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- Tasks: Lead workforce development and build partnerships in the sport and physical activity sector.
- Company: Join CIMSPA, a leader in professional recognition and skills development.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, travel expenses covered, and opportunities for professional growth.
- Why this job: Make a real impact by connecting employers with skilled talent in your community.
- Qualifications: Experience in partnership management and a passion for workforce development.
- Other info: Remote role with travel across the Midlands and regular office visits.
The predicted salary is between 33800 - 43900 £ per year.
Join our Workforce Development team and play a key role in growing the profile of CIMSPA through professional recognition, partnerships and local skills. You'll lead on delivering local Sport & Physical Activity Skills Plans, build long-term employer relationships, and drive engagement with CIMSPA's professional pathways in your region as part of our UK-wide team. Teamwork, peer learning and innovation are central to successfully delivering against our commercial and Sport England targets.
We're looking for a natural people-connector with strong partnership management experience, commercial acumen, and a deep understanding of the sport and physical activity sector. In this role you'll spend significant time working with our stakeholders and influencing at all levels, supporting employers to develop and recognise their workforce, and driving a more skilled, impactful workforce in the sector.
You’ll have a track record of meeting targets, generating income across multiple revenue streams, and understanding education and workforce development needs. To really thrive in this role, you will be someone who communicates with ease and genuinely connects with people. Extensive travel across the Midlands and regular time at our Loughborough Head Office (expenses covered) are required.
If you’re passionate about workforce development, collaboration, and making a difference, we’d love to hear from you.
Key tasks- Build and maintain strong employer partnerships, using local insight to shape skills plans
- Promote professional recognition and support employers to engage with CIMSPA pathways
- Manage a partner portfolio to retain relationships, grow income, and prevent churn
- Lead workforce planning discussions to understand employer skills needs
- Convert prospective leads into active partners and support effective onboarding with internal teams
- Drive commercial income through partnerships and professional status growth
- Meet set income targets by converting new employers and increasing yield from existing partners
- Support accreditation, reaccreditation and professional status upgrades
- Develop skills development proposals and identify new revenue opportunities
- Lead the development and delivery of local skills plans with regional stakeholders
- Advocate for accredited and endorsed learning across employers and education providers
- Strengthen links between CIMSPA, employers, and education institutions to align skills with workforce needs
- Monitor and report on partnership activity, income performance, and skills plan progress
- Use Dynamics CRM to manage data, track interactions, and support reporting on trends
- Work with Marcomms, accreditation, and education teams to create content, support onboarding, and align development opportunities.
- Represent CIMSPA at events and engage stakeholders through clear, influential communication
Salary: £38,865 per annum
Closing date: Wednesday 18th February 2026 at 9am.
First stage - if successful, video interview submissions will take place and need to be received by Monday 23rd February 2026.
Second stage - if successful, interviews will be held at SportPark, Loughborough University on Wednesday 4th March 2026.
Please note: Using AI to write your cover letter is discouraged, as we want to understand your own voice, experience, and motivation.
This is a remote role with substantial local travel requirements (travel expenses are covered). It will require occasional attendance (approximately every 6 weeks) at CIMSPA's Head Office in Loughborough. Candidates ideally reside within or near the designated areas (Shropshire, Staffordshire, West Midlands, Warwickshire, Leicestershire, Rutland).
Workforce Development Manager (Midlands) in Loughborough employer: CIMSPA
Contact Detail:
CIMSPA Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Workforce Development Manager (Midlands) in Loughborough
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the sport and physical activity sector. Attend local events, join relevant groups, and don’t be shy about reaching out to potential employers on LinkedIn. Remember, it’s all about building those relationships!
✨Tip Number 2
Show off your skills! When you get the chance to chat with employers, make sure to highlight your experience in partnership management and income generation. Use specific examples to demonstrate how you've met targets and driven engagement in previous roles.
✨Tip Number 3
Be proactive! Don’t wait for job openings to pop up. Reach out to organisations you admire and express your interest in working with them. Tailor your approach to show how you can help them achieve their goals in workforce development.
✨Tip Number 4
Keep it local! Since this role involves significant travel across the Midlands, make sure to highlight your knowledge of the local landscape and your connections within the community. This will show employers that you’re ready to hit the ground running!
We think you need these skills to ace Workforce Development Manager (Midlands) in Loughborough
Some tips for your application 🫡
Be Yourself: We want to hear your unique voice, so don’t shy away from showing your personality in your application. Share your experiences and motivations in a way that feels authentic to you.
Tailor Your Application: Make sure to align your skills and experiences with the job description. Highlight your partnership management experience and how it relates to the role of Workforce Development Manager.
Show Your Passion: Let us know why you're passionate about workforce development and the sport and physical activity sector. This enthusiasm can really set you apart from other candidates.
Apply Through Our Website: For the best chance of success, make sure to apply through our website. It’s the easiest way for us to receive your application and keep track of all the amazing candidates like you!
How to prepare for a job interview at CIMSPA
✨Know Your Stuff
Before the interview, dive deep into CIMSPA's mission and values. Understand their role in workforce development and how they engage with local employers. This knowledge will help you connect your experience to their goals and show that you're genuinely interested in making a difference.
✨Showcase Your People Skills
As a Workforce Development Manager, you'll need to be a natural people-connector. Prepare examples of how you've built strong partnerships in the past. Think about specific situations where your communication skills made a difference, and be ready to share these stories during the interview.
✨Demonstrate Commercial Acumen
Be prepared to discuss your experience with income generation and meeting targets. Bring examples of how you've successfully converted leads into active partners or developed proposals that generated revenue. This will highlight your ability to drive commercial success in the role.
✨Engage with Local Insights
Since this role involves significant local engagement, think about the specific skills needs in the Midlands. Research local employers and their challenges in workforce development. Being able to speak knowledgeably about local insights will set you apart and show that you're ready to hit the ground running.
