ABOUT THE ROLE
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Think Active is entering an exciting period of growth, collaboration and system leadership. Over the coming years, we aim to strengthen our influence and impact across Coventry, Solihull & Warwickshire, particularly in tackling inequalities through the power of sport and physical activity.
At the heart of our work is our vision:
#WeThinkActive – Everyone in Coventry, Solihull & Warwickshire to benefit from movement and enjoy sport and physical activity in safe and thriving communities.
And our mission:
We will use the power and potential of sport and physical activity to enable future generations to have healthier and more prosperous lives.
This new role of Strategic Partnership Lead: Coventry has been created following successful investment through Sport England’s Place Expansion programme for Coventry. The role will provide strategic leadership for the implementation and coordination of the Sport England Place Expansion investment across Coventry , including supporting the development and implementation of the emerging Coventry Physical Activity Partnership.
The role reflects the growing recognition that physical activity has an important role to play in improving health, reducing inequalities and strengthening communities across Coventry. We envisage physical activity continuing to be used as part of the wider One Coventry approach to tackling the inequalities experienced by local people.
The postholder will be employed by Think Active but will work on behalf of the Coventry Physical Activity Partnership, bringing together partners from across sectors around a shared vision and agenda for change.
Any offer of employment will be subject to satisfactory references, pre-employment checks, a DBS check and proof of the right to work in the UK.
BASE LOCATION & WORKING APPROACH
Think Active’s headquarters are at 1 Mill Street in Leamington Spa; however, this role will also be expected to work from a range of locations across Coventry, reflecting the partnership and place-based nature of the role.
This role requires a strong commitment to system working, including engaging with partners and stakeholders where they are and at times that best support collaboration and impact. As such, there may be a requirement for occasional evening and weekend work.
There will also be occasional travel regionally and nationally to support partnership working, learning, and organisational priorities.
MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE ROLE
Uphold the values, culture and customer charter of Think Active in your behaviour and your work.
Reporting to the Development Director, the Strategic Partnership Lead: Coventry will will act as a senior leader within Think Active, shaping our strategic role and leading the implementation of the Sport England Place Expansion investment across Coventry, ensuring strong partnership working, effective programme delivery and a collaborative, community-centred approach.
The role will play a key part in ensuring physical activity is embedded within wider system priorities across Coventry, including health, wellbeing, inequalities, communities and place-based working.
The postholder will be expected to uphold the values, culture and customer charter of Think Active in their behaviour and work.
Strategic Leadership and Place Development
Lead and project manage the implementation of the Sport England Place Expansion investment across Coventry, ensuring delivery aligns with the Conditions of Award
Lead the development and implementation of the Place Expansion Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning Framework for Coventry
Support the strategic development of the Coventry Physical Activity Partnership and contribute to shaping its long-term direction and priorities
Help position physical activity as part of the solution to wider social, health and community challenges within Coventry
Influence and align partners to adopt whole-system thinking and inclusive, community-centred approaches
Identify opportunities to strengthen collaboration, investment and impact across the Coventry system
Ensure the voices and experiences of communities help shape priorities, approaches and decision-making
System Leadership
Position physical activity and movement as a contributing solution within wider prevention, inequality, wellbeing and community agendas across Coventry.
Build and maintain strong relationships with partners and stakeholders across sectors, including:
NHS organisations and health systems
Local Authority teams
Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise (VCFSE) organisations
Community groups and residents
Strategic and operational delivery partners
Act as a trusted partner, facilitator and connector across Coventry’s system landscape
Convene and coordinate partners around shared agendas and priorities
Be adept at navigating barriers and challenges to partnership working when they arise
Represent Think Active and the Coventry Physical Activity Partnership within relevant boards, partnerships and working groups
Support organisations and communities to co-design sustainable solutions that embed physical activity within communities and services
Identify opportunities to strengthen long-term sustainability, investment and system ownership of Coventry’s Physical Activity Partnership.
Project Management, Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning
Manage the Place Expansion budget and ensure effective oversight of investment and resources
Manage timelines, delivery plans, risks and reporting requirements
Ensure robust monitoring, evaluation and learning approaches are embedded throughout delivery
Contribute to capturing insight, learning and impact across the partnership and share this with stakeholders, including Sport England
Support the development of local capacity by mentoring and supporting organisations and partners
Ensure delivery remains aligned to community need, strategic priorities and organisational values
Governance, Reporting and Contribution to Wider Organisational Priorities
Prepare reports and updates for Think Active, partners, funders and governance groups as required
Ensure delivery aligns with organisational governance, funding requirements and reporting frameworks
Contribute to organisational learning and wider Think Active priorities
Work collaboratively across the Think Active team, avoiding siloed approaches to delivery and partnership working
Adhere to Think Active safeguarding, equality, health and safety, data protection and confidentiality policies
Undertake any other duties appropriate to the role as directed by the line manager and/or Chief Executive
PERSON SPECIFICATION: RELEVANT KNOWLEDGE, EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS
A successful candidate for this role would be able to demonstrate the following skills, experience and knowledge:
Qualifications
Essential Criteria
Educated to degree level or equivalent relevant professional experience in community development, public health, sport and physical activity, social policy, partnership working or related fields
Desirable Criteria
Project management, systems leadership or facilitation qualification
Experience
Essential Criteria
Significant experience of leading or coordinating complex partnership programmes, projects or strategic initiatives across multiple organisations and stakeholders
Experience of working within partnership, public sector, health, community or system leadership environments
Proven ability to build, influence and maintain effective relationships with senior stakeholders, partners and communities
Experience of convening organisations and stakeholders around shared priorities, outcomes or strategic agendas
Experience of leading or supporting place-based, systems change or collaborative approaches to tackling inequalities
Experience of managing complex programmes, interconnected priorities, budgets and delivery plans
Experience of monitoring progress, managing risk and reporting to partners, governance groups or funders
Experience of amplifying community voice and lived experience to shape strategic priorities, partnership approaches or service design
Desirable Criteria
Experience of working within Active Partnerships, Sport England funded programmes or wider place-based investment programmes
Experience of working within or alongside local government, NHS, VCFSE or community-led systems
Experience of working within Coventry or similar urban communities experiencing inequalities
Experience of supporting or facilitating co-production, community engagement or participatory approaches
Experience of managing commissioned work, procurement processes or contract oversight
Experience of line management, mentoring or workforce development
Experience of developing or applying monitoring, evaluation and learning frameworks
Experience of securing investment, funding or partnership contributions
Knowledge
Essential Criteria
Strong understanding of the role physical activity, movement and sport can play in improving health, reducing inequalities and strengthening communities
Understanding of systems leadership, partnership working and collaborative approaches to change
Understanding of inequalities, barriers to participation and the wider social determinants that influence health and wellbeing
Understanding of community-centred approaches, co-production and asset-based ways of working
Desirable Criteria
Knowledge of Sport England’s Uniting the Movement strategy and place-based investment approaches
Knowledge of local policy, partnership or community landscapes across Coventry
Knowledge of monitoring, evaluation, insight and learning approaches within community or systems-based programmes
Awareness of current national policy relating to prevention, population health or place-based working
Skills
Essential Criteria
Strong strategic thinking and problem-solving skills, with the ability to navigate complexity and ambiguity
Excellent relationship-building, influencing and stakeholder engagement skills
Ability to bring people together around a shared purpose and create momentum for change
Strong programme and project management skills, including planning, coordination and oversight of multiple workstreams
Effective written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to communicate clearly with different audiences and sectors
Ability to analyse information, identify opportunities and translate insight into action and partnership development
Confident digital literacy skills, including use of Microsoft Office and collaborative working tools
Desirable Criteria
Facilitation, workshop design or group process skills
Presentation or public speaking experience
Experience of developing reports, business cases or funding proposals
ABOUT THINK ACTIVE
Think Active is a charity and the Active Partnership for Coventry, Solihull, and Warwickshire. We are one of 6 sub-regional Active Partnerships within the West Midlands and one of 42 across England.
Active Partnerships are strategic organisations that recognise activity levels are affected by a complex system of influences, and no single organisation or programme can create sustainable change at scale. Understanding the unique attributes and challenges within Coventry, Solihull and Warwickshire, we work collaboratively with our network of local partners to help create the right conditions for those facing the greatest inequalities to have access to movement, sport and physical activity, in a way that works for them For further information on Think Active, please visit our website here
BENEFITS OF WORKING FOR THINK ACTIVE
Employer pension contribution of 6%, subject to scheme eligibility and terms.27 days annual leave (FTE), plus bank holidays.
Agile and flexible working, with a blended approach to home, office, and remote working.
Enhanced maternity, paternity, and sick leave policies.
Contribution to the cost of eye tests.
Commitment to professional development and training.
Cycle to Work Scheme.
Life Insurance cover
We love difference and will be interested to find out what motivates you and how you can contribute to Think Active. We encourage diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We are a Disability Confident committed employer, and we actively encourage applicants from all protected characteristics and commit to providing any reasonable adjustments required during the application and assessment process, and upon joining Think Active.
We recognise that some of the language used within this job description may be sector specific. xwzovoh We are committed to keeping jargon to a minimum and would encourage interested applicants to ask questions or seek clarification at any point during our recruitment process.
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