Job Title: Active Leeds Development Officer (Localities) x2

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

Location: John Charles Centre for Sport / localities around the City

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

An exciting opportunity has arisen for a forward-thinking, community focused and highly motivated individual to join the delivery team of the 2-year Sport England funded Get Set Leeds Project.

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.

The Get Set Leeds project forms one of the priorities of the Physical Activity Ambition: ‘Leeds is a place where everyone moves more every day’ and feeds into the Best City Ambition of Health & Wellbeing, Inclusive Growth, Strong Communities and Sustainable City.

Leeds City Council is one of the largest employers in the region with over 14,000 employees. We seek to recruit and develop talented individuals who embody our council values and ambitions.

About the role:

The Development Officer role will become part of a team that work 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 tothe 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 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.
Be committed to understanding and embracing Leeds City Council Values and Behaviours

What we offer you

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

How to apply

Please complete the online application form.

For internal applications, secondment opportunities will be considered with line manager approval.

Read our guidance for further advice on completing your application.

If you have any queries or would like an informal chat about the role please contact Gill Keddie, Development Manager Gill.Keddie@leeds.gov.uk or Katy Bowden, Development Manager Katy.Bowden@leeds.gov.uk

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 visaroute 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 Description

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 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 so as 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.

Qualifications Relevant degree or equivalent professional qualifications are essential.

Essential requirements Candidates will only be shortlisted if they can demonstrate that they meet all the following 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.
Knowledge of developing programmes within a community setting
Knowledge (extensive) of relevant local and national strategies, priorities and associated development initiatives
Experience of liaison with public, private and voluntary agencies
Knowledge of local, regional and national health, recreational and community organisations
Knowledge of funding initiatives relative to physical activity or community development
Knowledge of the benefits of being physically active
Understanding of issues preventing regular participation within communities
Experience of working at a strategic level
Experience of marketing and promotion; ability to organise, promote and market activities
Experience of tutoring on education courses
Able to communicate effectively with a wide range of organisations.
Able to work to tight budgets
Knowledge of IT software applications
Able to demonstrate excellent organisational skills
Able to meet tight deadlines for complex projects
Able to work as part of a team and on your own initiative including identifying needs and resolving problems with practical solutions
Able to produce and implement development plans and work programmes
Able to prepare and present reports

Essential Behavioural & other Characteristics

Understand and embrace Leeds City Council Values and Behaviours and codes of conduct
Committed to continuous improvement in all areas and work towards delivering the Best City Ambition of Health & Wellbeing, Inclusive Growth, Strong Communities and Sustainable City.
Able to understand and observe Leeds City Council policies and procedures.
Carry out all duties having regard to an employee’s responsibility under Health, Safety and Wellbeing
Willingness to actively participate in appraisal, training and development activities to ensure up, to date knowledge and skills.
Flexible and adaptable to change to assist other services as required commensurate to grade.
Be aware of and support difference and ensure equality for all working in an anti-discriminatory manner, upholding, equality & diversity of Leeds City Council.
Recognise and appropriately challenge any incidents of racism, bullying, harassment, victimisation, and any form of abuse, reporting any concerns to the appropriate person
The Council has adopted a flexibility protocol and the role will be expected to work within these parameters.
Full, clean driving licence

Desirable requirements Candidates are not required to meet all the following desirable requirements however these may be used to distinguish between candidates.

Able to conduct research programmes and capture and interpret detailed monitoring and evaluation data
Understanding of behaviour change models and their application
Experience of developing innovative partnerships with regional and local bodies
Experience of embedding community programmes based on identified need and models of change
Experience of managing and motivating staff
Experience of event organisation
Experience of securing external funding project management
Experience of leading and managing projects