Workforce Development Manager (London and Essex) - Fixed term

Sport and Recreation; Greater London; Hybrid; GBP 36,000 - 44,000; Full time

Job summary

CIMSPA in the UK is hiring a Workforce Development Manager to lead regional workforce strategies across London and Essex. You will build strategic partnerships with employers, education providers and authorities to strengthen skill development and professional recognition.

The role focuses on shaping local skills plans, driving income through partnerships, and championing workforce development priorities across CIMSPA teams. It requires strong relationship-building and commercial awareness.

Qualifications

• Experience in workforce development or partnerships within sport and physical activity.

Responsibilities

• Identify workforce needs with employers, education providers and strategic partners.
• Develop and deliver local workforce and skills plans across London and Essex.
• Generate income through partnership growth and professional status opportunities.
• Identify and convert new employer partnerships to strengthen the sector.
• Support employers with workforce planning and skills development.
• Influence regional stakeholders and champion workforce development priorities.
• Collaborate with CIMSPA teams to deliver strong partner experiences.

Skills

Partner management

Stakeholder engagement

Workforce planning

Partnership development

Job description

Workforce Development Manager (London and Essex) - Fixed term

CIMSPA is the professional development body for the UK's sport and physical activity sector workforce and a registered charity, committed to supporting, developing and enabling professionals and organisations to succeed and, as a result, inspire our nation to become more active. Together we're developing a vibrant, UK-wide sport and physical activity sector, with the highest standards of service delivery.

About The Role

Drive workforce development. Influence regional skills. Build partnerships that transform the sport and physical activity sector.

Are you passionate about developing people, building influential partnerships and driving meaningful change across communities?

The Workforce Development Manager will play a key role in helping employers, education providers and strategic partners strengthen the sport and physical activity workforce across London and Essex. This is an exciting opportunity to join a high-performing national team that works collaboratively to support workforce development, professional recognition and skills growth across the sector. You'll combine relationship building, stakeholder engagement and commercial awareness to influence regional workforce priorities, develop local skills plans and grow partnerships that make a lasting impact.

What you'll be doing

As Workforce Development Manager, you'll work closely with employers, local authorities, education providers and strategic partners to identify workforce needs and deliver solutions that support skills development and professional recognition.

Key responsibilities include but are not limited to:

• Building and managing strong partner relationships
• Developing and delivering local workforce and skills plans
• Generating income through partnership growth and professional status opportunities
• Identifying and converting new employer partnerships
• Supporting employers with workforce planning and skills development
• Influencing regional stakeholders and championing workforce development priorities
• Working collaboratively across CIMSPA teams to deliver exceptional partner experiences
• Representing CIMSPA at meetings, events and sector forums.

Further Information

Salary: £40,030.95 per annum
Contract: Fixed term until March 2028

First stage - if successful, video interview submissions will take place and need to be received by Wednesday 28 October 2026.

Second stage - if successful, interviews will be held at SportPark, Loughborough University on Wednesday 4 November 2026.

Please note:

• Using AI to write your cover letter is discouraged, as we want to understand your own voice, experience, and motivation.
• This is a remote role with substantial local travel requirements (travel expenses are covered).
• It will require occasional attendance at CIMSPA's Head Office in Loughborough.
• Candidates ideally reside within or near the designated areas (London and Essex).