National Cycling Lead

Pay: Circa £53,000 (dependent upon experience)

Hours: Full Time 36.5 hours per week

Contract type: Fixed term contract until 30/11/2025

Location: Home based with national travel

The Active Wellbeing Society (TAWS) is an independent community benefit society which works with some of the poorest communities in Birmingham to improve people’s health and wellbeing through physical activity.

Its mission is to:

Use physical activity, guided by innovation, collaboration and insight, to do the collaborating and development required to create stronger and more resilient communities

The Active Wellbeing Society is a Community Benefit Society, which means that it is controlled by its membership (users, communities, partners and stakeholders) and cannot use surpluses to anything other than community benefit. All assets are “locked” for the benefit of the communities that The Active Wellbeing Society serves. It has charitable purposes and is treated as a charity by HMRC.

The Society was developed out of the successful Wellbeing Service set up by Birmingham City Council in June 2015, it is a public service mutual. It has a track record of innovation, collaboration, citizen engagement and successful delivery, within the Council, and by going independent in 2018, The Active Wellbeing Society was able to build on this foundation and unlock new sources of funding to support its further growth and development.

 Key outcomes for this role:

• Work collaboratively with key stakeholders to develop and secure a national approach to free bikes for those in the most need.
• Develop new cycling business across the UK related to the provision of free bikes- including consultancy, advice and support, as well as creating opportunities to expand the delivery of new community cycling schemes in low-income communities.
• Support the implementation of place based expansion and share the opportunities within the free bikes work as part of helping to build Uniting the Movement.
• Secure new national, regional, and local investment to scale up the free bikes movement across England.
• Amplify the positive outcomes of the free bikes cycling work done to date to partners and key stakeholders/influencers.

MAIN DUTIES

1. Work with key partners including Active Essex, Ealing Borough Council, and Sport England to understand, explain and amplify the benefits and key positive outcomes of the free bikes work done to date. Locate this within opportunities around place based expansion.
2. Develop and oversee a clear comms and marketing strategy for the free bikes work to include stakeholder mapping and a clear understanding of audiences and the bespoke comms and marketing needed for each audience. Ensure that funders and influencers are aware of the scheme and its benefits.
3. Work collaboratively with colleagues (both internally and externally) to collate and amplify the positive stories from the current free bikes provision and evaluation, building a case for the continued investment of this way of working.
4. Collaborate with key partners in the roll out of place based working expansion relating to lessons learnt from the free bikes work, including support and delivery for new areas as they come on board in the expansion timetable.
5. Secure further free bikes schemes across the country, in conjunction with key partners.
6.  Work closely with Department for Transport and ATE to ensure that they are fully aware of and are capitalising on the benefits of the free bikes work.
7. Work with the cycling sector to develop a wider free bikes offer that could include wrap around bike equipment and support (cycling groups etc).
8. Meet regularly with projects on the ground to identify and amplify excellence in delivery. Support the creation of a free bikes community.
9. Work with the funding and development team to ensure all collateral and knowledge is developed and recorded.
10. Manage budgets and resources in line with The Active Wellbeing Society corporate policies and expectations
11. Responsible for line management of staff.
12. Create a community of best practice enabling a full development cycle across free bikes programmes.
13. Link the bikes programme to other The Active Wellbeing Society/Active Essex programmes eg: Work with the funding and development team to ensure all collateral and knowledge is developed and recorded as appropriate, highlighting opportunities for growth in linked The Active Wellbeing Society/Active Essex programmes. 

KNOWLEDGE SKILLS & EXPERIENCE

1. Senior level experience of implementing active travel initiatives.
2. Significant experience of active travel policy development and implementation.
3. Excellent relationship management skills.
4. Significant experience of influencing partners and developing collaborations nationally and regionally.
5. Sector experience around cycling and walking.
6. Senior level networking and partnership working experience.
7. Entrepreneurial skills and awareness.
8. Clear commitment to social justice.

STAFF BENEFITS

We offer our team members a comprehensive staff benefits offering to include:

• Annual Leave – 25 days FTE (increasing to 29 days with service) plus 5 wellbeing days.
• Nest Pension – 8% employer contribution - 3% employee contribution.
• Heath Cash Plan – giving you discounts on everyday healthcare such as dental, optical, physio, prescriptions & more.
•  Cycle to work salary sacrifice scheme.
•  Employee Assistance Programme (counselling and DRs on call 24hrs a day).
• Life Assurance – x4 your salary paid to beneficiary.
• Flexible working.
• Fantastic volunteering opportunities within The Active Wellbeing Society every month.

APPLICATION DETAILS

Please submit a Cover Letter and CV addressing the experience you have had relevant to the 'Main Duties' and the 'Knowledge & Skills' sections of the advert, but as a minimum please address how you meet the the following criteria which will be weighted highly in the first sift of shortlisting:

1. Senior level experience of implementing active travel initiatives.
2. Significant experience of active travel policy development and implementation; sector experience around cycling and walking.
3. Excellent relationship management skills.
4. Significant experience of influencing partners and developing collaborations nationally and regionally.
5. Senior level networking and partnership working experience.
6. Entrepreneurial skills and awareness.
7. Clear commitment to social justice.

Closing date: Sunday 19th November 2023

Interview date: Thursday 30 November 2023

Due to the high numbers of applications we received for our job vacancies, we may close application windows early, so we would encourage you to submit your application ASAP

We will provide all applicants with an outcome on your application, this will usually be within 1 week of the application window closing.

Successful applicants will be required to be DBS checked prior to starting.

Our customers come from all walks of life and so do we, in recruiting for our team we welcome the unique contributions that you can bring. The Active Wellbeing Society is committed to being an equal opportunity employer, we recruit based upon capability and all applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership status, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation. At The Active Wellbeing Society we are searching for people who share the passion for what we do with different backgrounds, perspectives and experiences, collectively making a difference.

If there is anything we can do to assist you in your application or preparations to be interviewed for one of our job vacancies please let us know and we can ensure you have a positive and comfortable experience.

Thank you for your interest in working for The Active Wellbeing Society, we look forward to receiving your application.