Communities and Skills
The Communities and Skills Directorate oversees the Mayor’s policies for strengthening communities; improving access to health and sporting activities; enhancing adult education and skills; strengthening civil life; supporting young people and tackling inequalities.
About Civil Society and Sport
The Civil Society and Sport Policy leads the Mayor of London’s work in Sport, Youth Social Action, Civil Society and Volunteering. Our main work focuses on the Supporting and Inspiring Young London (SIYL) mandate, providing positive opportunities for 250,000 young Londoners.
By also supporting Londoners to become active citizens, we contribute to the Mayor’s commitment to build stronger communities and support young Londoners facing inequalities.
Our Vision for Sport
At the heart of the Mayor’s approach to sport in London is his belief in the power of sport to bring people together and improve their lives.
This underpins his aim for London to be the most socially integrated, active city and undisputed sporting capital of the world.
By sitting alongside other statutory strategies including health inequalities, transport, planning, environment, culture, housing, and economic development, our sport strategy ensures a cohesive approach to tackling London’s problems and improving the lives of Londoners.
About the role
The post holder will lead on specific programmes related to sport and physical activity, providing positive opportunities for children and young people in London.
To manage the ongoing implementation of the Sport and Physical Activity portfolio, helping to deliver the Supporting and Inspiring Young Londoners mandate, with an emphasis on positive outcomes for young Londoners. This includes our sport, youth voice, and leadership programmes, delivering our partnership ambitions with the Premier League (PL), Major League Baseball (MLB), National Basketball Association (NBA), Lawn Tennis Association (LTA), and leading on thought leadership for the sector.
The role will require working closely with other policy teams within the Civil Society and Sport team and across other GLA directorates, work closely with the Environment team on the Clean and Healthy Waterways programme delivery, support the Access to Facilities strand, as well as senior-level stakeholder relationship management.
In this role, you are required to contribute to the wider work of the sport team, supporting Major Sporting Events and the strategic ambitions of the GLA. Using the power of sport, you will play an active role in listening, convening, and codesigning interventions with young people and the sector that address emerging needs, and systemic challenges, and support the aspirations of underserved young Londoners.
What your day will look like
· Attend bi-weekly sport team meetings, outlining progress, priorities, actions, decisions and timelines
· Supporting the Clean and Healthy Waterways programme
· Attend weekly 1-2-1 catch up meetings
· Supporting colleagues in the sport team
· Meetings with stakeholders to deliver the Access to Facilities
Skills, knowledge, and experience
To be considered for the role you must meet the following essential criteria:
· Experience of project and programme management and reporting, of options appraisal and managing budgets, ideally with experience of managing multiple-projects programmes and ensuring they deliver results on target and within budget, with first-hand experience of complex negotiation and monitoring risks and issues.
· Understand of London’s sport sector and wider civil society landscape is desirable although applicants with transferrable skills and experience will be considered.
· Substantial experience of co-ordinating work across several stakeholders working in a partnership environment, including public sector agencies, voluntary and community groups, community sport, the youth sector, volunteers and the private sector.
· Knowledge of the structure of London government, in particular the respective roles of local authorities, the Mayor and GLA Group, Funders, youth social action management and practice, community sport and youth sport organisations and major sporting events, the voluntary and community sector and the community sports sector.
· An understanding of the issues associated with working in a complex political environment and the ability to negotiate and broker consensus within an organisation.
· Critical thinking, analytical and written skills, experience of analysing data from multiple sources and demonstrate ability to utilise these to assess, interpret, and present ideas, data, and information.
Please find the Job Description here
The GLA Competency Framework Guidelines further detailing each competency and the different level indicators can be found here: GLA Competency Framework
How to apply
If you would like to apply for the role you’ll need to submit:
• an online application
• a Word statement (1,500 words) outlining how you meet the essential criteria as well as the competencies outlined in the advert.
If you have questions about the role
If you wish to talk to someone about the role, the hiring manager Bevis Allen would be happy to speak to you. Please contact them at bevis.allen@london.gov.uk
If you have any questions about the recruitment process, contact the glarecruitment@engageats.co.uk who support the GLA with recruitment.
Assessment process
Once you have submitted an application, your details will be reviewed by a panel.
If shortlisted, you’ll be invited to an interview.
The interview date is: Monday 15th September 2025
Additional Information
Please note, all candidates will need to confirm that the information provided in this application form is true and correct. Should a candidate deliberately give false information, including the use of AI software, they understand that this would disqualify them from consideration.
Successful candidates must undergo a criminal record (DBS) check but some roles may require additional security screening.
Find out which DBS check is right for your employee - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
More Support
If you have a disability which makes submitting an online application form difficult, please contact resourcingteam@london.gov.uk.