Sports Programming Lead

RECRUITMENT PACK
Sports Programming Lead

CONTENTS

About Live Borders

A message from our CEO

The Role

Key Responsibilities

Knowledge and Experience

Packages and Benefits

ABOUT LIVE BORDERS

Live Borders is a forward-looking charitable trust at the heart of the
Scottish Borders, delivering active, creative, heritage, life-long learning
and community services that make a real difference to people’s lives.

We exist to help communities thrive - physically, creatively and socially.
Every day, our teams support people to be active, curious and
connected, whether that’s through sport and fitness, libraries and
learning, arts and heritage, museums, events or community
programmes.

Since our establishment in 2016, Live Borders has brought together
sport, leisure, culture and learning services into one organisation with a
shared purpose: to improve wellbeing, reduce inequality and strengthen
communities across one of Scotland’s most distinctive regions.

A PLACE-BASED ORGANISATION DELIVERING SOCIAL IMPACT

The Scottish Borders is a unique place - rural, diverse and deeply connected
to its communities. Live Borders reflects that. We deliver services across
towns, villages and rural communities, reaching people of all ages and
backgrounds.

Each year, we support more than a million visits to our sport and leisure
facilities and hundreds of thousands of visits to our cultural venues and
services. But our ambition goes beyond numbers. We want to ensure that
what we offer is relevant, inclusive and responsive to the changing needs of
the communities we serve.

We reinvest every penny we generate back into services and communities,
ensuring public value and social impact sits at the heart of everything we do.

A TIME OF OPPORTUNITY AND CHANGE

Live Borders is on an exciting journey. With new leadership and a clear focus
on impact, we are strengthening how we engage with communities, partners
and stakeholders, and how we tell our story.

This is a place for people who want to make a difference - who are motivated
by purpose, but also excited by change, improvement and innovation.

A MESSAGE FROM OUR CHIEF EXECUTIVE

Thank you for your interest in joining Live Borders.

Live Borders plays a vital role in the life of the Scottish Borders. Every day,
our teams support people to be active, creative, curious and connected,
through active living, creativity, culture and heritage, learning and community
services. The impact of this work is felt across our communities, and it matters
deeply.

We are a values-led organisation with a strong sense of purpose, and we are
also one that is evolving, responding to the changing needs of our
communities, the challenges facing the public and third sectors, and the
opportunities ahead of us. This is a moment to be ambitious, thoughtful and
bold about how we deliver our services and how we engage with the people
we serve.

Everyone who works at Live Borders plays a part in our success. We are
looking for people who care about people and place, who bring ideas,
enthusiasm and commitment, and who want to do work that makes a positive
difference. Whether your role is frontline, operational, specialist or strategic,
you will be supported to contribute, grow and do your best work.

At Live Borders, we value openness, inclusion and teamwork. We believe that
empowered people deliver the best services, and we are committed to
creating an environment where our teams can grow, develop and do their best
work.

If you are motivated by purpose, excited by change and keen to be part of an
organisation rooted in community and impact, I encourage you to consider
joining us.

I look forward to welcoming you to Live Borders.

Catriona McAllister
Chief Executive
Live Borders

THE ROLE

Hours:

37 hours per week / Permanent

Location:

Newtown St Boswells

Salary:

£36,976.19 - £40,006.71

Responsible for the efficient and effective operational management and development of their

site(s). Aligned with the Live Borders’ Strategy, drives income and footfall, ensuring that service

delivery meets strategic and operational objectives.

Supports the Head of Sport to develop and deliver Sports and Community Facilities and services

across their site and the broader region.

Works with the Programming Manager to deliver programmes from their site(s), including

swimming lessons and fitness classes, that maximise income through membership and pay-as-

you-go custom.

Managing facilities across Eyemouth, Kelso and Jedburgh.

OTHER DETAILS

•  Undertake any other reasonable duties which may be requested by Live

Borders

•  Requirement to work out with normal hours (evenings/weekends):

Occasional, by arrangement

•  Full UK Driving Licence and access to vehicle essential.
•  Live Borders offers a flexible working environment, with a hybrid

approach.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Strategic Development

Service Delivery

Budget Management

People Management

Role Specific
Responsibilities

Support the Head of Leisure Services and contribute to the development
and delivery of strategic plans for their function, ensuring that focus
remains on delivery of strategic objectives as agreed with the Board and
SBC.
Develop, maintain, and deliver an annual business plan for your site(s).
Accountable for the delivery of KPIs for their site(s).
Ensure that through documented service standards, their site(s) delivers
an exceptional customer journey and customer service experience,
demonstrating continual improvement.
Ensure that staff develop and maintain an excellent understanding of the
key customers /target audience to ensure retention and growth
Manage, monitor and report on site budgets to ensure agreed
performance targets are achieved.
Work with Head of Finance and Head of Leisure Services to set and
phase budgets
Ensure the site(s) maximises its income through programming of income-
generating activities, with the support of the Programming Manager.
Undertake all line management responsibilities to ensure that all staff are
appropriately trained, supported and developed to deliver both an
effective level of customer service and agreed performance targets.
Ensure performance development reviews are carried out for all team
Ensure the organisational structure of the site(s) is fit for purpose and
meets requirements.
Ensure that staff adhere to HR policies and procedures for the
recruitment, development and management of staff.
Ensure that staff follow organisational procedures and practice in relation
to communicating with their teams.
Ensure staff adhere to a staff training programme and attend CPD as
necessary to keep fully compliant
Ensure that staff adhere to all Health & Safety procedures and guidelines.
Monitor all H&S reports (including audits) and ensure that
recommendations are implemented within agreed timescales.
Support the Programming Manager to review existing products, services
and markets in order to keep in line with customer/market demand.
Provide and present reports, data and advice to the Head of Sport, senior
management and to Board as required.
Investigate business development opportunities with the support of the
Head of Leisure Services and the Programming Manager to maximise
income generation, service development and achieve agreed
performance targets.
on call rota along with other Area managers

KNOWLEDGE & EXPERIENCE

EDUCATION
Essential

Minimum of Degree in relevant subject
or able to demonstrate equivalence
through a programme of CPD and
experience

Full, clean driving license and access
to own car

Pool Plant Room Qualification

Pool Lifeguard Qualification

Assessed  Desirable

Assessed

A/I

Evidence of CPD in
management

A/I

A/I

Pool plant room experience

A/I

A/I

A/I

EXPERIENCE

Essential

Assessed  Desirable

Assessed

Demonstratable of experience
managing a leisure facility at a senior
level

People Management and staff
programming experience

Experience of effectively managing
budgets and performance indicators

A/I

A/I

A/I

Experience in managing
resources.

Strong financial management
skills

A/I

A/I

Experience of working in collaboration
to deliver key outcomes

Proven ability to effectively develop
strong internal and external
partnerships to deliver business
objectives

A/I

A/I

SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE

Essential

Assessed  Desirable

Assessed

Strong leadership skills

A/I

High level of self -confidence

A/I

Excellent communication skills (written
and verbal) at all levels

Strong people management skills

Excellent IT skills and First class report
writing

Excellent presentation and public
speaking skills

Organisational proficiency

Strong Delegation skills

A/I

A/I

A/I

A/I

A/I

A/I

Credible and confident Coaching skills

A/I

PACKAGES & BENEFITS

Pension: Starts with a 5% company contribution into an Aviva scheme, increased to
10% after 2 years service. After 5 years service, you can join the Local Government
Pension Scheme (current company contribution is 17%)

Holidays: Starts at 30 days of annual leave plus 4 public holidays (for Christmas and
New Year). Increases with service up to a maximum of 35 days after 6 years’ service.

Free membership at our Gyms & Swimming Pools

Free entry to our Attractions (e.g. The Great Tapestry of Scotland, The Jim Clark
Motorsport Museum)

Death in Service benefit of 3 times salary

ASVA membership: We are a corporate member which means staff can get free access
to other member attractions, including Edinburgh Zoo and Historic Scotland sites.

Cyclescheme: Saves the employee tax and NI contributions on the purchase of a new
bike and accessories

Help@Hand: Employee assistance programme which includes a variety of services
including a 24 Hour advice and information line with support including -

•  Counselling and legal information

•  Financial Support

•  Remote GPs: where employees can arrange a call back from a practising UK GP

24/7

•  Savings and discounts - access savings and rewards across a variety of big

brands

NEXT STEPS

If you would like more information or an informal chat about the role, please
contact Catriona McAllister on cmcallister@liveborders.org.uk

If you would like to apply for this post, head to
https://liveborders.bamboohr.com/careers

Hours:

37 hours per week /Permanent

Location:

Newtown St Boswells

Salary:

£36,976.19 - £40,006.71

Closing Date:

6th April 2026 at 9am

xx

The selection process can include different forms of assessment along with
a formal interview. You will be advised of this if your application is
successful.

If you have a disability and need assistance in completing your application
form, please contact our people team recruitment@liveborders.org.uk to
discuss your needs.

We look forward to receiving your completed application.