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Job description

Responsible to the Neighbourhood and Development Manger through the Leisure Development Manager for the development and promotion of physical activity and sport to enhance and create sporting opportunities for all, using the Lifelong Involvement in Sports and Physical Activity model. Assist the Leisure Development Manager in the development and Implementation of a Physical Activity and Sports Development Strategy. Develop partnerships with organisations to achieve the objectives of the City and Neighbourhood Services Department, through participation in project teams and consultative groups as necessary.

Responsibilities

• The development, implementation, and promotion of a physical activity and sports development strategy, business plan and associated programme ensuring the inclusive involvement of the staff and community.
• To represent the Leisure Development Manager as and when requested within the post holder’s sphere of responsibility.
• To identify and implement opportunities for sports development, arising from international, national, regional and local sporting events.
• To manage projects assigned by the Leisure Development Manager and where appropriate to represent Belfast City Council within own sphere of responsibility.
• To identify and develop effective partnership to deliver sectional sporting initiatives and stimulate the involvement and sustained participation of under-represented groups.
• Advise and support clubs and community organisations on appropriate structures, governance, facilities and external funding using best practice principles.
• Support departmental and interdepartmental managers with the development of new facilities, activities and programmes.
• Organise and promote club activities, competitions, workshops, and events within departmental facilities and other civic buildings.
• Assist the Leisure Development Manager and other managers to organise and promote schemes, courses and other events within departmental facilities.
• Enhance the reputation of the city through effective promotion of all relevant activities in liaison with departmental and corporate communications staff.
• Responsible for organising a programme of events under the direction of the Leisure Development Manager and to liaise with relevant stakeholders.
• Create, research and introduce new and innovative programmes to increase participation in health, sport and physical activities.
• Seek, create and develop partnerships with funding organisations to help sustain the Sports Development Programme.
• Monitor and control the budget allocated to the Sports Development Programme within the Leisure Development Unit.
• Responsible for the appraisal of grant and funding applications, assessing eligibility as per agreed criteria, exercising judgements and making recommendations regarding appropriateness of applications and level of funding awarded.
• Ensure ongoing monitoring and evaluation of sports development initiatives against agreed performance targets and providing timely statistics and reports for elected members and departmental management teams.
• Assist in drawing up necessary tenders and quotations in liaison with departmental procurement officer and to manage external suppliers when necessary.

Skills and Qualifications

Essential Skills

• Applicants must as at the closing date for receipt of application forms:
• Hold a full, current driving licence which enables them to drive in Northern Ireland and a car available for official business, or, have access to a form of transport which enables them to meet the requirements of the post in full;
• Either, have a third level qualification in a relevant subject such as leisure management, business studies or equivalent qualification
• Or, have full current membership of the Institute of Sport and Recreation Management or Chartered Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (CIMSPA) by qualification or professional work
• And be able to demonstrate, by providing personal and specific examples on the application form, that they have at least one years relevant experience in each of the following three areas (a) (c)
• Or, be able to demonstrate, by providing personal and specific examples on the application form, that they have at least two years relevant experience in each of the following three areas, (a) - (c).
• a. advising and supporting clubs and community organisations on sports development;
• b. developing sporting partnerships; and
• c. sourcing, securing and managing funding for sport.

Desirable Skills

• Applicants should be able to demonstrate evidence of the following special skills and attributes which may be tested at interview:
• Communication skills: the ability to write reports, memos and letters on complex or sensitive issues. The ability to address groups and meetings clearly and to listen to and understand divergent opinions and convey complex information.
• Team leading and development skills: the ability to manage a number of employees through developing and encouraging responsibility to ensure delivery of agreed goals and the ability to train and develop groups of employees in a formal setting with a
• Customer care skills: an understanding of good customer care and consultation principles and the need to respond to client and customer demands.
• Analytical and decision-making skills: the ability to analyse complex situations and take appropriate decisive action using the data that has been gathered with an understanding of the possible wider corporate implications of such action.
• Partnership working skills: the ability to work with a diverse group of other managers and professionals, both internally and externally, to meet common objectives.
• Work planning and organisational skills: the ability to forward plan and to effectively prioritise the work of a large section taking into account short and medium term goals, service demands and the availability of resources and using effective admi
• Financial awareness: an understanding of budget preparation and limitation with the ability to monitor expenditure and take remedial action as required.
• Performance management: an understanding of how to deliver a value for money service via performance management systems and procedures including performance indicators, benchmarking and quality assurance methodologies.
• Information technology skills: the ability to understand how information technology can improve business effectiveness, be innovative in its application and be able to specify requirements with precision.