ROLE: Community Sports Development Manager
SCHOOL: Wickersley Partnership Trust (Central Team)
SALARY: WPT Band 7 £37,563 - £41,177
CONTRACT: 18 months fixed term contract
HOURS: 37 hours per week, Full Time
About the Role
The Rotherham Schools Development Team, part of Wickersley Partnership Trust, is committed to supporting children and young people to lead more active, healthy lives. Working in collaboration with partners across the borough, we contribute to the wider strategic vision of Moving Rotherham—a place-based approach to increasing physical activity and reducing inequalities.
This role sits within the Sports Development Team as a dedicated Project Lead, responsible for directing the full lifecycle—planning, execution, governance, and evaluation—of physical activity projects across Rotherham. This post is initially offered on an 18-month basis due to external funding arrangements; however, based on performance and future funding availability, the contract may be extended. Reporting to the Strategic Lead, the post holder will manage cross-functional projects across school settings and coordinate key stakeholders across education, health, community organisations, and local authority services.
A core focus of the role is managing high-value projects funded through external investment, particularly those aligned with Sport England. You will take full operational ownership of project deliverables, tracking timelines, budgets, scope, and key performance indicators (KPIs) to achieve national outcomes such as increasing activity levels, tackling inequalities, and creating positive experiences for children and young people.
We are looking for a skilled Project Manager who understands the local and national physical activity landscape and can translate strategy into structured, deliverable project plans. You will be adept at stakeholder engagement, risk management, and dynamic scheduling, ensuring projects deliver measurable impact within budget and timeframe constraints.
Key Responsibilities
- Project Lifecycle Management: Plan, execute, and monitor physical activity projects from inception through completion, ensuring deliverables meet specified quality standards, milestones, and strategic objectives.
- Framework Implementation & Strategic Rollout: Lead the end-to-end implementation of the Creative Active Schools (CAS) Framework across Rotherham schools—managing change management strategies to embed creative, inclusive physical activity into whole-school culture.
- Grant & External Investment Management: Oversee the operational delivery and compliance of externally funded initiatives (including Sport England projects), tracking performance against grant agreements, key milestones, and reporting schedules.
- Stakeholder & Partner Governance: Build, lead, and manage collaborative project networks across schools, local authority departments, healthcare providers, and community partners to ensure aligned execution.
- Community Pathways & Exit Strategy Project Work: Design and implement sustainable pathways linking schools with community sports clubs, managing partner capacity to establish long‑term active habits beyond the school day.
- User-Centred Project Design: Integrate pupil voice, community insight, and co-design methodologies into project scope to create inclusive, accessible interventions tailored to local demographics.
- Barriers & Risk Mitigation: Proactively identify, monitor, and mitigate risks and barriers to participation (e.g., cost, transport, confidence, accessibility) through targeted project interventions.
- Monitoring, Evaluation & Impact Reporting: Implement evaluation frameworks using data, KPIs, and qualitative evidence to measure project performance, demonstrate return on investment, and inform future strategic commissioning.
About You (Person Specification)
We are looking for a structured, results‑oriented Project Manager who is passionate about improving outcomes for children and young people through physical activity, and who possesses strong organisational and delivery capabilities across multi‑stakeholder environments.
Key Qualifications & Experience
- Project Management Experience: Proven track record of managing and delivering projects within school sports, community health, education, youth work, or physical activity sectors.
- Funding & Grant Oversight: Demonstrated experience in managing externally funded project budgets, tracking KPIs, and fulfilling Sport England or equivalent institutional reporting standards.
- Stakeholder Engagement: Excellent relationship management and negotiation skills, with experience coordinating multidisciplinary project teams and external partner organisations.
- Delivery & Governance Methodologies: Experience utilising project management frameworks, defining scope, maintaining risk registers, managing timelines, and driving accountability across partners.
- Data & Impact Evaluation: Strong analytical skills with experience designing monitoring systems, gathering qualitative/quantitative insight, and presenting impact reports to project boards or funding bodies.
- Sector & Landscape Knowledge: Deep understanding of the physical activity landscape and systemic barriers to participation, with a commitment to tackling health and social inequalities.
- Organisation & Adaptability: Exceptional time management and organisational skills, with the ability to manage competing project priorities, troubleshoot delivery issues, and adapt in dynamic environments.
- Communication: Clear, confident communicator capable of writing formal project reports, delivering presentations, and engaging effectively with both young people and senior executive stakeholders.
You will be motivated by making a tangible difference locally and contributing to the wider vision of Moving Rotherham.
We are committed to building a team that reflects the diverse communities we serve and welcome applications from individuals of all backgrounds.
In return, we offer a supportive working environment with a strong emphasis on collaboration, professional development, and work‑life balance. Flexible and hybrid working arrangements may be available depending on the needs of the role. Travel across the borough will be required, so access to transport is essential.
For an informal conversation about the role, please contact: dwalker@wickersleypt.org
Why Join Us?
- Competitive salary
- Generous Local Government (support staff) and Teacher Pension Schemes
- Health and Wellbeing, including a Westfield Health subscription
- Professional Growth and Development
Closing Date: Noon, Wednesday 28th October 2026***
Interviews taking place Wednesday 4th November 2026***
We may hold interviews as and when applications are received, and this vacancy may be withdrawn without notice.
In line with our commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of our students, the appointment will be subject to an enhanced criminal record check and satisfactory references. Further information about the Disclosure Scheme can be found at https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/disclosure-and-barring-service
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Community Sports Development Manager in Rotherham employer: Wickersley Partnership Trust
At Wickersley Partnership Trust, we pride ourselves on fostering a supportive and inclusive work environment where every team member plays a crucial role in shaping the educational experience of our students. With competitive salaries, generous pension schemes, and a strong focus on professional growth and development, we ensure that our staff are well-equipped and motivated to thrive in their roles. Located in South Yorkshire, our collaborative culture encourages innovation and teamwork, making it an excellent place for individuals who are passionate about making a difference in education.
Contact Details:
Wickersley Partnership Trust Recruitment Team
