Community Developer - Southampton

British Cycling is one of the world’s most successful sport’s governing bodies. From winning Olympic and Paralympic gold medals to inspiring almost two million people to ride their bikes regularly, we are committed to making cycling the number one sport and activity of choice in Britain through our purpose to Lead our Sport and Inspire our Communities. Our growing membership of over 150,000 members is testament to the appetite for cycling nationwide.

We are currently looking to recruit a Community Developer for Southampton, as part of our partnership with Southampton City Council. The role is based in and around the City, with occasional travel outside for team meetings and personal development. The main office base will be located in Southampton City Council offices alongside the Sustainable Travel Team, with some homeworking permitted. You’ll also be a key part of an experienced and dynamic wider Regional Team working together to deliver the Regional Plan. The role builds on our existing work to develop cycling in the City, with a key focus on young people, women, and inclusion; around key existing sites and travel routes, such as the Southampton Outdoor Sports centre and Southampton Cycle Network routes; and developing new community hub sites.

Contract: Fixed Term 2 years

Location: Hybrid role with home working, and hot desks at Southampton City Council and Outdoor Sports Centre

• Develop and grow cycling in the community with a key focus on specific, targeted activation in agreed community locations in Southampton
• Connect the cycling pathway from community cycling through to club and competition opportunities. You’ll be the ‘glue’ that brings community cycling stakeholders together in the City for common purpose
• Collaborate directly with SCC project lead for communities to deliver fully integrated programme that supports and enhances Southampton City Council’s Cycling Strategy, including highlighting key travel routes through engagement activities.

You’ll need to be a great people developer, and have a passion for the importance of physical activity - and ideally cycling - within the community. You’ll excel in your role by building capacity and capability within key communities. You’ll co-design projects and programmes, and deliver appropriate training and development opportunities, as well as sharing your own experience. You’ll take ownership to promote your work, generate content and tell stories that will inspire others as well as showcase successes and provide learning to others. You’ll understand the shared commitment to making cycling more accessible and inclusive.

You’ll bring ideas and innovation to the role, have a great network of existing stakeholders to work with, and bring your skills to be a wider experienced, agile regional team at British Cycling. You’ll also lead the delivery of Pedal Party in the City – our family cycling festival and work with the Sustainable Travel team to incorporate this organically into the existing suite of active travel engagement activities, including Cycle Confidence, Bike Doctors and Ditch the Stabilisers.

What are the perks?

• Competitive Salary
• Cycle to Work Scheme
• Generous Holidays (25 days + bank holidays)
• Holiday purchase scheme
• Life Assurance
• Pension

We are keen to hear from candidates that match the advert and role profile. Experience of cycling is not essential, but a willingness to learn and develop your knowledge will be. As well as an awareness of British Cycling’s new Strategy “Lead our Sport, Inspire Our Communities”, you should be aware of Southampton City Council’s strategic aim to make physical activity a normal part of life for all and actively support excluded, inactive groups to increase participation in physical activity and sport. In addition you will be aware of Southampton City Council’s Cycling Strategy, in particular Theme 3 of the Strategy ‘Inspiring Cycling’  - the aim of which is to create a culture of cycling in the city through showcasing cycling through consistent public messaging, supporting cycling events, working with local businesses, schools and residents to encourage more everyday cycling trips, making it easier to access a bike, and working with groups to develop community cycling so everyone can join in.

You’ll be an excellent relationship builder, and have project coordination skills. You’ll have experience of achieving able to prioritise, plan and manage competing demands. To help you hit the ground running, a coaching, teaching, community work, or tutoring qualification or equivalent experience would be advantageous, as would on the ground knowledge of the City of Southampton, gained through living or working there, but this is not a pre-requisite.

This is a profession which is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and therefore an Enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service check will be required.