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Senior Community Lead (Leisure Partnerships Manager)

Are you a strategic leader with a passion for improving health, wellbeing and community resilience through sport and leisure?

We’re looking for an experienced Senior Community Lead (Leisure Partnerships Manager) to lead the delivery and performance of Northumberland’s Leisure Operating Contract, ensuring our services increase participation, tackle inequalities and deliver real impact for residents

In this high-profile client-side role, you’ll act as the Council’s principal lead for leisure partnerships, working with a wide range of internal services, providers and stakeholders to drive performance, innovation and value for money across a major £250m contract.

You will be responsible for developing and maintaining effective partnerships that increase participation in sport and leisure activities, particularly for residents who face barriers to access.

You’ll oversee contract governance, strategic planning, and significant budgets, while shaping how leisure services contribute to wider priorities including health improvement through strong contract management and partnership working.

Key responsibilities

• Lead performance monitoring, reporting and governance arrangements for the Leisure Operating Contract.
• Build and maintain productive relationships with partners, stakeholders and service providers.
• Manage contract meetings, partnership boards and governance groups.
• Oversee significant budgets, financial reporting and investment programmes.
• Ensure compliance with statutory, health and safety and contractual requirements.

About You

You’ll bring:

• Significant leadership experience in leisure, sport or physical activity
• Strong contract and partnership management expertise
• A track record of delivering outcomes through collaboration
• Financial and strategic acumen, with the ability to influence at senior levels

Why Join Us?

This is a unique opportunity to shape the future of leisure in Northumberland—ensuring services are inclusive, high-performing and make a lasting difference to communities.

Why choose us?

We have some outstanding benefits and perks to offer you, including:

• 26 days annual leave plus public/bank holidays, rising to 31 days after 5 years of service (pro rata for part-time employees)
• Automatic enrolment into the Local Government Pension Scheme
• Flexi scheme – up to 2 days flexible leave available per month (pro rata for part-time employees)

To see all our excellent benefits and perks, please click here.

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Further information

For guidance on completing your application and for information about our Equality and Diversity principles, please see the attached guidance.