Careers

About Us

The Herts Sport & Physical Activity Partnership (HSP) works strategically and collaboratively to improve the lives of the people of Hertfordshire, by using the power of sport and physical activity to tackle inequality and disadvantage. Our Strategic Plan 2022-27 provides the framework for our work, and our Annual Impact Report highlights how we deliver our strategy in practice. Being active can be a fun, enjoyable and social experience; it can also bring enormous benefits for our health, wellbeing and happiness for individuals, communities and wider society. Encouragingly, across Hertfordshire, 60% of adults and 48% of young people are active enough for it to benefit their health. However, we see distinct inequalities within different population groups and in different localities who find it harder to be active and reap the benefits of an active lifestyle. The Partnership will ensure that we have a laser-like focus on identifying and addressing inequality and inactivity and optimising limited resources for the greatest impact. Further information about the insight driving our work areas can be found on the HSP Physical Activity Story Map. Established in 2003, we are based at the University of Hertfordshire in Hatfield and are one of 43 Active Partnerships across England, that are part funded by Sport England to deliver locally against their Uniting the Movement Strategy. You can find out more about us here - https://sportinherts.org.uk/about-us 

About The Role

HSP are looking for an experienced and motivated Senior Project Officer to lead the development, management, and delivery of an exciting range of sport and physical activity projects across Hertfordshire. This is a pivotal role where you will lead a team to deliver impactful programmes and annual events aligned with our strategic priorities. You will drive partnerships with key stakeholders including community groups, local authorities, health organisations, schools and leisure operators. You will secure funding and manage contracts and grant-aided programmes to maximise inward investment. You will champion inclusion by ensuring equitable access and participation for underrepresented groups. You will shape strategy by developing action plans, monitoring progress, and reporting to senior leadership and you will lead safeguarding initiatives to deliver against the Sport England Sport Welfare contract.

The current work programme includes responsibility for:

• Lead for Core Market development of clubs, coaches, volunteers and NGB / LA Liaison
• Senior Safeguarding lead including the line management of the Sports Welfare Officer
• Co-ordination of workforce development opportunities across the business
• Sports facility planning
• HSP link officer with stakeholders Crime Reduction through Sport
• Oversight for delivery of contracted project and stakeholder management

Skills and experience required:

• You will have experience of working within a sports development or equivalent environment.
• Ideally you will have experience of line managing team members.
• You will have experience of effective partnership-building working with a range of local partners.
• You will have knowledge of funding streams and experience in securing investment and have practical understanding of equality, diversity, and inclusion issues.
• You will have good knowledge of community sport (clubs, facilities, workforce, volunteering and National Governing Bodies of Sport (NGBs)) and safeguarding policy and its application in a sport setting.

Qualifications required:

• You will be educated with an undergraduate degree or equivalent level 6 qualification or proven experience.
• Ideally you will have safeguarding level 3

Further Information

Overseas applicants and UK applicants who have lived abroad:

Successful applicants who have lived outside the UK, for 12 months or more (whether continuously or in total), in the last 10 years, will be required to produce a Certificate of Good Character/Conduct?from each of those countries.

Please view the job description and person specification for a full list of the duties and essential criteria.

Please attach a personal statement showing clearly how your skills and experience match the Person Specification.

We regret that we are unable to offer UKVI sponsorship for this post; applicants will either hold UK Right to Work or demonstrate access to UK Right to Work before an offer is made.

Contact Details/Informal Enquiries: Adrian Ledbury, Strategic Lead - a.ledbury@herts.ac.uk

Closing Date: 12 January 2026

Interview Date: 20 January 2026

Apply for role

Closing date: 12th January 2026