National Awards Programme Officer

Organisation: SPORTSAID TRUST
Salary: Full-time equivalent (FTE) salary of £25,000–£30,000 per annum, depending on experience. For a 4-day working week, this equates to an actual salary of approximately £20,000–£24,000 (pro rata).
Location: Hybrid working (with travel to SportsAid Head Office in London at least once per week and as required)
Contract type: Permanent (Part time)
Closing date: 27 February 2026
Interview date: 16 March 2026
Job Description: The role
Area: Nationwide role
Location: Hybrid working (with travel to SportsAid Head Office at least once per week and as required)
Reports to: National Awards Programme Manager
Hours of Work: Part-time. Four days a week, and opportunities for flexible working are available. Some evening and weekend work may be required from time to time.

Context

Founded in 1976, SportsAid is a national charity supporting emerging young talented sports people at pivotal stages in their sporting and personal development. SportsAid delivers programmes including the SportsAid Athlete Awards, Backing The Best, TASS and DiSE, working closely with partners, funders, corporate supporters and Sport England.

SportsAid’s mission is to encourage, enable and empower the next generation of athletes to achieve their ambitions in sport and life. Our work is guided by five strategic priorities: athlete outcomes; equality, diversity and inclusion; collaboration; fundraising; and awareness, underpinned by our values: integrity, inclusion, respect, wellbeing and excellence.

The National Awards Programme Officer plays a central operational role in the administration of SportsAid’s National Awards programme. The postholder will ensure a smooth, accurate and athlete-centred awards process and provide operational support across several areas of the charity’s work. The role also incorporates selected athlete and parent liaison responsibilities, contributing to a positive, supportive experience for athletes engaging with SportsAid.

Key responsibilities

1. National Awards Administration
• With support and oversight from the National Awards Manager, coordinate the full end-to-end administration of the SportsAid national awards process, from nomination through to final award.
• Support athletes in completing their SportsAid online profiles, ensuring accuracy and completeness ahead of partner presentation.
• Process awards in a timely and accurate manner, verifying documentation and supporting evidence.
• Work closely with the Finance Manager and National Awards Manager to prepare management information, reports, and data analysis for internal use and for funders.
• Monitor athlete progress and maintain accurate records via the Online Nomination System (ONS) and CRM.
• Provide first-line communication for all award-related queries from athletes, families, NGBs and partners.
• Contribute to the development and improvement of administrative processes, systems and tools used across the awards function.

2. Operational and Team Support
• Collaborate with colleagues across the charity (including Fundraising, Communications and Programmes) to support award-related activities and wider organisational workflows.
• Assist with the collation and management of athlete data such as merchandise sizing, updates, and administrative information.
• Support the National Awards Manager in coordinating the National Awards Sub-Committee, including scheduling meetings and capturing/collating minutes.
• Support office operational tasks including stock management, branding materials and general administrative duties.
• Attend internal meetings and contribute proactively to ideas, insights and improvements.
• Ensure all work complies with SportsAid’s safeguarding, data protection and brand guidelines.

Additional activities

- There will be the opportunity to develop specific projects with some NGBs to develop their work in identifying and supporting athletes who may be facing financial hardship;
- To provide support to any of the charity’s events during the year, particularly those involving athletes (some of whom may receive support from SportsAid), such as athlete/parent workshops, athlete forums, Q&A sessions and key flagship events such as the One-to-Watch Award and other such high-profile events that may involve the charity’s Patron
- Act as chaperone for SportsAid athletes at various events and workshops

Any other duties as may reasonably be requested in delivering the role. As and when SportsAid evolves in its Mission and Purpose, so the job description, duties and responsibilities of this role within SportsAid may be adjusted accordingly.

The candidate
• Relevant experience in administering and delivering support programmes (ideally in sport).
• Ability to analyse data with an excellent working knowledge of spreadsheets.
• Experience in analysing and presenting data and drawing down key themes and correlations within data sets.
• An interest in working with young people and a passion for sport.
• An understanding of the requirement to be proactive and deliberate when supporting minority groups in providing opportunities to the NGB’s talent pathways.
• Some knowledge of the challenges around accessing sport within ethnically diverse communities would be an advantage
• A confident, effective communicator able to create and develop relationships with a range of different people.
• Enthusiasm and temperament to work in a small team in a fast-paced environment.
• A self-starter; enthusiastic, reliable, committed and motivated.
• Excellent organisational and presentation skills; comfortable managing several different projects and activities in parallel.
• Sound IT skills; strong on database management and Excel; financially literate.
• Reliable, trustworthy, committed and motivated.
• Committed to upholding organisational values; of the utmost integrity and discretion.
• Good working knowledge of sports structures (desirable).
• Experience of charitable activities (desirable).

Package and benefits
Salary: This role offers a full-time equivalent (FTE) salary of £25,000–£30,000 per annum, depending on experience. For a 4-day working week, this equates to an actual salary of approximately £20,000–£24,000 (pro rata). This is a permanent contract.
Pension: SportsAid contributes 3%, and the employee makes a minimum contribution of 5%.
Healthcare: Membership of the SportsAid private health insurance scheme is available for the employee with premiums paid for by SportsAid.
Holidays: 20 days per year, plus bank holidays, increasing by 1 day for each year of service, up to 30 days.
Flexible working: Reasonable flexible working options can be considered.

NOTES:
Although based in London, the role will require periodic travel across England.

As the role will involve contact with young people, the appointee will be required to undergo an enhanced DBS check in relation to the post. A confidential equal opportunities form will be shared, which all staff and prospective applicants will be asked to complete.

SportsAid recognises that certain sections of the community have been affected by structural inequities and may be denied the opportunity to participate equally and fully in sport at all levels. SportsAid as an organisation believes our role is to remove the barriers that our most under-served, at risk and minoritised groups of young people experience when trying to access sport and physical activities. SportsAid therefore positively welcomes, and seeks to achieve, diversity in our workforce and that all job applicants, volunteers and employees receive equal and fair treatment. We positively encourage applications from all candidates regardless of age, race, ethnicity, gender, disability, marriage and civil partnership status, gender identity, background, religion, faith, sexual orientation, maternity status, pregnancy, belief or nationality.

SportsAid believes that diversity drives excellence, and that representation is important in order to reflect diverse communities in 21st century Britain. SportsAid therefore positively welcomes and seeks to ensure we achieve diversity in our workforce and that all job applicants and employees receive equal and fair treatment. We positively encourage applications from all candidates regardless of age, race, ethnicity, gender, disability, marriage and civil partnership status, gender identity, background, religion, faith, sexual orientation, maternity status, pregnancy, belief or nationality.
How to apply: Please apply by sending your CV and one page on how you meet the essential criteria by 5pm on 27th February 2026 to Jobs@sportsaid.org.uk. On receipt of your application, you will be sent a confidential equal opportunities form, which all applicants will be asked to complete. Interviews will be held in person on 16th and 17th March 2026.