Reporting to:
Director of Relationships
Location:
Home based with national travel
Salary:
£45,000 - £47,000
Contract:
Full Time: Initially Fixed Term until 31st March 2027. Open to secondment.
Line Management:
None currently
Key relationships:
Active Partnerships (APs), Sport England Governance Team, Sports Governance Academy, AP board members, AP leadership teams, charity and local authority partners
Do you believe that great governance unlocks confidence, inclusion, and long-term impact?
Active Partnerships are looking for a Strategic Lead – Network Governance to champion and enhance governance practice across a thriving network of 42 Active Partnerships. This is a full-time national role focused on relationships, collaboration, and shared learning.
You’ll work alongside brilliant leaders across the country — supporting boards, amplifying great ideas, and helping governance play its full part in the network’s success.
About the Role
Active Partnerships are independent organisations with a shared commitment to enabling healthier, more active communities. Each has a unique structure — from registered charities and CIOs to partnerships hosted by local authorities.
You’ll support governance development that reflects this diversity. Whether it's creating spaces for peer learning, helping teams explore future board skills, or sharing strong practice already in place — your work will strengthen capability, confidence, and connection.
This is a collaborative, strategic role embedded within APNO’s Organisational Health programme. You’ll help embed governance as a positive and enabling part of how the network leads and grows — aligning strategy, culture, and values.
What You’ll Be Doing
- Supporting the ongoing development of confident, inclusive governance across the network
- Creating opportunities for boards and leaders to connect, learn, and reflect together
- Sharing best practice across different governance models and local contexts
- Helping Active Partnerships embed proportionate, values-led governance approaches
- Collaborating with the Sport England Governance Team to align with the Code for Sports Governance and support its application
- Providing tailored advice and 1:1 support to boards and senior leaders across charities, local authorities, and federated partnerships
- Supporting board recruitment, onboarding and succession planning, respecting local structures and autonomy
- Providing guidance on topics such as strategic oversight, risk management, board development, and decision-making
- Contributing to APNO’s wider Organisational Health and leadership support efforts
- Travelling nationally to support and connect with Active Partnerships
What You’ll Bring
You’ll be someone who:
- Builds trust easily and works well with senior leaders and boards
- Understands how to tailor support to diverse governance structures and organisational contexts
- Has in-depth knowledge of governance frameworks such as the Code for Sports Governance, Charity Governance Code, or local authority governance standards
- Brings experience supporting boards to improve governance, culture, and strategic effectiveness
- Is confident facilitating learning spaces and conversations with varied stakeholders
- Sees governance as a practical enabler of inclusive leadership, strong culture, and long-term impact
Your background might be in governance consultancy, charity leadership, board development, public service or systems change — what matters most is your ability to connect, guide, and inspire.
Why This Role Matters
Active Partnerships are delivering important work in communities across the country — and strong governance helps make that possible. Your role will help align good governance with the values, leadership, and collaborative spirit that define the network.
What We Offer
- Full-time role with flexible and remote working
- National travel to connect with the network
- A values-driven, supportive team
- A meaningful opportunity to help shape system-wide impact
Active Partnerships are committed to inclusive hiring and want you to feel supported to be your best.
How to Apply
- Submit your CV to register interest by Friday 25th July at 5pm.
- Complete the anonymised work-related questions by Monday 28th July at midday.
- Interviews will take place: TBC.
If you need any support to access the process, reach out to level=
