Programme Lead – Culture & Wellbeing

Organisation: British Horseracing Authority
Salary: c. £65,000
Location: Holborn London, Hybrid Working available
Contract type: Fixed Term (Full time)
Closing date: 30 June 2025
Interview date: 8 July 2025
Job Description: ROLE PURPOSE:
The Horseracing Industry People Board (HIPB) was established to take responsibility for the development and implementation of an industry wide people strategy for British horseracing. 

Culture development, underpinned by effective and appropriate Wellbeing and Employment Practices are key themes identified within the Workforce Strategy. Following a top-level review of the wellbeing needs across the industry, both the recommendations and ambitions of the strategy have identified a need to recruit a specialist Programme Lead to drive the development of Culture and Wellbeing in our sport. This role will be essential in providing expert knowledge, leadership and energy in order to ensure successful delivery of the change agenda in this area. 

You will need to demonstrate a successful track record in the design and delivery of culture change, and
ideally an understanding of and experience in delivering wellbeing programmes - within the sports or equine sectors would be an advantage. You will be creative and passionate and able to build credible effective relationships. 

PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES:
• Strengthen our sports culture by leading strategic initiatives that help us evolve
• Promote behaviours aligned to our sports values, ensuring best practice across our stakeholders
• Deliver on, and support stakeholders through system change
• Design, develop and implement an Employer Quality Standard to establish minimum expected employment standards and showcases the aspirations of high-quality employment.
• Leading on the successful design and implementation of the Employment Practices and Wellbeing workstreams of the industry’s newly defined Workforce Strategy.  
• Ensuring the Employment Practices and Wellbeing outcomes defined in the Workforce Strategy are coordinated, supported, monitored and achieved within the specified timescales.
• Identify the wellbeing needs of the industry and work with industry providers to review, design and implement an effective delivery model of wellbeing support provision including Occupational Health and Mental Health support.
• Ensuring that the industry’s wellbeing services, and employment practices are delivered to a high standard and through effective and appropriate channels via a range of delivery methods, initiatives and projects outlines within the Workforce Strategy.
• Develop racing’s safety proposition by working closely with our stakeholders and employer representative organisations to evaluate the impact of drug and alcohol testing in the workplace and collecting and analysing data relating to the levels of accidents and injuries across the industry.
• Ensuring all the above activity is conducted with the objectives of widening the diversity and deepening the inclusion of people in the sport. 

KNOWLEDGE/QUALIFICATIONS/EDUCATION
• Degree level or equivalent, preferably in a management, business or change discipline.
• Experience or qualifications and qualified in programme and project management methodologies
• Knowledge of racing and its stakeholder landscape

EXPERIENCE REQUIRED
• Experienced in the design and delivery of culture, health, safety or wellbeing change programmes, preferably across multiple employers/whole industry level, or part of a large complex organisation. 
• Experience of working in a complex stakeholder environment
• Experience of translating strategy into delivery through plans, programmes, people and culture
• Experience of leading and delivering change with the ability to convey a compelling and engaging vision of change
• Able to collaborate cross-functionally, drive a team and work without supervision to deliver to requirements and strict deadlines
• Experience of delivering process and operational improvement as part of a change management initiative.
• Experience in introducing employer standards across multiple employers or at an industry level.
• Proven ability to spearhead and manage projects and workstreams
• Effective communication, presentation, facilitation and negotiation skills, with the ability to question existing procedures and influence internal and external stakeholders at all levels
• Experience in the sports or equine sectors or in blue collar work environments would be an advantage. 

PERSONAL QUALITIES
• Creative and passionate about finding ways of enhancing the delivery of culture and wellbeing activities in the industry. 
• Results focused, self-motivated and collaborative in approach. 
• Highly organised with an ability to multitask and deal with high volumes of work to tight deadlines with minimum supervision.
• Discretion, diplomacy and trustworthiness. 
• Professional and politically sensitive with a commercial awareness.
• Excellent organisational and planning skills, able to deliver high quality work at pace.  
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills. 
• Ability to build effective relationships, gain credibility, positively question and collaborate cross functionally with a diverse range of stakeholders. 
• Innovative and proactive, with a positive “can do” approach.
• Ability to translate the complex and make simple.  
• To work in keeping with BHA values: Integrity, Responsive, Credible, Accountable, Adaptable, Progressive  

CIRCUMSTANCES
• Full valid driving licence (preferably clean);
• Potential travel to some British racecourses;
• It may be necessary to prepare work outside of the normal working day;
• The nature of horseracing dictates that duties will be performed during weekdays, evenings, weekends and bank holidays;

As the needs of the business change rapidly this role will change accordingly, therefore this document should be viewed as guidelines which are subject to change.
How to apply: Please apply by completing this Application Form here (https://www.cognitoforms.com/britishhorseracingauthority/bhaemploymentapplicationform), only candidates who have applied via the form will be considered. Our applications are anonymised in-line with our D&I initiatives and supporting documents are only provided to recruiting managers at interview stage. The closing date for applications is 30 June 2025. Interviews will be held on 08 July 2025.