Director of Operations at Active Herefordshire and Worcestershire
About Us
We are the strategic lead for sport and physical activity across Herefordshire and Worcestershire. An independent charity committed to improving the lives of people across the two counties through the power of physical activity and sport.
We pride ourselves in being part of a forward thinking, national network of Active Partnerships (42 across England).
We have a strong understanding of the needs and issues in our area, with a focus being on inactive people and under-represented groups.
As a Sport England funded system partner, we interpret and localise national government strategies, Sport England's Uniting the Movement framework, and county public health, local authority, ICB strategies and national sporting governing bodies, turning policy into meaningful local action.
Find out more by watching this short animation video https://youtu.be/uruLHygC5Lo
CEO Introduction
Dear Candidate
Thank you for taking the time to find out more about this role.
Active Herefordshire and Worcestershire exists to make it easier for everyone across our two counties to be active. That means focusing our energy on the people and places where the barriers are greatest — children and young people from lower-income households, older adults, people living with long term health conditions, and communities where inactivity is highest.
We do not do this work on our own. We work alongside local authorities, the NHS, Integrated Care Board, Public Health, voluntary organisations and community networks to create the conditions where more people can move more, more often. We also work with national partners especially Sport England aligning closely to the Uniting the Movement Strategy.
This is an exciting moment for Active Herefordshire and Worcestershire. We are shortly launching a new organisational strategy, building on the strong foundations we have already laid and sets a clear direction for the years ahead. The relationships we have built across Herefordshire and Worcestershire, with statutory partners, the voluntary and community sector and local providers, give us a genuinely strong platform to work from.
To get there, we need the right people around us. We are a small, motivated and supportive team who care about the work and about each other. We invest in our people, we learn together and we try to make Active Herefordshire and Worcestershire a great place to work.
We are keen to attract people with diverse backgrounds, perspectives and experiences — both from outside the organisation and by developing the talent we already have.
If you are looking for a role where you can make a difference and improve people’s lives, where you will be part of a team that genuinely supports one another, and where you can help shape an organisation at an important point in its journey — this could be the right opportunity for you.
We look forward to hearing from you. Yours sincerely
Steve Brewster
Chief Executive Officer
Active Herefordshire and Worcestershire
Our Vision
Our organisational vision is: “Everyone Active for Life”
Our Mission
With our know how, we can get the communities we serve moving and active, improving health and wellbeing, transforming lives and creating lasting change.
Our Values
We are finalising our 2026 – 2029 organisational strategy, as part of this we are reviewing our organisational values.
Our existing values are:
- Inclusive - We are committed to transparency and equality. We champion diversity.
- Energy - We are a vibrant organisation that makes sport and physical activity happen, with a hardworking and enthusiastic approach.
- Quality - We are dedicated to delivering to high standards and are motivated to achieve the best results with the greatest impact.
- Teamwork - We work with integrity and in unity, complementing one another to establish and realise shared goals.
- Respect - We consider, understand and value other's opinions and circumstances.
Job Information
Post: Director of Operations Salary: £42500 – £50000
Contract: Full-time, initially fixed term until 31 March 2027, with a strong likelihood of extension subject to continuation of external funding.
Reporting to: CEO
Office Location: Based out of the University of Worcester, Hines Building, Henwick Grove, Worcester, WR2 6AJ. There is an expectation to be present in the identified priority communities.
Agile working policy in place subject to the needs of the business.
About the Role
This is a senior leadership role that will oversee the smooth running of Sports Partnership Herefordshire and Worcestershire (trading as Active Herefordshire and Worcestershire – Active HW) an independent charity with a vision of everyone active for life.
You are responsible for ensuring the organisation runs safely and effectively to support individuals and teams fulfil their functions and roles.
As a member of the senior leadership team, you will need to be a good communicator with the team, board members, key stakeholders and funders.
There are three key elements of the role:
· Running the organisation safely and effectively
· Leading the organisation as part of the senior team
· Leading and developing a team of three strategic leads.
Why Work For Us
You will be part of committed, purpose-driven team working at Active Herefordshire and Worcestershire. Motivated by being part of a wider movement committed to making a difference to people’s lives through moving more, physical activity and sport.
Active Herefordshire and Worcestershire is committed to being diverse and inclusive, demonstrated through pro-actively delivering our Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan.
Through our People Plan, we are committed to being a great place to work – attracting diverse people whilst retaining a skilled workforce in an environment where people can thrive and grow.
As well as the opportunity to develop your skills in a rewarding and challenging role, we offer:
- Agile Working - Combination of working from home and office-based work e.g. Mon – Weds in office, Thurs-Fri at home
- Annual leave – 25 days, plus 2 discretionary days for Birthday and extra day at Christmas, 8 bank holidays
- Opportunities for staff CPD training, individual or team, coaching, external conferences and meetings, internal staff briefings and monthly staff meetings
- Family and people friendly policies and procedures Two team staff celebration days
- Enhanced pension (5% employer contribution) - Staff are enrolled into the pension scheme after 3 months
- Enhanced sick pay
- Enhance maternity pay
- Free parking – A paid annual permit for University of Worcester campus car parks
- Provision of hot drinks in the office
- Health & wellbeing initiatives, including:
1. Monthly health and wellbeing salary contribution
2. Weekly paid half an hour wellbeing sessions
3. Access to Occupational health
4. Access to Mental Health First Aiders
5. University of Worcester Fitness gym (Riverside Fitness) membership discount
You Will:
Overall responsibility for the smooth, safe and effective operation of Active Herefordshire and Worcestershire.
Work closely with the Office Manager and HR consultants to ensure governance, HR and compliance functions are well managed and current.
Lead on organisational health and safety — making sure everything the organisation does meets and exceeds its legal obligations.
Oversee compliance with the Code for Sports Governance, ensuring we not only meet but where possible exceed the requirements of our primary funders as the organisation grows and develops.
This includes overseeing our Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan (DIAP) and People Plan.
Support the work of the Board's Governance Sub Group, providing advice, information and assurance as needed.
Play a full and active role in our small senior leadership team (alongside the CEO and Deputy CEO), sharing responsibility for shaping the strategic direction of the organisatsion.
Help ensure the whole organisation stays focused on our vision, mission and strategy and that day- to-day work connects clearly to our longer-term goals.
Contribute to long-term organisational planning, including future-proofing the organisation for a changing landscape.
Oversee the organisation’s reporting to the wider team, board, key stakeholders, partners and funders — ensuring it is clear, accurate and delivered on time.
Coordinate organisational planning by bringing together individual team annual strategy implementation plans into an organisation annual implementation plan.
Manage allocated budgets responsibly.
Provide leadership to three strategic leads covering workforce, marketing and communications, and sport welfare, so that the front-facing teams (Children and Young People, and Healthy and Active Communities) have the internal support they need to reduce inactivity and tackle inequalities across Herefordshire and Worcestershire.
Personal Specification: Essential
Personal statements will be assessed against the criteria outlined below:
Equity and Inclusion
Has considerable experience and is confident in modelling inclusive behaviours, respecting cultural differences and championing lived experiences.
Communication
Has communication experience and is confident in communicating with
clarity and credibility to diverse audiences.
Delivery and adaptability
Has experience of managing competing priorities, follows up on commitments and actions with an ability to be agile in response to
emerging opportunities.
Initiative and Adaptability
Has experience and is confident in working in ambiguous, changing environments and is able to balance priorities and take decisive action.
Monitoring, Evaluation and Learning
Embed and maintain consistent evaluation approaches across all work to generate learning, demonstrate impact.
Access to Transport
Access to a car or similar suitable means of transport (with driving license and business insurance). Ability to travel and work evenings and/or weekends when required.
Partnership and Relationship Building
Has experience in building trust and long-term relationships at different levels across diverse organisations and communities, especially with local statutory, health partners, providers and community-based organisations.
Decision making
The ability to make complex decisions independently and seek support where appropriate.
Financial Acumen
Has experience and is confident in managing allocated budgets and resources, to ensure programme effectiveness and financial sustainability.
Line Management
Has experience and is confident and competent in being an adaptable and consistent leader, with the ability to build trust and support the development of staff to achieve organisational strategic goals.
Personal Development
Experience of and commitment towards continuous improvement, learning and reflection of own and others work.
Personal Statements - Desirable
Personal statements will be assessed against the criteria outlined below:
Analytical Thinking and Learning
Has considerable experience and is confident in data and insight analysis and connecting it to national and local intelligence to understand relevance to operational priorities and future strategic direction.
Place and systems change
Understands the principles of place / systems change and knowledge of how they are applied
Innovation, Creativity and Problem Solving
Ability to identify and implement innovative solutions and methods.
Stakeholder Management
Understanding principles of stakeholder management and influence to understand and appreciate shared aspirations and achieve desired outcomes .
Awareness
Has a knowledge of Active Partnerships and Sport England's approach to place and physical activity
General Information
The job description is representative of the role as it is at present, constituted, and is therefore subject to review and updating from time to time.
It is Active Herefordshire and Worcestershire’s policy to consult the employee and to aim to reach agreement on amendments, but nevertheless the right to make any reasonable changes is reserved.
If you think you might have most of the essential aspects within the person specification but are not 100% sure, please do still apply and let us decide.
We know that certain groups rule themselves out of opportunities assuming others will be more successful, but please don’t be that person.
We want applications from the widest cross-section of the community.
We use AI tools at Active HW to improve our ways of working, how we communicate, plan and learn.
For your application we want to hear from the authentic you. If you use to AI, use it to check your spelling, grammar and clarity. But not to write your application.
We are often aware when an application is AI-generated and that may work against you. We want to hear about the real you and why you want to apply for this role.
Other Details
Equality Statement:
Active Herefordshire and Worcestershire is committed to being an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all members of the community.
Privacy Statement:
Active Herefordshire and Worcestershire takes your privacy very seriously.
More information on how we collect, manage, process and store your data can be found in our privacy policy
Link: https://www.activehw.co.uk/privacy -policy. Next steps:
Shortlisted candidates will be invited to an interview on Monday 22nd 2026.
References will be carried out for the successful candidate.
How to apply:
Apply online via the application form, please use the following link to download the application form: https://www.activehw.co.uk/jobs/11142
CV’s will be accepted alongside a cover letter that addresses the job requirements. Please email to [email protected]
Closing Date - The closing date for this position is: Date: Sunday 14th June Time: 23:59PM
Interviews will take place on Monday 22nd June 2026.
For an informal discussion about the job role, please contact: Simon Thomas, email: [email protected], Phone: 07717422184
Pay: £42,500.00-£50,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Canteen
- Company pension
- Enhanced maternity leave
- Free parking
- Health & wellbeing programme
- On-site parking
- Sick pay
- Work from home
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Worcester WR2 6AJ
