Athlete Leadership and Engagement Manager

Organisation: Special Olympics Great Britain
Salary: 22,857 - 24,285 (PT 25 hours per week FTE 32,000 - 34,000)
Location: Home based with some travel across Great Britain
Contract type: Permanent (Part time)
Closing date: 23 February 2026
Interview date: 9 March 2026
Job Description: Special Olympics Great Britain (SOGB) is a charity that provides transformative experiences through
sport, empowering people with intellectual/learning disabilities. SOGB is committed to ensuring
that the voices, experiences and ambitions of our athlete’s shape everything we do. As Athlete
Leadership and Engagement Manager, you will lead the evolution of athlete voice across the
organisation, ensuring athletes are empowered, represented and meaningfully involved at all levels
of the organisation.
The role will strengthen leadership pathways for athletes, champion self-advocacy, and ensure that
the lived experience of athletes with intellectual disabilities informs strategy, programmes and
organisational culture. You will create inclusive structures that allow athlete voice to flourish locally,
nationally and internationally, and build partnerships that elevate athlete leadership as a central
pillar of SOGB's mission.
Main Areas of Responsibility
Athlete voice & leadership development
• Lead the development and embedding of athlete voice across the entire organisation.
• Co-create and implement an Athlete Voice & Leadership Strategy aligned with the SOGB
strategic plan.
• Ensure athlete perspectives are integrated into organisational decision-making, governance
discussions and programme design.
• Develop and deliver leadership pathways that elevate Athlete Leaders from grassroots to the
international stage.
• Recruit, train and support athlete leaders, prioritising personal growth, self-advocacy and
representative leadership.
• Strengthen and expand opportunities for athlete-led initiatives, including forums,
consultation groups, peer-to-peer leadership models and social enterprise projects.
Job Description Athlete Leadership & Engagement Manager December 2025
• Work with SOI and SOEE to ensure that our athlete leadership pathways and practice aligns
to international opportunities.
Athlete Leadership Team (ALT)
• Drive the development, structure and impact of the Athlete Leadership Team.
• Ensure best practice in the recruitment, training and progression of Athlete Leaders.
• Provide mentoring and professional development tailored to each Athlete Leader.
• Facilitate ALT involvement in organisational strategy, partner engagement, and public
representation.
• Ensure ALT is recognised as a core advisory body contributing to SOGB’s continuous
improvement.
Holistic leadership support
• Provide individualised support to a growing cohort of athlete leaders across GB.
• Build systems and processes that ensure Athlete Leaders feel supported, valued and
equipped.
• Oversee logistics and accessibility arrangements for athletes participating in events,
leadership activities and external engagements.
Embedding athlete voice across SOGB
• Collaborate with staff across departments to ensure athlete voice informs programme
design, communications, fundraising and advocacy work from the start.
• Develop resources and training for staff, volunteers, partners and clubs on best practice for
amplifying athlete voice.
• Provide insight, consultation frameworks and feedback loops that ensure athletes influence
organisational priorities.
Corporate & strategic partnerships
• Lead athlete-led engagement with corporate partners and stakeholders.
• Manage our employability work through social entrepreneurship, Unified Business and
corporate activation.
• Develop meaningful partnership opportunities where athlete voice, leadership and
employability are central.
• Support partners to build inclusive environments and embed athlete voice within their
engagement with SOGB.
• Expand strategic partnerships that enhance opportunities for athlete leadership, skills
development and public representation.
Team working & organisational development
• Contribute to the Engagement Team and wider organisation, championing athlete-led
decision making.
• Provide regular reports, insights and evidence of athlete voice impact.
• Work collaboratively with staff across the organisation to produce athlete-led case studies
and storytelling.
• Act as an ambassador for athlete leadership across internal and external platforms.
• Take ownership of your professional development and leadership within the area.
• Effectively manage budgets within your role and work with the Finance Team to ensure that
financial and charitable obligations are met.
Job Description Athlete Leadership & Engagement Manager December 2025
• Responsibility for the day-to-day management, leadership and motivation of direct
reports including setting objectives, professional development and performance
management.
• Ensure direct reports are supported to take ownership for individual work plans.
• Maintain an excellent knowledge of Special Olympics GB’s activities, programmes and
projects.
• Represent SOGB at events, meetings, and external engagements as required.
• Comply with and work within SOGB’s policies and procedures.
• Any other duties required to fulfil this role and the needs of SOGB.
How to apply: To apply, please send a covering letter (maximum 2 pages) explaining why you wish to apply for the roles. It is important that all prospective candidates understand our mission and are driven by our cause. Referring to the role description, please be specific about how your skills and experience will help you undertake this role. Generic letters will not be considered. Please also include your CV and send with your covering letter to recruitment@sogb.org.uk with the email title stating the role that you are applying for.