Club and Community Development Officer - South-East

Bowls Development Alliance; England; Hybrid; GBP 25,000; Full time

Job summary

A sports development organisation is looking for an enthusiastic individual to enhance participation in bowls across the South East of England. You will oversee development programmes and support clubs in community engagement, sustainability, and governance. Ideal candidates should possess robust experience in sports development, strong communication skills, and a passion for fostering inclusive sporting communities. This is a full-time role with travel across various regions including Essex, Kent, and Greater London.

Benefits

Inclusive workplace culture

Support for childcare during interviews

Commitment to diversity and equal opportunities

Qualifications

• Demonstrable experience in sports development, particularly at grassroots level.
• Ability to engage effectively with clubs and communities.
• Strong understanding of the sporting landscape in the UK.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the delivery of participation and development programmes.
• Drive the BDA Participation Programme in the South East.
• Support clubs in growing membership and achieving sustainability.
• Conduct seminars and training sessions for clubs and volunteers.
• Ensure inclusivity and governance compliance in all activities.

Skills

Sports development experience

Communication skills

Collaboration skills

Understanding of community engagement

Job description

Organisation Bowls Development Alliance Salary £25,000 Location Home based with travel across the South East of England – Hampshire, Sussex, Kent, Essex, Greater London, Surrey, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and Hertfordshire. Contract type Permanent (Full time) Closing date 4 January 2026 Interview date 14 January 2026

Main Purpose of the Job

To work at the grassroots level to increase participation in bowls by overseeing the delivery of participation and development programmes as part of the BDA Club Development Team.

Support and develop the club network across the South East with a focus on Essex in 2026.

To be a skilled communicator and collaborator, working with partners to promote and develop participation in bowls while supporting the short-, medium-, and long-term objectives of the BDA and key stakeholders.

Main Duties and Responsibilities

Deliver and drive the BDA Participation Programme in the specific region, working with clubs and liaising with key partners, including Bowls England, the English Indoor Bowling Association, the English Short Mat Bowling Association and British Crown Green Bowling Association.

Utilise a place-based approach to connect local communities with Bowls clubs, ensuring that these clubs align with the needs of their communities while offering opportunities to enhance physical, mental, and social well-being.

Engage with and support Bowls clubs by helping them grow their membership, increase participation, and achieve financial sustainability through the broader BDA Club Offer, ensuring long-term viability.

Deliver seminars and training sessions on specific topics to equip clubs and volunteers with the knowledge and skills needed to sustain and grow the club network across the South East of England. These sessions may be conducted in person or through the BDA Weeks of Learning.

Implement systems and processes that enable clubs to collaborate effectively, fostering a joined-up and mutually beneficial approach to growing the sport of bowls within local communities.

Ensure inclusivity and governance compliance in all delivered programmes and initiatives, supporting the work of the Safeguarding Steering Group and promoting best practices in governance at all levels.

Promote opportunities for volunteers and coaches through the BDA Education platform and Coach Bowls to support the long-term sustainability and development of the sport at a local level.

Provide reports and updates as required by the Club Development Team Leader.

Submit reports and updates to senior management, ensuring all club data and key performance indicators (KPIs) are recorded and updated weekly through the monitoring and evaluation system.

Support the broader work of the BDA team and contribute to the organisation’s overall success.

The Role

The BDA is seeking an enthusiastic, motivated, and highly organised individual to support the delivery of the Club Development Programme and the wider Club Offer. Our fundamental aim is to “place bowls at the heart of every community as an accessible sport for all.”

In this role, you will play a crucial part in achieving the BDA’s targets as set out by Sport England. This is an exciting opportunity to make a real impact on the grassroots of the sport by supporting and developing clubs and communities across designated areas. You will work closely with key partners to enhance the long-term sustainability of bowls while promoting its benefits for physical, mental, and social well-being.

About You

The ideal candidate will have demonstrable experience in sports development, including working with clubs at a grassroots level, along with a strong understanding of the sporting landscape. We are looking for a people-oriented individual who can effectively engage with and support clubs, communities, and volunteers.

Our Commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

The BDA is an equal opportunities employer and strives to create an inclusive culture where talent can flourish. We believe in the potential of everyone and open our doors to those who share those values. All appointments will be based on merit; however, we particularly encourage applications from people from ethnically diverse backgrounds so that we mirror the community we serve.

We are deeply committed to inclusive working practices, so during the application process we commit to :

Paying for care and childcare whilst you are at interviews where these take place in person.

Making any reasonable adjustments – for example ensuring we have a sign language interpreter organised in advance if you’d like them.

Providing this document in a Word document format readily available to download.

If there is anything else you are concerned about or think we could provide, please let us know.