Outdoor Recreation Manager

| Southwark Council

Location: Southwark

Salary: £54,360 – £61,686

Full Time: Permanent

Closing Date: 07/09/2026

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Job Description

Our Parks and Natural Environment Service is looking for a passionate and dedicated Outdoor Recreation Manager to join our team and help improve the health, wellbeing and quality of life of Southwark residents. This role will lead the strategic development, management and improvement of outdoor sports facilities and community physical activity programmes across the borough.

As the largest local authority social landlord in London, Southwark manages 55,000 homes and serves a young, diverse and growing population. We are committed to creating a fairer borough and tackling inequality through our Borough Plan and Southwark Stands Together programme.

What You’ll Be Doing

As Outdoor Recreation Manager, you will lead the development and delivery of Southwark’s outdoor sports and physical activity offer, ensuring facilities and programmes are accessible, innovative and responsive to community needs.

Key responsibilities include:

• Leading the strategic management and continuous improvement of the council’s outdoor sports facilities portfolio.
• Developing and delivering programmes that increase participation in physical activity, particularly amongst underrepresented groups.
• Building and managing partnerships with health, sport, community and funding organisations.
• Overseeing community sports programmes and ensuring delivery of measurable health and wellbeing outcomes.
• Managing significant revenue and capital budgets, identifying funding opportunities and supporting income generation.
• Leading procurement, contract management and performance monitoring activities.
• Managing and developing staff, contractors, consultants and delivery partners.
• Ensuring compliance with health and safety requirements and promoting equality, diversity and inclusion across all areas of service delivery.

What We’re Looking For

We are seeking an experienced and strategic leader with a passion for community sport, physical activity and improving health outcomes.

You will have:

• A relevant degree or professional qualification in a related field, or equivalent experience.
• Significant experience in community sport development, physical activity programme delivery or outdoor recreation management.
• Experience of managing contracts, commissioning services and monitoring performance.
• Experience contributing to strategy and policy development.
• Strong financial management skills, including budget planning and monitoring.
• Excellent stakeholder management and partnership-building skills.
• Strong analytical, organisational and problem-solving abilities.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to engage effectively with elected members, senior officers, community groups and residents.

For detailed qualifications and requirements, please review the job description and person specification located at the bottom of the advert.

Contact Information

For an informal discussion about the role, please contact the Hiring Manager Tara Quinn on Tara.Quinn@southwark.gov.uk

Additional Information: 

This role offers flexibility to combine home working with on-site collaboration.

Evening and out-of-hours working may be required.

The post manages direct and indirect reports and works closely with contractors, coaches, volunteers and partner organisations.

Benefits and more information:

https://jobs.southwark.gov.uk/why-us/

How To Apply

To apply, please follow the link below. Good luck!