Head of Sport & Physical Activity

Job Description

We believe everyone deserves a great Glasgow life and that starts with the people who work here.

Glasgow Life is a charity like no other. Our vision is to improve the lives of everyone in our city. To help us achieve that, we are looking for a Head of Sport & Physical Activity to join our senior management team.

Bursting with energy, purpose and community spirit, Glasgow is a city where sport, wellbeing, culture and learning are core elements of everyday life. At the heart of this vibrancy is Glasgow Life, one of Scotland’s largest charities, dedicated to transforming lives and strengthening communities through sport, physical activity, culture and learning.

Our work is deeply rooted throughout Glasgow. We manage and animate a wide portfolio of sports facilities, events, museums, libraries, community venues and programmes to offer meaningful access to education, health and personal growth to everyone.

These services deliver impact and tackle inequality, improve mental and physical health and strengthen civic participation. Whether supporting young people through sport and learning, promoting active lifestyles through inclusive fitness programmes, or providing vital access to reading and digital services in libraries, we are focused on delivering for Glasgow’s people and places.

Our passionate colleagues and volunteers support and inspire people across Glasgow to access the experiences that matter most to them.

If you’re excited by the idea of being part of that, this could be the job for you.

What you’ll do

As Head of Sport & Physical Activity, you’ll be a part of an established senior team, reporting to the Director of Libraries, Sport & Physical Activity and Communities. You will lead, inspire and challenge a multi-disciplinary team to lead the operational delivery of leisure services across multiple facilities and teams, ensuring safe, effective and financially sustainable services while supporting Glasgow Life’s wider ambitions for participation, health improvement and community wellbeing.

You’ll oversee projects and transformational change, driving innovation, inclusion, financial sustainability, and service excellence. You’ll be the strategic adviser to the Senior Leadership team as subject matter expert in sport and physical activity, driving the organisation’s mission and long-term goals.

Your work will make a visible and lasting difference.

Who you are

We’re looking for a strategic, inspiring and collaborative leader who brings energy, credibility and vision. You’ll have a deep understanding of how sport and physical activity improve lives.

You’ll bring strong business acumen, a people-focused approach, and a commitment to delivering public value in a complex, high-profile environment. You’ll be able to balance social impact with income generation and lead inclusively and authentically.

 

We’re looking for:

• A degree (or equivalent) in a relevant discipline.
• Proven track record of strategic leadership in a senior role, with the ability to lead large, multidisciplinary teams and deliver results within a complex culture and sport environment.
• Excellent communication and influencing skills, with the ability to manage diverse, high-level stakeholder relationships.
• Experience of influencing policy and represent Glasgow at a senior level across public, private, and third-sector partners.
• A strategic thinker and planner with a proven track record of using business judgment to develop long-term growth strategies.
• Strong financial and budget management skills with experience securing, managing, and growing income from diverse sources.
• Experienced in leading projects and teams in in complex, high-pressure environments, demonstrating resilience, decisiveness, and effective prioritisation.
• Knowledge of equality, diversity and inclusion work in sport and physical activity to address underrepresentation.
• A personal and professional commitment to Glasgow Life’s values — demonstrated through inclusive, values-led leadership

Under the Local Government and Housing Act 1989, this post is politically restricted.

This post is a declaration of Interest (ALL Grade 8+ posts & any grade in procurement, finance or events)

If you are interested in finding out more about the role, please contact our recruitment partner, Mary Few, Saxton Bampfylde, at mary.few@saxbam.com

For further information, please visit:

https://roles.saxbam.com/advert-details/?id=25304211-555b-f111-a825-7ced8d9997c0

Interested candidates should send their CV plus covering letter to Mary Few at: mary.few@saxbam.com. Applicants will be asked to complete an equality and diversity monitoring form.

What you need to know

Important Dates:

The closing date for this job is 11.59pm on 28 June 2026. First stage Interviews are provisionally scheduled for early September, with final stage interviews at the end of September 2026.

Hours: 35 per week.

Salary: £85,409 - £99,011 per annum.

Contract type: Permanent

Location: Hybrid. You will have the flexibility to spend part of your week at home, and part of your week in one of our offices.

Diversity and Fair Work at Glasgow Life

We’re working to build a team that reflects the rich diversity of Glasgow’s communities — where everyone feels valued, respected, and able to be their full, authentic selves at work.

We’re proud to be a Disability Confident and Carer Positive employer, and we welcome applications from people of all backgrounds. Learn more about our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion here: https://www.glasgowlife.org.uk/the-small-print/an-inclusive-employer

We’re also committed to Fair Work First principles, including effective voice, opportunity, security, fulfilment and respect for all our staff. Learn more about our approach to Fair Work First here: https://www.glasgowlife.org.uk/about-us/fair-work-first

We’re working hard to address underrepresentation in our workforce. We especially welcome applications from people with disabilities and from ethnic minority communities.

 

 

What we offer

At Glasgow Life, our work changes lives. As a charity, we bring communities together and support wellbeing through sport, culture, heritage, and learning.

Learn more about Glasgow Life in our 10 Facts video in the Further Information section on MyJobScotland.

We support you to live a great life. Inside and outside of work. Some of our benefits include:

Holiday

When you join, you’ll get 30 days’ holiday. Plus 6.5 public holidays if you’re full-time. This increases to 35 days after 5 years of service.

Fancy a bit more time off? You can buy extra holiday too!

Pension

Join the Local Government Pension Scheme (LGPS) – a Defined Benefit scheme that provides you with a secure pension for later life.

Support

Sometimes we all need support and a listening ear. Our free and confidential Employee Assistance Programme can support your mental, emotional, and physical wellbeing.

Discounts

As a colleague, you can enjoy discounts on the things you love, from Glasgow Club memberships to our museum shops and our online store. We are also part of the cycle-to-work scheme, helping you stay active.

Flexibility and development

We are proud of our flexible and inclusive work policies, which help you balance work and life. We also offer support for learning, development and career progression.

Please note that Glasgow Life is an Arm’s Length External Organisation to Glasgow City Council. We are currently completing a Job Evaluation exercise and introducing a new pay and grading structure. This may impact current salaries quoted in job adverts. To learn more, visit - https://www.glasgow.gov.uk/jobevaluation.

We’re excited to hear from you. Let’s shape a great Glasgow life — together.

We want everyone to be able to apply. If you need the Application Pack in another format, like Braille, large print, or another language, please call us on 0141 287 1054.

If we need to post it to you, we’ll send it by second-class mail within three working days. Please allow enough time to complete and return your application before the closing date. If you think you might need more time because of accessibility needs, please get in touch and we’ll be happy to help.

There are also a number of Accessibility Tools compatible with the myjobscotland website which may assist you with your application. More information on these can be found at https://myjobscotland.gov.uk/accessibility-statement.

Further Information

 

For further information about working for us please refer to our website https://www.glasgowlife.org.uk/work-with-us