Regional Partnership Senior Officer: Central South Wales

Disability Sport Wales are looking for a team-focused, organised and proactive Regional Partnership Senior Officer (RPSO) for the Central South region (Cardiff, Bridgend, Rhondda Cynon Taff, Merthyr Tydfil, and the Vale of Glamorgan), with exceptional communication skills and demonstrable strengths in productive, supportive and inclusive partnership relationships to enable great regional and multi-organisation working. This role will integrate significantly into Central South Active Partnership (CSAP) and work closely with other equity and diversity organisations, both regionally and nationally, who could be connected to it.

Responsible to: Head of Active Pathways

Location: Flexible, but with a need to be Central South Wales-based with access to a DSW Office, or partner offices within the Central South region.

Hours: Full-(35 hours/week)

Contract: Permanent

Travel: Some travel within Wales (especially within Central South region) is essential to this role (where required)

Closing Date: Face-to-face interviews will be held on Thursday 7th January 2027, timings will be confirmed with each short-listed candidate.

This is an exciting opportunity to influence the development of inclusive sport and physical activity across Central South Wales. Working closely with the Central South Active Partnership and a wide range of regional stakeholders, the Regional Partnership Senior Officer will advocate on behalf of disabled people, ensuring their voices, experiences and needs are represented within regional policy, planning, investment and programme development.

The post holder will build and maintain effective relationships with key partners, including local authorities, National Governing Bodies, education, health and voluntary sector organisations, supporting them to recognise and address inequalities and create more equitable opportunities for disabled people to participate in sport and physical activity. This will involve influencing strategic decision-makers, constructively challenging existing approaches, and ensuring disability inclusion is considered from the outset of regional projects, programmes and policy development, rather than as an afterthought.

A key element of the role will be supporting partners to translate their commitment to inclusion into meaningful action. This will include facilitating conversations, sharing knowledge and expertise, identifying opportunities for collaboration and supporting the development of sustainable approaches that increase participation and improve experiences for disabled people. Experience of partnership working, programme development, budget management and monitoring and evaluating impact will be important, alongside the ability to identify opportunities to maximise resources and strengthen inclusive provision across the region.

The successful applicant will be an integral member of the Active Pathways team, while working as an embedded partner within the regional structures and practices of Central South Wales. This position provides an important link between DSW's national priorities and regional activity, ensuring that the perspectives of disabled people inform decision-making and that opportunities to influence and improve inclusive practice are maximised.

We are looking for a personable, proactive and inquisitive individual who can build trusted relationships, communicate effectively with a diverse range of stakeholders and confidently influence and constructively challenge others. Above all, you will be passionate about equality and inclusion, committed to advocating for disabled people and motivated to help create a sporting and physical activity landscape where everyone has the opportunity to be active.

Person Specification

• Experience of supporting, volunteering or helping out at local community sports clubs or teams.
• Excellent experience of facilitating and influencing stakeholder partnerships for inclusive cultural change.
• Experience of guiding policy change to enhance the inclusion of disabled people.
• Strong evidence of the management of project funding for diverse impact.
• Clear successes with the strategic management of programmes and the coordination of operational delivery across a range of partners.
• Expertise in leading inclusive monitoring and evaluation and the subsequent reporting of progress and impact to a range of stakeholders.
• Highly competent with IT (including Microsoft Office suite) and ability to pick up new systems (e.g. Mondays.com).
• A team player, with a person-focused approach and with the ability to work independently as well as with others.
• Fully committed to and conversant with the philosophies of equity, diversity and inclusion.
• Highly organised with an ability to work to short timescales.

Interview

• GCSE or equivalent, including grade A-C in Maths, English and/or Welsh, and/or equivalent work-based experience.
• Experience within a sport or equality and diversity-focused organisation.
• Awareness of the legislation relevant to Wales.
• An appetite to learn and grow, and to adapt within a developing role.
• Competent with Welsh language and/or BSL, or a willingness to learn.

Why apply for this role?

• Work for an equitable and diverse employer as part of an ambitious, creative, resourceful, incredibly committed team.
• Be involved with regional partnership working to support and influence ongoing inclusive practice.
• Culture guided by inclusive behaviours, policies and procedures.
• Great annual leave allocation (25 days (increasing by 1 day annually up to a maximum of 30 days), plus statutory holidays in Wales).
• Branded team kit.

Disability Sport Wales is able to influence, include and inspire in sport with the support of our fantastic partners.

The Cynnig Cymraeg (Welsh Offer) is the official recognition of the Welsh Language Commissioner and is given to organisations that have supported the Commissioner’s long-term plan to ensure people can use the Welsh language in all aspects of their lives, in all parts of Wales. Disability Sport Wales was awarded this certification in June 2024.

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