Active Leeds Development Officer (Localities) x2

Get Set Leeds Project (Sport England Place-based Working)

As a Development Officer, you'll thrive on working with population groups that are less active, managing co-produced projects and exploring innovative ideas, turning them into practical solutions. Working across priority wards, you'll collaborate with partners and residents to design and deliver impactful, community-led initiatives that meet their local needs. The overall aim is to decrease inactivity levels by creating environments to maintain healthy lifestyles.

Location: John Charles Centre for Sport, Leeds, West Yorkshire, LS11 5DJ

Organisation: Leeds City Council Active Leeds

Salary: PO1 £38,220 - £40,777

Hours: Full Time

Contract: Fixed term 2-year contract (up to March 2028); secondment opportunity would be considered with line manager approval

About the role:

The Development Officer role will become part of a team that works with local residents in priority wards, focusing on where health inequalities are the greatest to build capacity and capabilities. Fundamental to these roles are the Get Set Leeds ways of working - building trusted long-term relationships, having shared co-production principles, being visible and connected to a place; actively listening and engaging with communities, and harnessing community voice to bring about change.

The postholder will work in partnership with locally trusted organisations, council departments, schools, and other stakeholders to develop co-produced solutions to increase physical activity opportunities and to ensure sustainability in models of delivery. The Officer will be insight driven and contribute to the effective monitoring and evaluation of the overall Project (based on local evaluation priorities and Sport England's national evaluation and learning process). This will include contributing to the evidence base of how being active / engagement in sport and physical activity can contribute to wider outcomes such as health, economic and social benefits.

About you:

As a Development Officer, you will bring to the role:

• Knowledge & experience of inactivity, health, recreational and sport and physical activity development work
• Experience of working with disadvantaged communities and those underrepresented in sport and physical activity.
• Able to demonstrate excellent organisational skills & able to meet tight deadlines for complex projects
• Able to communicate effectively with a wide range of organisations.

We take pride in offering the best employee experience, with benefits including:

• a competitive salary and annual leave entitlement plus statutory holidays
• membership of the West Yorkshire Pension Fund with generous employer contributions
• flexible and hybrid working arrangements subject to service requirements
• a clear career pathway and continuing professional development opportunities
• a range of staff benefits to help you boost your wellbeing and make your money go further

Eligibility & EEO statement

We welcome applications from everyone and actively seek a diverse range of applicants from all backgrounds and cultures. We particularly encourage applications from, but not limited to, women, carers, veterans as well as LGBT+, ethnically diverse, disabled and care experienced people. This role is based in the UK. Home Office guidance states that candidates must evidence their right to work in the UK prior to commencing employment, either as a UK or Irish citizen, under the EU Settlement scheme or having secured any other relevant work visa. If you do not have the right to work in the UK, you must consider your own eligibility for sponsorship for a particular role through the Skilled Worker visa route before applying. To be eligible for sponsorship you'll usually need to be paid the standard salary rate of at least £41,700 per year or meet one of the other eligibility criteria. Please ensure you are eligible before applying.

Job purpose:

Working as part of a citywide team you will contribute towards the City's ambition of making Leeds the most active big city; ensuring links to relevant local, national and key partner strategies, your focus will be contributing to the delivery of a Sport England programme. You will focus on areas of deprivation and need where health inequalities are greatest and on population groups that are less active e.g. girls and women, lower socio-economic groups, people from ethnic minorities, people with a disability and older people. You will use relevant insight and intelligence to provide clear evidence base for programmes of work and have an understanding of behaviour change models and their application. You will work in partnership with others to ensure sustainability in models of delivery. You will evidence increases in participation and how being active / engagement in sport and physical activity can contribute to wider outcomes such as health, economic and social benefits.

Responsibilities:

• To develop strong and effective working relationships with key stakeholders, partners and other relevant organisations to develop opportunities to increase levels of activity
• To work collaboratively with relevant partners around joint planning / shared objectives; facilitating and coordinating others to engage with the inactive
• To use relevant local and national research, insight and knowledge to develop successful interventions / programmes of work
• To embed models of behaviour change in any interventions / programmes of work
• To produce, deliver and evaluate a measurable annual work programme utilising relevant Management Information Systems
• To establish effective communication mechanisms with relevant stakeholders, partners and community organisations
• To work with evaluation partner(s) to develop data and insight methods to ensure that programmes are having a positive impact.
• To share learning and insight with partners and stakeholders
• Commit to attending training and development about Evaluation and Learning (E&L) and contribute to E&L workshops and partnerships.
• To adopt a community development approach supporting key partners, organisations and groups to develop sustainable models of delivery within local communities
• To work with elected members, service users and community representatives in ways which support open, inclusive, responsive and accountable government.
• Working as a team for Leeds by developing and maintaining good working relationships with internal and external customers, other stakeholders and partners to achieve excellent outcomes for the citizens of Leeds.
• To be accountable for the safety of staff, service users and contractors in accordance with Legislation and the Council Health and Safety Policy.
• To provide appropriate information relating to the work of the Service to Members and council officers to manage risk and support them in their respective roles.
• To be actively involved in effectively preparing and managing budgets and take responsibility where appropriate for assigned budgets.
• As an officer in the Council to work flexibly as required to meet Directorate and Corporate priorities
• To deputise as appropriate and contribute to the development of the service.
• To undertake any other duties which may be assigned from time to time and that are commensurate with the grade of the post.
• To undertake the accountabilities of the post in accordance with council policies including the Safeguarding of Young People and Vulnerable Adults, Equal Opportunities and Health & Safety policies.

Essential requirements:

• Knowledge (extensive) & experience of inactivity, health, recreational and sport and physical activity development work
• Experience of working with disadvantaged communities and those underrepresented in sport and physical activity.