Project Manager MSK

Organisation: ukactive
Salary: £45,000
Location: Hybrid/central London
Contract type: Fixed Term (Full time)
Closing date: 26 June 2026
Interview date: 7 July 2026
Job Description: ukactive is the UK’s trade body for the physical activity sector, representing organisations across fitness, leisure, sport and wider physical activity. Its purpose is to support, champion and represent its members, helping the sector to grow, innovate and thrive while strengthening its contribution to the nation’s health and wellbeing.

Through membership services, sector insight, research, partnerships and policy influence, ukactive provides practical support to members, keeps them informed about key developments, and advocates on their behalf with Government and national stakeholders. By promoting the value of physical activity in addressing major societal challenges, ukactive works to create the conditions for a stronger, more inclusive and sustainable sector. Its overall mission is to get more people, more active, more often.

Position overview

ukactive is seeking a skilled and motivated Project Manager (fixed term to 31 March 2028) to lead the successful delivery of the Expanding Access to MSK Physical Activity Hubs in the Community programme. Delivered in partnership with, and funded by, Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) and Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) Joint Work and Health Directorate (JWHD), this national programme aims to increase access to musculoskeletal (MSK) support through community-based physical activity services across England.

The programme will support the expansion of approximately 100 existing MSK Physical Activity intervention locations by increasing service capacity, enhancing workforce capability through targeted training and development, and raising awareness of available support through the creation and promotion of communication resources. Working closely with national and local partners, the Project Manager will oversee the coordination and delivery of programme activities, ensuring milestones, outputs, and outcomes are achieved effectively and efficiently.

A key component of the programme is the evaluation of participating MSK Physical Activity intervention locations, which will contribute to strengthening the evidence base for community-based physical activity interventions delivered by non-healthcare professionals. The programme will seek to demonstrate the impact of these services in improving access to support, enhancing health outcomes, and strengthening referral pathways between health and physical activity sectors.

General Main Duties

The Project Manager will lead the day-to-day management and delivery of the Expanding Access to MSK Physical Activity Hubs in the Community programme. Working closely with the Programme Manager and wider project team, the postholder will be responsible for establishing and maintaining effective project management systems, processes, and governance arrangements to ensure the successful delivery of programme objectives, outputs, and outcomes.

The role will have overall responsibility for project planning, delivery coordination, risk and issue management, budget monitoring, stakeholder engagement, and performance reporting. Acting as the

operational lead for the programme, the Project Manager will drive delivery, maintain momentum across workstreams, and ensure progress is effectively managed against agreed milestones, timelines, and deliverables.

The Project Manager will lead the implementation of key workstreams across the Community MSK Hubs Programme, translating strategic objectives into high-quality, consistent delivery across a national network of MSK Physical Activity intervention locations. Working collaboratively with leisure operators, healthcare partners, and national stakeholders, the postholder will provide leadership across programme delivery, operational implementation, and stakeholder engagement to maximise impact and achieve programme outcomes.

The role will play a critical part in delivering the programme's strategic aims of increasing access to musculoskeletal (MSK) support, improving health outcomes, and strengthening referral pathways across the health and physical activity system.

Specific Tasks and Responsibilities
(include but not limited to)

Programme Delivery and Coordination
• Lead the implementation and delivery of the MSK Hubs Programme across all phases, including mobilisation, launch, delivery, and evaluation.
• Coordinate day-to-day programme activity, ensuring delivery remains on track against agreed timelines, milestones, and objectives.
• Ensure continuous alignment between national programme objectives and local hub delivery, supporting consistency and quality across the network.
• Coordinate with colleagues across the organisation and external partners to ensure the effective delivery of programme outputs and outcomes.
• Coordinate and monitor the performance of delivery partners, ensuring activities are delivered to agreed standards and timescales.
• Contribute to the successful expansion and long-term sustainability of Community MSK Hubs, supporting increased access to services, improved health outcomes, and strengthened referral pathways across the health and physical activity system.

Planning, Monitoring and Governance
• Develop, maintain, and monitor programme plans, action logs, risk registers, budgets, and dependency trackers.
• Monitor programme performance against agreed key performance indicators (KPIs), milestones, outputs, and outcomes.
• Maintain programme dashboards, reporting tools, and performance trackers, providing regular updates to the Programme Manager and key stakeholders.
• Identify, manage, and escalate delivery risks, issues, and challenges, implementing appropriate mitigation actions where required.
• Prepare project documentation, progress reports, governance papers, and performance updates for programme boards, funders, and senior stakeholders.

• Support the Programme Manager in maintaining effective programme governance, performance management, and continuous improvement processes.

Stakeholder Engagement and Partnership Working
• Act as the primary operational point of contact for MSK intervention location operators, local delivery stakeholders, and national delivery partners.
• Build and maintain effective relationships with key stakeholders, partners, funders, and delivery organisations to support successful programme delivery.

• Facilitate clear, consistent, and timely communication across all programme partners and stakeholders.
• Plan, coordinate, and chair meetings, workshops, webinars, and engagement sessions, ensuring actions are captured and progressed.

Support, Guidance and Network Development
• Support MSK intervention location operators to understand programme requirements, processes, reporting expectations, and delivery standards.
• Capture, analyse, and share feedback from hub operators and partners to inform programme development and continuous improvement.
• Identify opportunities to improve programme processes, communication, stakeholder engagement, and delivery efficiency.
• Support the sharing of learning, innovation, and best practice across the MSK Hub network to strengthen programme impact and sustainability.

Data, Finance and Evaluation
• Support the collection, validation, and analysis of programme data across participating hubs, ensuring accurate and timely reporting.
• Manage programme budgets and expenditure, ensuring effective financial monitoring and reporting in line with funding requirements.
• Contribute to programme evaluation activities, supporting the development of the evidence base for community-based MSK physical activity interventions.

Person Specification

Essential

• Prince 2 or similar project management qualification
• Experience in a project coordination, programme support or delivery role
• Experience in working across multiple stakeholders or sites
• Strong organisational and administrative skills
• Experience managing plans, trackers and reporting tools
• Ability to work in a fast paced, multi partner environment
• High attention to detail, and ability to self-review and critique own work
• A self-starter who can work independently, be assertive, show initiative, and be proactive in their work approach
• Ability to exercise discretion in dealing with confidential or sensitive matters
• Excellent written communication skills, with the ability to present information in a clear and concise manner, both internally and externally on a regular basis

Desirable
• Experience working in:
o Health, Public Health or community programmes
o Leisure, physical activity or Sports sector
• Understanding of NHS structures and government bodies
• Understanding of Health inequalities and community engagement
• Experience supporting large scale or national programmes
• Understanding of business metrics and KPI’s
• A genuine interest in the physical activity and fitness sector and desire to make a difference to health inequalities

Skills and Competencies
• Excellent organisation and time management
• String communication and stakeholder engagement skills
• Attention to detail and ability to manage multiple priorities
• Proactive and solution focused approach
• String IT skills (Excel, project tools and CRM systems)
How to apply: Please submit your CV and Cover Letter via our recruitment portal by 26 June 2026, using the link https://system.citrushr.com/Job?uid=dqaivhwnaztflsgzevdl Interviews will be held on 7 and 8 July 2026.