Sports administrator : Job description

Sports administrators help to ensure the smooth running of a sports organisation, which may range from reception work at a local sports club, to marketing or human resources at a major sports club, or even managing a Premiership football club. There are also opportunities in sports funding bodies and local authority sports development.

Sports administrators have a similar range of responsibilities to administrators in other fields, but are likely to focus on organising events and running sports facilities. Duties are also likely to include promotion of the services or their club, responding to users, and fundraising. There are often opportunities to take on higher levels of responsibility fairly quickly.

Sport has gained in political and social significance, with growing public awareness of its contribution to personal health, community development and the national economy. As a result, there is increasing demand for higher quality and more diverse provision, and staff are expected to possess a wide range of personal skills and attributes.

Typical work activities

Specific responsibilities vary considerably according to the level of the post, the employing organisation and its context. Duties range from routine administration to managing complex projects, budgets and resources. The work frequently addresses regional, national, political and ethical agendas.

Typical work activities might include any combination of the following:

• carrying out administrative duties, using systems and processes relevant to the organisation;
• responding to enquiries and requests for information from other organisations and members of the public;
• ensuring administrative systems and processes are efficient and well managed;
• administrative support to managerial staff and heads of organisations;
• organising meetings, training, coaching, festivals, conferences and other events;
• promotion of sport in schools;
• working with students or young people;
• liaising with local sports councils, regional committees and national governing bodies;
• consulting with clients, members, the community and local sporting organisations;
• advising sports clubs on areas such as organisation, funding, promotion and regulations;
• managing budgets, controlling finance allocated for community activities and sometimes coordinating or raising sponsorship;
• undertaking or commissioning research, and collating, mapping and monitoring data;
• producing promotional literature, reports and event materials, and liaising with marketing and media organisations;
• making presentations to grant-making bodies and/or relevant authorities;
• managing and supervising staff, and sometimes running an office;
• supporting colleagues to encourage and develop sport in the local, regional, national or international community;
• serving on regional and national government think tanks and task groups;
• participating in the resolution of political and ethical issues, such as conflicts of interest between partner organisations, use of banned substances and breaches of regulations.