement.
- A proven track record of achieving targets and delivering successful outcomes.
- Strong partnership and stakeholder management skills.
- Experience of developing funding bids and identifying income generation opportunities.
- Excellent communication, organisational and leadership skills.
- A commitment to inclusion, safeguarding and customer service excellence
The successful post holder will be subject to an Enhanced Children & Adult DBS check.
Interviews will be held on 31st July 2026
If you would like to have an informal discussion with the recruiting manager, please call Tina Spry on 01634 338764
Career Progression Frameworks (CPF) have been introduced for all roles at Medway Council. These frameworks provide a mechanism for employees to take ownership of their development within their post and be rewarded accordingly. The salary you will be offered will be at level A. There will be further opportunity once in post to progress from level A to B, and B to C.
When writing your application, it is important to ensure you identify your suitability against the requirements of the job profile, as this information will be used for shortlisting and may contribute to the CPF assessment. Your application may be rejected if the minimum required criteria is not met. Further information relating to the requirements for this role can be found in the CPF Guidance document attached.
The person specification of a job profile is split into three levels:
Level A details the essential criteria that all applicants must be able to demonstrate through their application and interview.
Level B details the developed competencies that an individual who is practised in this role would be able to demonstrate and will be a progression of knowledge, experience and skills from level A.
Level C requires the highest level of competence and applicants would need to fully meet and demonstrate all aspects of the job profile, including qualifications, knowledge, skills and experience.
Leisure is seeking Sports Development Manager to join the team at level A. This is the entry point of the role, so you will need to be able to demonstrate the relevant knowledge, experience and skills to get you started, but you will be supported to develop in your role through induction, probation and a supportive Performance Appraisal and Career Conversation. All elements of level A listed within the person specification are essential. Through your induction you will be introduced to the Career Progression Framework (CPF), which will help you to identify your areas of strength and any development needs.
Important Information-
- Applicants must be able to demonstrate all criteria at level A which are essential for appointment to the role.
- Medway Council is not able to provide a Certificate of Sponsorship, so candidates must already possess the right to work in the UK.
- For further information, and for details of the benefits of working for Medway Council, please refer to the Medway information pack available as a download or to view online.
- Please be advised that if you are not contacted within 3 weeks of the advert closing date then you have not been shortlisted. All recruitment correspondence, including interview letters and contracts of employment will usually be sent out via email.
- Please note, we prioritise applications from current Medway Council redeployees. We will let you know if this post is to be filled by a redeployee as, in this instance, your application will unfortunately not be taken forward.
- We reserve the right to close this vacancy at any time prior to the closing date.
Please visit http://www.mindfulemployer.net/ for information on how Medway Council put good practices in place to ensure employees and job applicants who declare mental health issues receive the right level of support.
