Head of Place

London Sport; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 57,000 - 69,000; Full time

Job summary

London Sport is seeking a Head of Place to drive the Place Expansion programme across six London boroughs. You will lead strategy, embed locally led approaches, and ensure delivery against agreed outcomes while managing budgets and partnerships.

The role requires senior leadership, strong collaboration with public sector systems, and a commitment to tackling health inequalities through place-based interventions in London.

Qualifications

• Significant senior leadership experience in place-based, community development or public health programmes.
• Experience managing complex, multi-stakeholder programmes with significant budgets.
• Experience working with public sector systems such as London local government.
• Commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion in London.
• Live in London or have day-to-day life in London.

Responsibilities

• Lead the design and delivery of the Place Expansion Programme across six London boroughs.
• Ensure place-based working reflects local insight, community voice, local political oversight and system collaboration.
• Act as a senior strategic advisor on place-based approaches internally and externally.
• Oversee a portfolio of place partnerships, ensuring high‑quality delivery and KPI achievement.
• Lead and develop a high‑performing team of 5 Senior Development Managers.
• Collaborate with Impact and Insight to use data and community engagement to shape interventions.
• Manage programme budgets and ensure funding is spent on time and as agreed.
• Oversee partner funding agreements and ensure compliance with funder requirements.

Skills

Senior leadership

Stakeholder management

Programme management

Budget management

Job description

We’re looking for a Head of Place to lead the strategic development, delivery, and expansion of London Sport’s Place-based approach, overseeing the Place Expansion programme funded by Sport England.

The role is responsible for embedding locally led, system-wide approaches to increase physical activity levels in underserved communities across London, reducing inequalities and improving health outcomes.

What You’ll Do

• Lead the design and delivery of the Place Expansion Programme across six London boroughs.
• Ensure place-based working reflects local insight, community voice, local political oversight and system collaboration.
• Act as a senior strategic advisor on place-based approaches internally and externally.
• Oversee a portfolio of place partnerships, ensuring high‑quality delivery, managing programme performance against agreed outcomes, KPIs, and investment requirements.
• Lead and develop a high‑performing team of 5 Senior Development Managers delivering place-based work.
• Work closely and efficiently with colleagues in the Impact and Insight team to champion the use of data, insight, and community engagement to shape interventions.
• Lead the management of programme budgets and ensure effective use of funding, ensuring that funding is spent on time and as agreed.
• Oversee partner funding agreement and ensure compliance with funder requirements and organisational policies.

Who You Are

• Significant senior leadership experience in place-based, community development, or public health programmes.
• Proven track record of managing complex, multi-stakeholder programmes with significant budgets.
• Experience of working with or alongside public sector systems such as London local government.
• Strong understanding of inequalities in physical activity, health, or social outcomes
• Deep understanding of place-based approaches and systems change.
• Programme and financial management experience.
• Confident communicator with experience representing organisations externally
• You are able to demonstrate an understanding of, and commitment to, equality, diversity and inclusion in relation to London.
• You have lived experience of day-to-day life in London.

Key details

• Full-time (35 hours per week). We are open to discussing flexible working options.
• Salary: £63,000 per annum if full-time
• Permanent contract
• Flexible working: we use a model of 2 plus days per week in our central London office and working from home, with regular travel required throughout London

Deadline to apply

Tuesday 27th October 2026