Director of Policy

Organisation

Sport England

Salary

£84,000 per annum with excellent benefits

Location

Homeworking or hybrid, with travel to Sport England offices as required

Contract type

Permanent (Full time)

Closing date

10 July 2026

Job Description

Sport England is seeking an outstanding and influential leader to join our Executive Leadership Team as Director of Policy.

This is a pivotal role at the heart of our organisation, leading how we shape, influence and deliver national policy and investment priorities. You will ensure our ambition to increase participation in sport and physical activity is embedded in government strategy and reflected in public policy decisions.
Working across government and the wider public sector, you will position Sport England as a trusted, evidence-led partner—building strong relationships with senior stakeholders, influencing key agendas, and driving systemic change.

What you will do
Lead Sport England’s overarching approach to policy development, ensuring alignment with our strategic priorities and national ambitions
Shape and influence government policy, legislation and investment decisions through compelling, evidence-based insight
Build and maintain senior relationships with ministers, civil servants, and key public sector stakeholders
Develop and deliver an effective external engagement strategy to strengthen Sport England’s influence
Represent Sport England at high-level forums, advocating for increased participation and reduced inequalities
Horizon scan to anticipate policy developments and position Sport England at the forefront of emerging agendas
Lead, inspire and develop a high-performing Policy team, fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation and excellence

About you
You will be a strategic, politically astute leader with significant experience influencing government policy and working at senior level in a complex public or regulated environment. You will bring:

A strong track record of shaping and delivering policy or strategy at a national level
Experience of working with and influencing central government or arm’s-length bodies
Exceptional stakeholder engagement and relationship-building skills
The ability to lead through influence, build consensus and navigate complexity
A commitment to evidence-led decision making and driving meaningful impact

A strong understanding of the sport and physical activity sector is desirable but not essential.

About us
At Sport England, we are committed to ensuring everyone can access and benefit from sport and physical activity. Through our strategy, Uniting the Movement, we are tackling inequalities and working to create a more inclusive, sustainable and active nation.

How to apply

Register on our careers portal and create an account. Complete our application form, which will cover areas such as your employment history and suitability for the role. Be sure to highlight your relevant skills and experience relating to the job description in your supporting statement. The recruitment process after this point differs slightly for each role but will always consist of an assessment task and at least one in-person interview. For some roles there will be an additional phone interview or another in-person meet. If you have a disability and are unable to apply via the portal, please email us via hrrecruitment@sportengland.org and we would be happy to discuss alternate options with you. 

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