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- Tasks: Lead the strategic delivery of Active Cheshire's Playing our Part Strategy and drive impactful change.
- Company: Join Active Cheshire, a value-driven organisation focused on inclusivity and health.
- Benefits: Enjoy competitive salary, 28 days leave, hybrid work, and personal development opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in communities by promoting active lifestyles and tackling health inequalities.
- Qualifications: Proven leadership, strategic thinking, and relationship-building skills required.
- Other info: Collaborative environment with strong support for personal and professional growth.
The predicted salary is between 36000 - 60000 £ per year.
Please read all of the information provided here. Applications that do not include a CV and Covering Letter (as described in the 'How to Apply' section) will be disregarded.
About this role
The Head of Strategy (Mat. Cover) is core and central to the delivery of Active Cheshire's Playing our Part Strategy. Your visionary leadership will drive forward resources and relationships required to implement the strategies co-create phase, and transition in our co-design phase. You will ensure maximum impact from our strategy is seen across our strategic priorities and enablers, ultimately delivering upon our strategic outcomes.
As an accomplished communicator, joiner of dots, relationship maker and inspiring leader, you will lead the strategic oversight of key project work, including, but not limited to, Sport England's Place Partnership. You will ensure all reporting and reconciliation requirements are met and translated into usable insight for colleagues and partners. Your work will be across the full scope of Active Cheshire's priorities, having sight of the team's direction and partnerships. Your knowledge of wider political, policy and strategy will be the bedrock of your decision making, seeking alignment to local, regional and national plans at every turn. Most importantly, you'll have a clear vision of what an active Cheshire and Warrington looks like, and what needs to change and be implemented in order for our least active communities to become active.
About Active Cheshire
Active Cheshire is a value-led organisation that lives and breathes our core values of: Inclusivity, Collaboration, Integrity, Passion, Innovation. Our vision is to see more people, more active, more often living longer, happier, healthier lives. We will connect sport, physical activity and movement opportunities across Cheshire & Warrington to provide fairer and greater access for all, whilst tackling health inequalities. As a funded Sport England System Partner, we will lead the physical activity system across Cheshire & Merseyside.
Nature & Scope
Working closely with the CEO, Senior Leadership Team and Board of Trustees to deliver the Active Cheshire Playing our Part Strategy, communicate our impact and lead a strong and dedicated internal and external workforce to remove barriers to an active life for our least active communities.
Accountabilities (not exhaustive)
- Lead the successful delivery of the Playing our Part Strategy
- Successful conclusion to Strategy's Co-design Phase, and implement the initiation of the Co-delivery phase taking an evidence-based approach
- Lead the relationship with Sport England regarding our System Partner status and other related funding streams, ensuring all reporting requirements are met
- Ensure Active Cheshire is well regarded as a System Partner through proactive relationship management, including a detailed understanding of the Sport England delivery model for Active Partnerships beyond the current funding period
- Lead the strategic direction of the Sport England funded Place Partnerships for Cheshire & Warrington (Build. Move. Thrive.) and ensure the successful transition through the development and full award phases.
- Promote strategic alignment across System Partners to ensure collaborative opportunities for investment and seek to address underlying ways of working, aligned to conditions for change.
- Seek relationship and partnership opportunities locally, regionally and nationally which will maximise the impact of our work
- Co-ordinate the work of the Active Cheshire team, promoting autonomy yet holding accountability, to ensure alignment of purpose to the Strategy's key deliverables, priorities and outcomes
- Prepare internal and external reports on the work, progress and impact of the Strategy for the CEO, Board and Partners
- Work closely with the CEO to position physical activity positively within the new Combined Authority for Cheshire and Warrington.
- Work closely with the head of data and insight, consultants and data partners to understand strategic progress to work out strategic direction
Relationships
You will work collaboratively with stakeholders to lead the physical activity system in Cheshire and Warrington.
Impact
You will provide strategic leadership across the Active Cheshire team and beyond to allow people to lead longer, happier, healthier lives by increasing participation in physical activity. You will find a place for physical activity both within the prevention and treatment agenda of health care provision and seek consensus from strategic partners as to how best to remove or reduce health inequalities through fairer access to physical activity opportunities.
Person Specification
The skills and attributes outlined in this description are not exhaustive and we welcome candidates who can bring different relevant experiences to the role.
Skills & experience
Essential- Strategic thinker and joiner of dots
- A natural collaborator and relationship builder
- An established and accomplished leader of people, strategy and systems
- Proactive innovator
- Ability to keep one eye on the big picture and one on the fine detail
- An exceptional listener and reflector
- Knowledge of Sport England System Partnerships, Place Partnerships and Investment priorities
- Working knowledge and experience of systems-based monitoring, evaluation and learning
- Ability to interpret data and insight, and formulate needs-based action
- Strong communication skills
- Senior leadership experience
- Experience working with Community and Local Trusted Organisations
- Project (develop and design) management experience
- Experience of commissioning high-quality, high-value projects, including physical activity delivery, systems leadership and research and evaluation
What can we offer to you
- Competitive salary in line with market expectations, regularly reviewed and benchmarked
- 28 days annual leave and a hybrid working policy
- 5% contribution to Company Pension Scheme, and an extensive BUPA Employee Assistance Program (EAP) providing 24/7 immediate support
- 4x Life cover for death in service
- Wellbeing support through Wellonomics
- Personalised development programmes for all members of staff
How to Apply
Active Cheshire is a 'Disability Confident' and 'Mindful Employer' and as such we commit to offering an interview to disabled people who meet the minimum criteria for the job. Our recruitment processes comply with the Equalities Act, and people who have or are experiencing mental ill health will not be discriminated against. Should you wish to have a confidential conversation with us about this vacancy prior to applying, please contact Amber Lomax or Mike Watson.
To apply for this role, please send a CV and covering letter detailing how your skills and experience make you an appropriate candidate for this role and enter HOS-AC26 in the subject line. The deadline for applications is 12th February at 12 noon. Interviews for the post will be held on Wednesday 24th February at Active Cheshire, Wyvern House, The Drumber, Winsford, CW7 1AU.
Head Of Strategy employer: Active Cheshire
Contact Detail:
Active Cheshire Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head Of Strategy
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Reach out to people in your industry, attend events, and connect with potential colleagues on LinkedIn. The more relationships you build, the better your chances of landing that Head of Strategy role.
✨Tip Number 2
Prepare for interviews by researching Active Cheshire's values and strategies. Show us how your vision aligns with our mission to create a more active community. Tailor your responses to highlight your strategic thinking and leadership skills.
✨Tip Number 3
Practice your communication skills! As an accomplished communicator, you’ll need to convey your ideas clearly and inspire others. Consider mock interviews with friends or mentors to refine your delivery and boost your confidence.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to follow up after interviews! A simple thank-you email can leave a lasting impression. Reiterate your enthusiasm for the role and remind us why you’re the perfect fit for leading our strategy at Active Cheshire.
We think you need these skills to ace Head Of Strategy
Some tips for your application 🫡
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Make sure it reflects your passion for the role and how your experience aligns with our vision at Active Cheshire. Don’t just repeat your CV; tell us why you’re the perfect fit!
Tailor Your CV: We want to see how your skills and experiences relate specifically to the Head of Strategy role. Highlight relevant achievements and use keywords from the job description to catch our eye. A tailored CV shows you’ve done your homework!
Be Clear and Concise: When writing your application, clarity is key. Use straightforward language and keep your sentences concise. We appreciate well-structured applications that are easy to read and get straight to the point.
Apply Through Our Website: Make sure to submit your application through our website as instructed. This helps us keep everything organised and ensures your application gets the attention it deserves. Plus, it’s super easy!
How to prepare for a job interview at Active Cheshire
✨Know Your Strategy Inside Out
Before the interview, make sure you thoroughly understand Active Cheshire's Playing our Part Strategy. Familiarise yourself with its goals, key priorities, and how it aligns with local and national plans. This will help you demonstrate your strategic thinking and show that you're genuinely invested in the role.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Head of Strategy, you'll need to exhibit strong leadership qualities. Prepare examples from your past experiences where you've successfully led teams or projects. Highlight your ability to inspire others and drive collaboration, as these are crucial for this role.
✨Build Relationships Before You Even Start
Networking is key! If possible, reach out to current or former employees of Active Cheshire to gain insights into their culture and values. This will not only help you tailor your responses but also show your proactive approach to relationship building.
✨Prepare Insightful Questions
At the end of the interview, you'll likely have the chance to ask questions. Prepare thoughtful queries about the organisation's future direction, challenges they face, or how they measure success. This shows your genuine interest and strategic mindset, making you stand out as a candidate.
