Lead Policy Officer

Lead Policy Officer (Sport)

£46,889 per annum - Grade 8

Leeds / Hybrid Full time - 37 hours per week

Fixed term until 31 March 2029. Funding may be extended beyond this date.

Closing date - Sunday 26 July 2026 at 23:55

Please note that the Combined Authority will consider requests for part-time working and/or job share.

We currently have a fixed term vacancy for a Lead Policy Officer (with background in Sport and Physical Activity policy and delivery) to join our Culture, Heritage and Sport team.

A new role opportunity in the Culture, Heritage and Sport team for someone with sport / physical activity policy and delivery background. The successful candidate will bring their significant experience and network to play a key role within the team, contributing to the delivery and development of programmes that increase participation across the region. The role will involve supporting activity that ensures sport and physical activity, as well as the wider work of the team, are woven into improving the health and wealth of people living in West Yorkshire. This will include working across policy, investment, influencing, collaboration and convening, as well as championing the sector. The postholder will also contribute to the delivery of key regional strategies, including the West Yorkshire Plan, Mayoral Pledges, the Local Growth Plan and the Culture, Heritage and Sport Action Plan and Framework. As powers and responsibilities continue to be devolved, the role will support efforts to target resources effectively and deliver strategic, collaborative interventions to further develop the region’s sport and physical activity sectors as well as the wider team’s brief. This includes supporting the Mayoral office such as briefings and events.

The role will involve working closely with colleagues across the Inclusive Economy Directorate, particularly within Education and Skills and Business, as well as with wider Combined Authority teams including Research and Intelligence, Place, Marcomms and the Mayoral Office. The postholder will also engage with a wide range of external partners, including the five West Yorkshire Local Authorities (Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds and Wakefield), Arm’s Length Bodies such as Sport England (with whom the CA has a Memorandum of Understanding), Government Departments, Sector Organisations, and Local Communities. This includes maintaining strong working relationships with Yorkshire Sport Foundation, the Active Partnership for the area, and the Local Visitor Economy Partnership (LVEP).

Our Offer

· Work your way – From flexible and agile working options, including a generous flexi-time scheme to help you balance your personal life and career.

· Time to recharge – Enjoy 28 days of annual leave (with increases based on length of service), plus all Bank Holidays.

· Free greener travel across West Yorkshire – Cover your commute sustainably with unlimited free bus and rail travel using the MCard (Zones 1–5).

· Secure your future – Benefit from a highly competitive Local Government Pension Scheme.

· Investing in you – Take advantage of supported professional development, regular training, and up to 3 paid volunteering days per year.

· Grow with us – Incremental salary progression for most roles and annual cost of living increases.

· Family first – We offer enhanced parental and bereavement leave, plus other family-friendly policies to support you when it matters most.

· Your wellbeing, our priority – Access 24/7 free confidential counselling services and the Headspace app for you and up to 5 family or friends.

· Modern workspace in a prime location – Work in bright, contemporary offices just a 2-minute walk from Leeds Train Station, fully equipped with the latest tech.

The Role

Reporting into the Head of Culture, Heritage and Sport Policy, your key responsibilities will include:

· Supporting the research and development of new policy initiatives to increase engagement in sport and physical activity, in alignment with Mayoral pledges, the West Yorkshire Plan, and Local Growth Plan, in line with the West Yorkshire Culture Heritage and Sport Framework and Evaluation Framework as well as supporting the Mayoral office.

· Growing proactive and positive relationships with internal and external stakeholders including local, regional and central government, Yorkshire Sport Foundation, Sport England, grassroots and elite sports clubs and foundations, the Local Visitor Economy Partnership (LVEP), and others.

· Ensuring sport and physical activity interventions are developed and delivered through authentic collaboration with relevant stakeholders, including representing the Combined Authority at external events, meetings and consultations.

Please review the Role Profile for more information about the responsibilities.

About You

You will have the following key skills, attributes, education, and experience:

· Knowledge of sport, physical activity, and public health, including the West Yorkshire landscape and wider policy context.

· Strong collaborative, interpersonal, and problem-solving skills, with the ability to work effectively across diverse stakeholders.

· Confident communicator with excellent written, analytical, and presentation skills, including experience with business cases and public sector processes.

· Positive, team-oriented approach, able to represent the organisation in meetings, events, and policy development settings.

· Passion for the role of sport and physical activity in improving health, places, and economies, with desirable insight into links with cultural events and the visitor economy.

To Apply

If this sounds like your next role, please complete the application form on our website and tell us within the supporting statement why you would be a great fit for our role and how your skills, knowledge and experience align with the requirements within the Role Profile. Please visit our Advice for Candidates webpage and review the guidance on this page for support in completing your application form.

Further Information

The Combined Authority is passionate about creating an inclusive workplace that promotes and values diversity. We know through experience that different ideas, perspectives and backgrounds create a stronger and more creative work environment that delivers better outcomes. We welcome applications irrespective of people's age, disability, neuro-divergence, sex, gender identity and gender expression, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, sexual orientation, pregnancy or maternity, or other personal circumstances. We have policies and procedures in place to ensure that all applicants are treated fairly and consistently at every stage of the recruitment process, including the consideration of reasonable adjustments for people who have a disability and/or who are neuro divergent. To find out more about inclusivity at the West Yorkshire Combined Authority please visit our dedicated webpage.

Under the Disability Confident Scheme, applicants with a disability are guaranteed an interview, subject to the minimum criteria being met. Please note that whilst it is our policy to recruit at SP1 for all appointments, which is the salary stated above, each role includes career salary progression, with incremental increases applicable in most cases on an annual basis.