Participation Manager

University of Nottingham Ningbo China

Sport Department

University of Nottingham Ningbo China is seeking to recruit a Participation Manager in Sport Department

The University of Nottingham Ningbo China (UNNC) was the first Sino-Foreign university in China and is focused on offering a globally leading sport and wellbeing experience to all our customers.

In September 2027, the University will open its new ‘Clubhouse’ which has been designed to offer sport, health and fitness in a completely new and innovative way in global Higher Education. The Participation Manager is crucial to the success of this new service offer and delivering exceptional sport participation programmes to all of our customers.

As a member of the Sport Senior Leadership Team, the Participation Manager will have responsibility for developing and managing our sport participation programmes, ensuring we are offering the best experience to everyone and providing opportunities for people to try something new, develop in a sport and compete amongst friends.

The Participation Manager will be creative and understand our student demographic so that our participation programmes consistently evolve. The Participation Manager will be responsible for the following programmes: Just Play, Compete, Sports Clubs, Staff Sport, Kid’s Programme and supporting annual health and wellbeing campaigns and initiatives.

The Participation Manager will ensure all programmes are planned in detail, using the sport framework and development pathway the university has developed to encourage engagement and maintain retention. The programmes will all be fully aligned and optimised digitally to ensure we are accurately recording data and putting it at the core of our decision-making process. They will meet the highest standards of industry best practice and meet all statutory health and safety requirements.

The Participation Manager will lead and motivate a team of full time and part time staff and a number of student interns.

Your Responsibility

• Have strategic and operational leadership responsibility for the Participation Programmes, including Just Play, Compete, Sports Clubs, Staff Sport, Kid’s Programme and campus events and initiatives.
• Lead the design, planning, delivery, review and evaluation process across different programmes to ensure outcomes and KPIs are achieved.
• Create and deliver annual plans with full timetabling for the Participation Programme, with ongoing review, performance tracking and evaluations.
• Ensure a balanced and progressive programme is offered according to the University’s Development Pathway, from Level 1 (Beginner/Entry) to Level 4 (Advanced).
• Manage participation budgets and income generation, identifying annual resource needs, allocation of funds, sponsorship and new income opportunities to achieve financial targets.
• Recruit, lead and develop a highly motivated participation team, ensuring minimum staffing levels, integration of KPI’s into individual workplans, and delivery of aligned CPD opportunities.
• Develop and deliver high‑quality participation programmes and events, engaging the UNNC community, supporting national and local campaigns, and enhancing the profile and reputation of the University.
• Provide leadership and support to student and staff sports clubs, including training, guidance, interpretation of policy and delivery of sports leadership development.
• Work collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders, including university departments, students, staff, international partners and external organisations, to enhance participation and wellbeing.
• Lead performance analysis and reporting, ensuring digitalised systems, up‑to‑date dashboards, regular management reports, customer feedback monitoring and completion of the annual Participation Report.

About you

Essential

• A good bachlor’s degree in a Sport/Sport Development or Sport Management.
• Strategic H&F leader able to align plans across a multi‑dimensional environment and contribute at Sport SLT (Senior Leadership Team) level.
• Proven experience managing sport development programmes, preferably within a higher education or national and regional organisations.
• Positive, inclusive and collegiate leader to motivate teams to achieve and exceed targets and managing complex workloads through effective delegation.
• Commercially minded, with a track record in income generation, budget management and sport development.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills in English, able to engage members, present information clearly and influence stakeholders.
• Innovative and self‑motivated, with strong project management skills and a positive approach to change.
• Confident using digital sport systems and analysing data to manage performance, targets and reporting.
• Committed to equality, diversity and inclusion, with a clear understanding of barriers to access and inclusive active recreation.

Desirable

• A master’s degree in sports or management-related field.
• Sports coaching or leadership-based qualifications.
• Ability to communicate in mandarin.
• Good IT skills.
• Basic website editing.
• Ability to produce basic marketing material.
• Knowledge and experience of higher education sport in the UK or internationally.
• Knowledge of Health & Wellbeing Services/Spa Services.

About us

Join a unique British University in China. The University of Nottingham Ningbo China (UNNC) was the first Sino-foreign university to open its doors in China. This award winning campus offering a UK style education has grown to establish a student body of over 10,000 in 22 years.

Your Remuneration, Benefits and Support

The post will be offered on a fixed term contract for 3 years and a probation of 6 months with University of Nottingham Ningbo China. We are committed to providing competitive employment packages while supporting the wellbeing of our staff to help them reach their full potential.

How to apply 

Applicants wishing to apply for a vacancy should submit the following documents by email to: job@nottingham.edu.cn before 4^th August 2026 at 23:59 (Beijing Time).

Please include:

• Vacancy reference number & title
• English Resume
• Application Form
• Cover Letter

Equality and Diversity

University of Nottingham Ningbo China is an equal opportunity employer. We are committed to providing a fair, equitable and mutually supportive learning and working environment for our students and staff. It is our intention to ensure that job applicants and staff are treated solely on the basis of their merits, abilities and potential, regardless of gender, race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, age*, socio-economic background, disability, religious or political beliefs, trade union membership, family circumstances, sexual orientation or other irrelevant distinction.