Sports development officer jobs in manchester, greater manchester
We help young people to build life-long belief in themselves, supporting them to take on their own challenges, follow their own passions and discover talents they never knew they had. Because when you prove yourself that you’re ready for anything nothing can hold you back.
Do you want to be part of that?
The Operations Officer will lead the development of a new licence-based partnership opportunity, which will support the DofE’s engagement of NGBs. This role will also support the engagement of NGBs as partners across the UK. This work contributes to the DofE’s commitment to improve access to meaningful activities for young people doing their DofE.
Whilst delivering this project, you will work alongside 4 other Operations Officers within the AAP team, who each manage a varied portfolio of AAPs for each Section of the DofE Award. You will also work closely with a Project Manager within the Strategic Programmes team to deliver this project. The role will be field-based, and applicants will work from home most of the time. This role will involve some travel to attend field-based meetings when necessary.
What we are looking for:
We are looking to recruit a dynamic, proactive, and effective team player to join the Approved Activity Provider Team. The post holder will report to the UK Operations Manager (Approved Activity Providers) and will be responsible for supporting the delivery of a project to improve DofE participant’s access to meaningful physical activity within National Governing Bodies (NGBs).
You will be a passionate advocate for the work of the DofE and be driven to realise the DofE’s strategic ambition to give more than one million young people the chance to participate in our life-changing programmes, over the next five years.
A full job description can be viewed below
This position is a 2 years fixed term contract 21 Hours per week
What will you get in return?
The opportunity to work for a successful and dynamic charity that has the development of young people at its heart and the wellbeing and development of its people constantly in focus.
You will be joining a team of empowered colleagues working together.
From day one we offer excellent staff benefits including a competitive salary, generous pension, 25 days holiday plus bank holidays and 3 days paid director days over the Christmas shutdown, volunteering days, Healthcare cash plan, employee assistance programme and an extensive online training programme, plus many more.
How to apply:
If you think you have the desired skills and experience, then please apply online. As part of the application process, you will be expected to complete a statement of suitability and answer competency-based questions relevant to the role to help us assess your application.
Closing Date: 18th May -Midnight
First Interviews: Friday 6th June – To be held virtually by MS Teams
Second interviews: 12th and 13th June - To be held virtually by MS Teams
If you would like to access the application form in a different format or if would like any assistance that might help improve your experience while completing the application, please contact us.
The DofE are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of young people. All successful applicants will be required to undergo an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service check. (e.g. DBS/PVG or similar), including references covering any gaps of employment/education, confirm eligibility to work in the UK and complete a health check.
**The geographical allowance is based on a member of staff having a home or office-based postcode within 30 miles (as the crow flies) from Charing Cross, WC2N 5HS. The allowance is 7% capped at £4,000 per annum.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
We are looking to appoint an exceptional individual to join our team of six Strategic Partnership Advisors across England. In this role, you will support key partners, including Active Partnerships, National Governing Bodies of Sport, local authorities, and leisure providers to become more effective in their role of enabling more disabled people to be active.
You will possess a strong understanding of the sport and activity sector, including its operations, and be able to advocate for improvements that help more disabled people become active. Additionally, you will be aware of the broader systems and barriers that disabled people encounter in sports and activities, as well as organisations such as disabled people’s user-led organisations and various charities, to build relationships and foster effective cross-sector partnerships.
We are looking for an individual with experience of working strategically at a place based and/or locality level within the South West region. Someone who can positively influence local developments, systems and investments to tackle the inequalities disabled people face in sport and activity through inclusive practice.
The successful candidate will work remotely from home and be based in the South West region. This role will involve travel across the region and occasional travel to our Loughborough and Manchester offices.
This role is full-time (36 hours) and permanent.
We offer 26.5 days of annual leave, including birthday leave, plus bank holidays. Activity Alliance also closes between Christmas and New Year which means that employees are not expected to work during this time and they are not required to use their annual leave allowance to have this time free from work.
Activity Alliance currently offers the following benefits:
- Hybrid working
- Time off in lieu
- A contributory pension scheme (employee 6%, employer 9%)
- Childcare vouchers
- Cycle to work scheme
- Eye care
- Employee engagement initiatives such as away days
- Access to Employee Assistance Programme
- Menopause policy
- Enhanced sickness pay
- Group Income Protection
- Death in service
- Training and development opportunities
Our vision is a future where all disabled people feel they belong in sports and activities.




The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Celebrity Officer.
Salary: c£30,300 per annum.
Location: Remote.
Contract: Fixed term Contract-12 months – 35 hours per week.
Benefits:
- 29 days annual leave PLUS bank holidays, with up to 5 additional days for continuous service and option to buy or sell leave.
- Gain professional qualifications and excellent training/development opportunities.
- Flexible maternity, adoption, and paternity packages.
- Pension with up to 7% employer contribution with included life assurance cover.
- Staff discount portal and Blue Light Card eligibility with 15,000 national retailer's discounts.
Why Action for Children?
Working here is more than a job. Everyone in the Action for Children family is passionate about protecting and supporting children. It is the sense of purpose that drives us every single day. Because we know that, when we work together, we can make a huge difference to bring lasting improvements to vulnerable children's lives.
A bit about the role
Do you have a passion for making a different and a flair for working with high profile personalities? Then join us in the celebrity team at Action for Children where you will be collaborating with incredible celebrity ambassadors and supporters who are dedicated to amplifying our message and helping us to raise vital funds.
As Celebrity Officer, you will plan, research, and deliver on sourcing celebrities, artists, sports people, and influencers to take part in Action for Children campaigns, events, and media to maximise our reach, reputation, and drive income.
How you'll help to create brighter futures
- Identifying, recruiting, and nurturing a wide range of celebrities, sports people, artists, and influencers to support and host major fundraising events, increase awareness, and deliver our income goals.
- Respond to celebrity requests from across the organisation, providing recommendations, advice and fulfilling signed off briefs.
- Keeping an eye on the celebrity world for new potential celebrity supporters.
- Collaborate with teams across Action for Children to develop innovative ideas and creative opportunities.
- Write high quality briefings and pitches to secure support from celebrities, sports people, artists, and influencers.
- Collaborate with representatives from the PR team to develop communication plans which optimise celebrity support.
Let's talk about you
- Preferred professional qualification in Journalism/PR or equivalent experience.
- Proven experience and success in working with celebrities, sports people, artists and influencers and their agents to secure high level support for charity campaigns and events.
- Excellent oral and written communication skills, and excellent attention to detail.
- Excellent planning, organisation, and project management skills.
- Excellent news sense and awareness of changing landscape for people in the public eye.
- Adaptable and able to work under pressure.
- Highly creative with a flair for innovation and forward thinking.
Please see the Job Description for the full list of accountabilities and requirements.
Find us on X, Linkedin, Facebook or YouTube to get to know us better.
Closing Date: Wednesday 14th May 2025.
Interviews will be week commencing 26th May 2025.
Please note we are unable to offer visa sponsorship for this role.
Diversity, equality, and inclusion
At Action for Children, we're dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace.
We actively encourage applications from Black, Asian & Minority Ethnic, and disabled candidates as they are under-represented within Action for Children. We want to take deliberate and purposeful action to ensure equal opportunity to all groups in society and for Action for Children.
Want to know more about Action for Children?
Find us on X, Linkedin, Facebook or YouTube to get to know us better.
Our vision is that every child and young person has a safe and happy childhood, and the foundations they need to thrive.
We are a small but mighty team, with huge ambitions to transform more lives of those who live with an intellectual disability, through the power of sport.
If you are just looking for a job, then we are probably not for you. However, if you are an experienced Corporate Partnerships Manager with a track record of driving high-value, purpose-driven partnerships that create lasting impact and you are looking for a challenge, a chance to make a huge difference and you want to be part of a high performing team which gets things done, then we would like to hear from you.
We continue to be focused on our vision to create an inclusive world for all, driven by the power of sport, through which people with intellectual disabilities live active, healthy and fulfilling lives. We are a small, but growing, team with huge ambitions, and applicants must be comfortable operating in an environment where working under your own initiative is expected and encouraged.
We are looking for people who are passionate about Special Olympics and are completely aligned with our values. We are authentic. We act with honesty, integrity and respect. We are creative and innovative. We love to embrace difference and doing things differently. We are brave, courageous, resilient and determined. We listen and are led by the voice of our athletes. We are always kind. We are Inclusion in Action.
We are continuing to build a high-performing team who care for each other and care about our cause. Our athletes are incredibly inspirational, courageous and insightful people, and they deserve a team who are equally committed and passionate about our mission.
How to Apply
To apply, please send a covering letter (maximum 2 pages) explaining why you wish to work for Special Olympics GB. It is important that all prospective employees understand our mission and are driven by our cause. Please be specific about how your skills and experience will help you undertake this role. Generic letters and agency approaches will not be considered. Please also include your CV.
For Job Role specifics please see the Job Description.
Closing date for applications is 11/05/25.
First stage interviews will be held w/c 19/05/25.
Special Olympics GB is committed to equality and diversity and encourages all sections of the community, particularly those living with a disability, who meet the job requirements to apply. We are a Disability Confident Employer.
The job holder will need to provide evidence of their ability to live and work in the UK and will be required to undertake a DBS check.
We will only contact those who have been selected for interview.
We request no contact from agencies.
We are Special Olympics GB. We are Inclusion in Action.




The University of Manchester is part of the prestigious Russell Group of universities and highly respected across the globe as a centre of teaching excellence and research innovation and discovery.
With 25 Nobel Prize winners among our current and former staff and students, we have a history of world firsts, with our impact ranging from splitting the atom to giving the world graphene.
Our purpose is to advance education, knowledge and wisdom for the good of society, putting our three core goals of research and discovery, teaching and learning, and social responsibility at the heart of everything we do.
As Head of Supporter Engagement, you will provide University-wide leadership to develop, plan and implement sector-leading fundraising and supporter engagement strategies, policies and programmes – with a particular focus on Regular and Leadership giving (<£10k), Legacy Fundraising, and ensuring an exceptional prospect and donor experience for donors giving at all levels.
As the senior lead for the key public-facing aspects of our fundraising programme, you’ll be accountable for the performance of key fundraising streams. You’ll work closely with internal and external stakeholders to ensure that strategies and operational plans are in line with institutional needs. You’ll support and inspire your team to deliver ambitious targets. And you will provide support and strategic guidance to University leaders, academics, and colleagues across the University.
You’ll also be a member of our Development Leadership Team (DLT), meaning that you will play a significant role in our success across the whole fundraising mix. The transformation enabled by the launch of our first university-wide fundraising and volunteering campaign will provide further opportunities for your role to evolve during the campaign’s public phase.
This is an excellent opportunity for a motivated individual looking to advance their career in a collaborative and forward-thinking environment.
As Head of Supporter Engagement, you will undertake a range of activities commensurate with the grading and responsibility of the post. This includes:
- Lead the strategic planning for the Supporter Engagement team (currently Donor Experience, Regular and Leadership Giving, and Legacy Fundraising), working with area leads to translating business objectives into clear operational plans.
- Take overall responsibility for the development and leadership of strategic supporter journeys for key campaign audiences, and coordinate communications planning across the Division.
- Lead your team to conceptualise, plan and deliver communications, events, products and experiences that deliver strategic objectives, working collaboratively with colleagues across DDAR and the wider University.
- Proactively identify ways for Supporter Engagement activity to support and complement major and transformational fundraising.
- Identify and leverage opportunities to use university-wide communications and events to support fundraising success.
- Work to embed a culture of philanthropy across the whole institution, ensuring that the relationships, systems and products are in place to involve students and staff in fundraising.
- Be the University’s subject matter expert for your areas of responsibility, providing support and consultancy to senior colleagues, including University Executive members.
- Represent the interests of the Division at University-wide strategy groups and committees as required.
- Oversee financial planning and resource allocation across the Supporter Engagement team.
- Monitor performance across your areas of responsibility, motivating and inspiring your team members to deliver ambitious goals, supporting their development, and embedding a high-performance culture.
- Take shared responsibility for the overall leadership of the fundraising programme as a member of the Development Leadership Team (DLT).
- Be a proactive and visible leader across the Division and wider University.
- Actively contribute to the sector through thought leadership, representing the University at conferences and other sector meetings.
- Role model and embed the “Manchester Mindset” and embody the values and culture of the University and DDAR within your working practice and relationships.
Essential knowledge, skills and experience
- Experience of leading significant mass participation fundraising, legacy, and donor experience programme(s) in the higher education or charitable sector.
- A well-developed understanding of the fundraising mix, and the principles and processes that underpin fundraising success at all levels.
- Experience of developing and delivering strategies to achieve business objectives.
- Strong people leadership skills, with the ability to inspire and motivate cross-cutting teams to deliver exceptional work.
- Outstanding written and oral communication skills with experience of translating complex information into effective, persuasive and clear language for a variety of purposes.
- Proven experience of policy development and negotiation.
- Experience of working with a wide range of colleagues from a variety of disciplines across a large and complex organisation and providing consultancy and support to senior colleagues on a specialised area of expertise.
- Experience of effectively managing budgets.
- Excellent project management skills.
- Outstanding interpersonal skills with the necessary listening, facilitation and negotiation skills to represent the University at the highest levels, coupled with the highest levels of tact and discretion required to deal with highly confidential information.
- Enthusiasm and energy to act proactively, and the initiative, drive and commitment to work individually when required.
- A genuine belief in the world-changing power of higher education.
- Willingness to work outside normal office hours as required.
Desirable knowledge, skills and experience
- Experience of fundraising from diverse international audiences and designing strategies to meet their needs.
As one of the leading Universities our employees enjoy exclusive access to excellent benefits and schemes including:
- Generous annual leave allowance, including Christmas/New Year closure
- Pension scheme membership to provide benefits for you and your family
- Well-being programme with counselling, fitness and leading sports facilities
- Learning and development opportunities
- Season ticket loans for public transport
- Cycle to Work Scheme
- Workplace nursery scheme
- Staff recognition schemes
- Staff discounts on a range of products and services including travel and high street savings
Closing date: 9 May 2025.
As an equal opportunities employer we welcome applicants from all sections of the community regardless of gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation and transgender status. All appointments will be made on merit.
Our University is positive about flexible working – you can find out more here
Blended working arrangements may be considered
Please note that we are unable to respond to enquiries, accept CVs or applications from Recruitment Agencies.
This vacancy will close for applications at midnight on the closing date.