Partnerships and Strategy Lead – Sport England

Fixed Term Contract / Secondment Opportunity until 31 March 2028

Building on our successful long-term partnership with Sport England, we are proud to continue contributing to Uniting the Movement—Sport England’s 10-year strategy to transform lives and communities through sport and physical activity.

As one of the pioneer place partnerships, Hackney focuses specifically on tackling structural inequalities in physical activity, with a focus on improving community health and wellbeing. We work closely across London Borough of Hackney directorates, healthcare systems, voluntary sector groups, and national bodies to create long‑term, systemic change.

We are looking for a Partnerships and Strategy Lead to join our team on a fixed term basis or secondment until March 31st 2028.

Working within a small programme team, you will have a role in achieving system‑level change by building strong relationships across the Council, health partners, and grassroots organisations to shape policy, service design, and funding approaches. If you have a track record in strategic delivery, systems thinking, and collaborative leadership, this role offers a great opportunity to lead a varied programme of work that navigates complexity with a focus on achieving long‑term lasting impact in one of London’s most vibrant boroughs.

We are looking for an adaptable person who excels in relational working and thrives in complex and iterative environments. You will bring substantial experience in leading community‑based programmes focused on health, wellbeing, or social equality, alongside a proven track record of driving change across multi‑agency partnerships. A natural convener and strategic influencer, you possess a deep understanding of systems thinking and co‑production, with the ability to turn data into compelling business cases. Above all, you are a collaborative communicator who can build trust at every level—from grassroots community groups and local residents to senior council officers, elected members, and national stakeholders.

Hackney is one of the most diverse boroughs in the UK. We actively welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds, particularly those from underrepresented groups, to ensure our team reflects the vibrant communities we serve.

As a Council, our most outstanding asset is our staff, who are highly dedicated to serving our residents and committed to our goals as an organisation.

We are also working towards our vision, which is to be a place for everyone; where residents and staff can be proud. In order to achieve this, we are seeking individuals who embody our “PROUD” values: Purpose and Respect, where we foster belonging through active inclusion, kindness, and open dialogue; Ownership, where we champion proactive collaboration and accountability for our shared success; and Unity and Diversity, where we work as one Council to break down silos and champion anti‑racist behavior.

Hackney Council works to eradicate discrimination on the basis of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation. We also recognise that people can be disadvantaged by their social and economic circumstances, so we will also work to eliminate discrimination and disadvantage caused by social class. We also welcome those interested in flexible working. We particularly welcome applications from disabled people, as this group is currently under represented in our workforce.

The Council has a dedicated employment support service (Hackney Works), which offers Hackney residents guidance in relation to applying for jobs. If you are thinking about applying for a job, please contact the Hackney Works team to find out what support is available: hackneyworks@hackney.gov.uk

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