Position: Sport Developer (Staff Officer)
SO Pay Rate: £19.59 per hour
Hours: Full time, 37 hours per week
Hours of Work: 08:30-17:00 Mon – Thu, 08:30-16:30 Fri
All Sport Ni employees are currently working in a hybrid pattern. Part of the week will be office based and part of the week will be from home. This will be reviewed on a regular bases
Start Date: ASAP
Location: Sport NI, 2a Upper Malone Road Belfast BT9 5LA
Sport NI is the lead development public body for sport and physical recreation in Northern Ireland. We are established under the Recreation and Youth Service Order 1986 for the furtherance of sport and physical recreation in Northern Ireland. We develop all aspects of sport and physical recreation, from active participation to Olympic and Paralympic levels. Sport NI is primarily funded by grant in aid from the Department for Communities and the National Lottery.
Job Duties:
To be a key member of one of the Sports Directorate teams managing Sport NI’s investment (including finance, human resource and support services) into sport. Playing a key role in managing engagement with sports organisations and Councils, and monitoring performance against strategic targets. Acting as the lead officer for Sport NI’s engagement/partnerships with a range of sports organisations within the Infrastructure Team. It will also be necessary to act as the Sport NI lead, across multiple Sport NI teams, for a small number of organisations.
The Staff Officer role will work in support of the Deputy Principal (who leads delivery within their functional area of responsibility) contributing to Sport NI’s strategic objectives within the Sporting System. Staff Officers’ exact responsibilities will vary according to their functional area, but tasks will include (and are not limited to):
· Project Management
· Grant Management
· Advisory Services
· Governance, Policy and Compliance
· Data Analysis and report writing
· Business Case Development and Evaluation
· Line Management
Duties and Responsibilities:
Project Management
· Plan, manage, and monitor projects against timescales, costs, dependencies, outputs and performance targets/ deliverables.
· Act as project lead for a range of projects to enable Sport NI to achieve its Business and Corporate Plans.
· To evaluate project risks and to implement necessary steps to mitigate against the identified project risks using appropriate project control methodologies.
· Maintain up-to-date and accurate records and reports for projects, ensuring compliance with project reporting standards and other governance and control requirements.
Grant Management
· Plan, manage, and monitor grant administration against timescales and good governance, including Managing Public Money, amongst other dependencies.
· To evaluate programme risks and to mitigate against these risks, to ensure appropriate use of public funding using appropriate project control methodologies.
· Maintain up-to-date and accurate records and reports for projects, ensuring compliance with project reporting standards and other governance requirements.
Advisory Services (Supporting the Sport System)
· To help stakeholders understand Sport NI Strategy and Business Plans, and how Sport NI can support them in the overall development of the Sport System.
· Use innovative design and research approaches to bring internationally recognised best practice interventions to stakeholders in the NI sport system.
· To actively advise and support organisations who deliver sport and physical activity in the development of the Sporting System. Key areas of specialist advice to these organisations will include:
o Infrastructure and facilities development.
o Capital Project development.
o Develop and maintain partnerships with facility operators and other parties.
· Lead on the design, research, implementation and monitoring of projects including using data to maximise the impact of investment and resource allocation to the sport system.
Governance, Policy, and Compliance
· Ensure compliance with all Sport NI governance controls, policies and procedures.
· To assess the eligibility of SGB and other Agency applications against identified eligibility criteria and in accordance with financial and policy directions, Sport Northern Ireland (SNI) policy, and other statutory requirements.
· Support, monitor, validate and report on SGBs’ and other Agencies’ progress against the criteria per the Effective Organisations expectations and specific Terms and Conditions of the grant awards.
· To co-ordinate reporting to the Senior Management on progress against the Business Area’s operational plan.
Data Analysis and report writing
· Analyse information received through surveying and monitoring from sport and physical activity providers, (as well as data gathered from a range of external sources), to draw conclusions on the sport infrastructure needs of the sector. Using that analysis, work with colleagues to agree priorities and appropriate actions, and share good practice across sports, to support overall sector improvement.
· To monitor and report on data analytics and evaluate projects to inform strategic decision making.
· To analyse data effectively and other information to produce effective reports and written answers to queries.
Business Case Development and Evaluation
· To assist, develop and evaluate Outline Business Cases and Full Business Cases for funding programmes and research proposals, to contribute to the enhancement and understanding of sport and physical activity.
Corporate Management and Line Management
· To assist in the effective management of resources, ensuring work completed aligns to Business and Corporate Plan objectives and is of a high quality, delivered on time and within budget.
· Manage individual performance, and to ensure compliance with all Sport NI’s policies and procedures. This includes effective monitoring, reporting and evaluation of all projects and programmes for which the post holder has a responsibility.
· To carry out any other duties that, from time to time, may reasonably be undertaken in the pursuit of the post holder’s overall objectives, undertaking duties of the post with regards to Sport NI’s DNA (Values).
Essential Criteria:
1. Must have 5 GCSEs including Maths & English (must be able to show certificates)
2. Educated to degree level or equivalent,AND
3. 2 years’ full-time employment (or part-time equivalent) experience within the last 5 years working in a sports environment with a proven record of success.OR
4. 3 years’ full-time employment (or part-time equivalent) experience within the last 5 years working in a sports environment with a proven record of success.
5. Demonstrable experience of project management methodologies and their application.
6. Demonstrable experience in collaborating and developing effective relationships and partnerships with a range of stakeholders to achieve positive strategic outcomes.
7. Proven capabilities in creativity and innovation, advisory skills, analytical and problem-solving skills.
8. Proven track record of contributing to the implementation and evaluation of sport programmes.
9. Valid driving licence and access to a form of transport insured to enable the post holder to carry out the responsibilities of the post in full
Desired Criteria:
10. Proven track record of contributing to the implementation and evaluation of sport programmes.
11. Knowledge of Microsoft Power Bi or similar data platforms.
12. Demonstrable experience of managing staff.
13. Demonstrable public sector experience.
*The successful applicant will be required to complete an Access NI during registration*