About the Role
Living Better’s Head of Place will provide strategic leadership for Peterborough Place-Based Partnership (known as PULSE) and give oversight and direction to the Fenland based work, driving whole‑system change by aligning health, education, VCSE, planning, community partners and local authority structures around a shared mission to increase activity and reduce inequalities.
The ideal candidate will lead the development, governance and implementation of the PULSE operating model, ensuring community insight shapes system priorities, investment and long‑term reform, while overseeing delivery of the Sport England Award, steward system change, remove barriers and ensure accountability for progress. Working within a place‑based model, embed physical activity into community and system‑led solutions, develop strong partnerships and support co‑designed programmes that respond to local needs, particularly in areas of greatest inequality.
Living Better is the accountable body for this award and we anticipate four days a week will be focused on Peterborough and 1 day a week on Fenland
- Contract type: Full time, hybrid/field based
- Location: Hybrid including 2 days a week in the St Ives office
- Salary: £37,000 – £42,000
Closing Date: 22nd September 2026
About Us:
Living Better’s aim across Cambridgeshire & Peterborough is “To improve health, happiness and wellbeing by supporting people to be active”.
We do this by increasing opportunities to be active and participate in sport and physical activity throughout Cambridgeshire & Peterborough. We work by connecting, influencing, developing people and organisations to deliver high quality events and activities across local communities. Our finance function helps make this work possible by ensuring our resources are managed accurately, responsibly and effectively.
Key Responsibilities
Programme & Systems Delivery
- Lead and steward the Place Based Operating Model, ensuring an aligned, insight‑driven system. Lead or support the design, delivery and evaluation of CYP-focused Test & Learn pilots that respond to local priorities and tackle inequalities in participation.
- Oversee delivery of Years 1 and 2 of the Five‑Year System Change Plan, ensuring progress across all work areas.
- Coordinate strategic alignment for the Movement Investment Plan (Year 2), supporting long‑term sustainability and embedding roles into partner commissioning.
- Ensure the place based cycle of work and delivery and insight drive prioritisation, resourcing, problem‑solving and system adaptation.
- Support senior leads to deliver consistent quality, inclusive practice and community‑centred ways of working.
People Leadership
- Line manage leads across engagement, CYP pathways, workforce development, volunteering, insight and compliance.
- Create a cohesive, high‑performing team with shared ownership of system change.
- Model and champion system leadership behaviours including collaboration, humility, prevention‑focused thinking and learning culture.
- Provide coaching, direction and support to ensure senior leads succeed.
Programme Governance
- Lead the PULSE and Fenland Operational Groups and ensure robust, transparent and inclusive system governance.
- Provide high‑quality reporting, assurance and accountability to Sport England and the Strategic Board.
- Oversee risk management, safeguarding compliance and escalation pathways, supported by the Compliance Lead.
- Ensure commissioning decisions and shared investment align with the city’s physical activity ambitions.
Monitoring & Evaluation
- Ensure community insight informs system priorities, investment decisions and long‑term reform.
- Oversee learning cycles and ensure insight is translated into strategic action.
- Promote a culture of continuous learning, reflection and adaptation across the partnership.
Stakeholder Engagement
- Build and maintain strong senior relationships across PCC, ICB, INTs, education networks, VCSE partners and community organisations.
- Promote credible, collaborative and outcome‑focused partnership working.
- Act as the strategic connector between neighbourhood voice and system decision‑making.
- Champion co‑production, shared accountability and continuous learning across the partnership.
External Representation
- Represent PULSE in local forums, education networks, youth-sector partnerships and district-level networks to support alignment, influence and collaboration.
- Communicate CYP priorities and learning clearly to senior leaders, young people, schools and community partners.
Person Specification
Essential Requirements
- Ability to work effectively from community venues, schools, partner locations and outdoor environments.
- Ability to work flexibly, including occasional evening and weekend work or other work outside normal office hours.
- Ability to travel regularly throughout Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.
- Access to a vehicle insured for business use.
- Full UK driving licence.
Skills and Attributes
- Strong relationship‑building and influencing ability at senior levels (LA, ICB, VCSE, education).
- Ability to translate community insight into strategy, priority‑setting and investment decisions.
- Skilled at leading multi‑disciplinary teams and driving collective ownership.
- Proven experience in programme or project management, ideally within the charity or community sector.
- Strong track record of leading teams to deliver complex projects and achieve measurable outcomes.
- Evidence of people leadership, including coaching, performance management, and team development.
- Excellent communication, stakeholder management, and problem‑solving skills.
- Strong ability to foster inclusive, collaborative, and outcome‑focused team cultures.
Knowledge and Experience
- Deep understanding of system change, place‑based approaches and cross‑sector partnership working.
- Strong knowledge of health inequalities and factors influencing participation, behaviour change and community outcomes.
- Understanding of governance, assurance, risk and accountability in multi‑agency environments.
- Proven senior leadership within complex, multi‑agency programmes (health, local authority, VCSE or system‑change environments).
Qualifications and Training
As an inclusive employer, Living Better welcomes a range of ways to demonstrate capability at this level, including qualifications or equivalent experience.
- Degree‑level education or equivalent in a related field, or qualified by experience.
- Training relevant to system leadership, partnership working, safeguarding, project management or evaluation is desirable.
Additional Information
- The role requires the ability and willingness to travel independently between multiple locations.
- The postholder will be required to work flexibly, including occasional work outside normal office hours, such as evenings and weekends. Time off in lieu (TOIL) will be provided in accordance with organisational policy.
- This is a hybrid and community-facing role with significant time spent working in community settings, partner organisations and local venues.
- The postholder will be expected to work collaboratively across organisational, sector and geographical boundaries.
- The role operates across Cambridgeshire and Peterborough and requires regular travel to community venues, schools, partner locations, meetings and events.
- This Job Description is only intended as a guide to the range of duties involved and the postholder will need to be flexible and adaptable to undertake other duties that may be required from time to time appropriate to the level of the post.
Values and Behaviours Framework
Our values and behaviours framework will guide the behaviours and culture that make Living Sport an outstanding organisation to be part of and presents us for what we are, a charity that drives positive change. Our framework is essential to provide clarity on expectations and accountabilities for staff, for Living Sport to be an enjoyable and rewarding place to work, whilst collaborating effectively to achieve our strategic aims.
Our values are:
- Trust – We will treat each other with respect, creating a family that supports and cares for each other.
- Collaboration – We champion teamwork, with effective communication and accountability.
- Passionate – We approach our work with positive energy and innovation, celebrating success as we move.
- Inclusivity – We promote a culture of diversity and equality, striving towards access and opportunities for all.
- Outcome Focussed – We have a local and targeted approach to support our communities to improve their health, happiness and wellbeing.
Safeguarding Children, Young People and Adults
Living Better is committed to providing equal opportunities for all and is committed to safeguarding children, young people and adults participating in sports and physical activity from harm. For further information please consult the Living Better website www.living-better.org.uk
As part of our commitment to providing a safe environment for children, young people and adults at risk, applicants should be aware that this post is subject to an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Criminal Record Check.