Sports development officer : Employers and vacancy sources

The recent and continued expansion of sports development programmes has led to an increase in sports development managers in a range of settings. Sports development professionals are appointed by a variety of organisations.

Local authorities are the main employer, often having assistant, officer and management roles in generic, community and specialist posts. Many appointments are initially on a contract basis and may be funded partly by external bodies.

Some universities and colleges of higher education employ sports development officers in order to maintain and increase student and community involvement in sport.

Sports councils and governing bodies of sport are other major recruiters.

Sources of vacancies

• Search graduate jobs on this site.
• Sports Coach UK
• UK Sport
• Institute for the Management of Sport and Physical Activity (IMSPA)  
• Leisure Management
• Leisure Jobs
• Leisure Opportunities
• British Universities Sports Association
• Sport and Recreation Alliance
• Local Government Jobs  - for posts in local authorities nationwide.
• Jobs.ac.uk  - for posts in academic institutions.
• Sport England
• Sport Scotland
• Sport Northern Ireland
• Sports Council Wales
• The British Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (BASES)
• Women's Sport and Fitness Foundation
• Youth Sport Trust
• National and local press, including Guardian Jobs  on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

Many vacancies are advertised through online job sites. Most local authorities, sporting organisations and governing bodies will advertise in the national and regional press. Check local authorities' individual vacancy pages online. Recruitment agencies rarely handle vacancies.

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