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

Working In the Borders

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:

£36,251.24 - £39,222.34

 Lead and manage the delivery of Live Borders’ sports programmes
(Swimming lessons, gymnastics, and children’s activities).

Oversee three Sports Coordinators to ensure high-quality, safe, and
engaging programmes that drive participation, income, and customer
satisfaction.

This is an operational leadership role, supporting the Programming
Manager in achieving business objectives.

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

Service Delivery

Lead, develop, and manage your direct reports to ensure they are high
performing and work effectively as a team, so they deliver on their areas of
responsibility
Assist the Programming manager and Head of Sport and Leisure services, to
develop and implement a business plan for sports programming supporting a
high quality and sustainable programme of activities and events that delivers
the income generation required in our budgets and business plans.
Provide clear direction and lead direct reports to ensure they are equipped
to succeed. Hold regular meetings to agree actions, ways of working and
support, ensuring outcomes recorded
Oversee the design, implementation, and evaluation of income-generating
programmes, ensuring programmes align with strategic goals and deliver
measurable outcomes.
Drive participation and income through innovative programme development
and effective resource management.
Accountable for the successful growth and development of sports
programming, ensuring that financial, strategic and operational targets are
achieved.
Identify opportunities for programming and venue usage that grows earned
income from membership and also new business development opportunities.
Lead membership sales and retention processes, and any other child
development portals.
Ensure that your team understand the organisation’s long term strategic and
operational plans and the values of the organisation.
Ensure that objectives of individual team members align with strategic and
operational plans.
Collate and analyse business performance data pertaining to all Sports
programming and produce regular reports and an annual operational plan using
this data which defines operational objectives & actions.
Develop and maintain an excellent understanding of the key customers/target
audience to ensure retention and growth.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Responsible for achieving, monitoring, measuring and reporting against targets
for sports programming activities and memberships.
Responsible for planning, selecting and maintaining equipment.
Working with the marketing section to develop marketing and communication
plans for all activities within the sports programming services that ensures
financial targets are met.
Be an active and effective member of the Leisure Services management team
Ensure the legal requirements relating to Health & Safety and child
protection are met
Maintain robust training and compliance processes across all activities.
Assure compliance with the organisations policies and procedures.
Manage customer data safely and effectively and ensure robust processes are in
place.
Build and maintain good working relationships with colleagues within the
organisation
Represent Live Borders internally and externally e.g. at networking events,
meetings, conferences and exhibitions to enhance and strengthen the Live
Borders’ profile

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

People
Management

Budget
Management

Skills and
Experience

Quality

Strategic
Development

Manage and co-ordinate the team, including setting standards of performance and
work targets, and providing guidance, support and training as required
To be responsible for the staffing levels within the selected venues/sessions,
evaluating and organising staffing requirements to ensure the most cost effective
use of staff resource.
Undertake a full range of line management responsibilities including recruitment,
induction, appraisal, training and development, absence management,
performance, discipline and grievance.
Ensure that all relevant industry qualifications, training, CPD and safety practices are
managed.
Participate in the budget setting process, manage and monitor allocated budget
working within Live Borders financial regulations and procedures
Manage monthly subscriptions and accounts on a regular basis with the ability to
problem solve and create processes to ensure effective overall management is in
place.
Be aware of practices in other Trusts and within the industry and adopt best
working practices wherever relevant.
Have a sound knowledge of sports & leisure trust operating and programming
requirements.
Ensure services meet Health and Safety standards established by Live Borders.
Comply with, and ensure compliance with, all Live Borders policies and procedures.
Promote equal opportunities in service delivery and management of staff.
Ensure that services are delivered with a customer focused ethos.
As an employee you must take reasonable care for the health and safety of yourself,
other employees and anyone else who may be affected by your work activities
carried out.  Employees shall work in accordance with policies, procedures,
information, instructions and / or training received.
As a manager you must ensure that employees must take reasonable care for the
health and safety of themselves, other employees and anyone else who may be
affected by their work activities carried out.
Contribute to the preparation of the Live Borders’ overall Strategic business plans,
and set, monitor and achieve specific objectives for the Sports programming service
team to ensure organisational success.

Implement the strategic plan and subsequent processes for Sports programming
across the company.

KNOWLEDGE & EXPERIENCE

EDUCATION
Essential

A formal qualification in Leisure
Management or equivalent

Assessed  Desirable

Assessed

A/I

Safeguarding qualifications

A/I

Level 2 or above sports coaching/teaching
qualification or equivalent

Health & safety related
qualifications

EXPERIENCE

Essential

Assessed  Desirable

Assessed

Experience of leading sports
coaching & programming Services
across a whole organisation

Experience gained within a
charitable, leisure/ cultural trust

Experience of developing
business cases

A/I

A/I

A/I

Demonstrable proven experience in
achieving commercial targets, particularly
in relation to programming of activities
and membership sales and retention
processes
Experience of line managing staff and
dealing with a range of staff management
issue

Experience in developing and increasing
income

Experience of delivering services  that are
compliant with health and safety

Experience of effectively managing
budgets

A/I

A/I

A/I

A/I

A/I

Experience of developing strong successful
partnerships and working in collaboration
to deliver key outcomes

A/I

SKILLS AND KNOWLEDGE

Essential

Assessed  Desirable

Assessed

Knowledge of market review and
customer engagement

Understanding of the needs of
customers and retention practices

Knowledge of Quality
Management Systems

A/I

A/I

A/I

Excellent communication skills, (both
written and oral) with ability to deliver to a
variety of audiences

Knowledge of industry sector

Well-developed organisational skills

Self-motivated, with the ability to work
proactively using own initiative

Ability to influence both internally and
externally and ensure compliance

Excellent Microsoft Office skills

Ability to organize, prioritise and meet
deadlines

Ability to work collaboratively with others
to provide a high quality service and
Excellent interpersonal skills and the
ability to develop and maintain effective
working relationships and interact
persuasively with all staff
Ability to work largely unsupervised and to
use initiative

A/I

A/I

A/I

A/I

A/I

A/I

A/I

A/I

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:

£36,251.24 - £39,222.34

Closing Date:

2nd March 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.