Lead Together Active as its Chief Executive Officer and help improve lives by making movement, physical activity and sport part of solutions across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent.
Together Active is an independent charity working to address the inequalities that prevent people across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent from living active, healthy and fulfilled lives.
We are seeking a new Chief Executive to lead our organisation at an important point of renewal. With the Board being refreshed and a new Sport England investment period expected to begin in April 2027, this is an opportunity to shape our next chapter.
You will provide strategic and organisational leadership while playing a visible role across the local system. You will strengthen our position as a trusted convener and build alignment across local government, health, education, sport, leisure and the voluntary and community sector.
We are looking for an experienced, emotionally intelligent leader who understands the Active Partnership model and how movement, physical activity and sport contribute to wider local priorities. You will know how to influence systems and translate national priorities into meaningful place-based change.
Who we are
We are part of a national network of 42 Active Partnerships working to transform lives through movement, physical activity and sport. Our vision is to design out inactivity by addressing the inequalities that prevent people from living active, healthy and fulfilled lives.
Rather than primarily delivering activities ourselves, we bring organisations and communities together, facilitate strategic change, strengthen local capacity and amplify voices that are too often overlooked.
Our work focuses on people most affected by systemic inequality, including those living with low or no income, long-term health conditions or mental distress and people who experience exclusion because of gender, race, disability or other aspects of their identity. Our approach is collaborative, evidence-led and focused on communities.
About the role
As Chief Executive, you will be accountable for Together Active’s leadership and effective running. Working with our new Chair, the Board and senior leadership team, you will provide stability and direction following a period of change.
You will lead the organisation into the next Sport England investment period, translating national expectations into effective place-based work and positioning movement, physical activity and sport as part of the solution to wider local priorities.
You will build trusted senior relationships, convene partners and create alignment across local government, health, education, sport and the voluntary sector. You will also work with neighbouring Active Partnerships and the wider network on cross-boundary opportunities.
Internally, you will develop organisational capability and support an open, collaborative culture. You will also secure long-term financial sustainability through responsible stewardship and strong funding relationships.
Who we are looking for
We are looking for an experienced, inclusive and emotionally intelligent leader with experience of partnership and system leadership across sport, physical activity, health, education, local government or the voluntary and community sector. This may have been gained through an Active Partnership, the wider sport and physical activity sector or another closely connected place-based environment.
You will understand the distinctive role of an Active Partnership and how to translate national priorities into meaningful local change. You will bring the credibility and political judgement to operate at senior strategic tables, convene partners and build trusted relationships with local authorities, health and education partners, communities, Sport England, neighbouring Active Partnerships and the wider network.
You will have experience of leading an organisation and its people through change, providing stability while developing capability and supporting an open, collaborative culture. You will be a clear and engaging communicator who can build shared purpose and work transparently with the Chair and Board.
Strong financial judgement is also important, alongside experience of organisational sustainability and managing significant funding relationships. Knowledge of Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent would be beneficial but is not essential.
To view the role description and person specification, please go to the ‘How to Apply’ tab above, fill in your details and download the candidate pack.
For further information or to arrange a confidential discussion, please contact our advising consultant at Peridot Partners:
Conor Naughton | conor@peridotpartners.co.uk | 07498 071852
Together Active is a registered charity in England and Wales (No.1187329).
About us
We are an independent charity and the Active Partnership for Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent. We are part of a national network of 42 Active Partnerships, each using local insight and relationships to transform lives through movement, physical activity and sport.
Our region is home to approximately 1.2 million people and includes communities with very different strengths, experiences and challenges. Stoke-on-Trent is among England’s most deprived local authority areas, while communities across Staffordshire also experience significant health inequalities, social exclusion and barriers to physical activity.
Our vision is to design out inactivity across Staffordshire and Stoke-on-Trent.
We do not primarily deliver sport and physical activity programmes ourselves. Our distinctive role is to understand local need, bring partners and communities together, facilitate strategic change, strengthen local capacity, generate and share insight, and amplify voices that are too often overlooked.
Our 2024–30 strategy focuses on people most likely to experience the effects of structural inequality, including those living with low or no income, long-term physical or mental health conditions, and people experiencing exclusion because of gender, race, disability or other aspects of their identity.
Our three strategic aims are to:
- Closer working with partners to improve the prevention pathway for mental health.
- Prove that physical activity has a critical role to play in community development.
- Test new ways of working with socially excluded groups to increase opportunities for them to be active.
Our priorities for 2026–27 include women’s and girls’ safety, physical health inequalities with a particular focus on diabetes and liver disease, and mental health and suicide awareness.
We receive significant investment from Sport England and are preparing for the next four-year investment period, expected to begin in April 2027. This provides an important platform for our future, alongside opportunities to strengthen our partnerships, increase our influence and develop sustainable income in ways that reinforce our strategic purpose.
Our values guide how we work, make decisions and build relationships:
- Creative: We embrace change, remain curious and explore new approaches.
- Collaborative: We share knowledge, build on ideas and work with others to achieve more.
- Inclusive: We value diversity, promote accessibility and amplify underrepresented voices.
- Compassionate: We listen, communicate respectfully and build supportive relationships.
We have a clear mission, committed colleagues and significant potential to influence how physical activity contributes to better health, greater inclusion and stronger communities.
Accessibility information
We understand that everyone has different access needs and we want to make sure you have everything you need to be able to participate in this recruitment process and in the role.
We offer the following amenities:
- Step free access to the building, all key meeting rooms and bathrooms, and an accessible workstation
- Accessibility dogs are welcome
- Papers and materials can be presented in different formats
- Working patterns and locations can be adjusted
- A commitment to using best practice approaches for any adjustments
We are happy to discuss reasonable adjustments as required.
To arrange a confidential discussion, please contact our advising consultant at Peridot Partners:
Conor Naughton | conor@peridotpartners.co.uk | 07498 071852
Thank you for your interest in this role. Please download the Role Description and Person Specification.
To formally apply, please submit a CV and supporting statement (ideally maximum 2 sides of A4 each) that clearly outlines your suitability for the role against the criteria provided in the person specification, including your interest and motivation in applying for this position.
Please include your home address, contact email and mobile.
Please ensure that your application is emailed to response@peridotpartners.co.uk, inserting “Application: Together Active — Chief Executive Officer” into the subject field. You will receive an acknowledgement of receipt within 2-3 days. If you do not receive an acknowledgement, please contact our admin team.
For further information or to arrange a confidential discussion, please contact our advising consultant at Peridot Partners:
Conor Naughton | conor@peridotpartners.co.uk | 07498 071852
As a sector-leading executive search consultancy, we know the importance of creating recruitment processes that are fair, inclusive and free from bias. We are committed to promoting equality and diversity and developing a process that values differences.
If you require any job information in an alternative format (e.g. large print), please contact the lead consultant. Please also let us know if you would like to submit your application in an alternative format.
Applicants with disabilities are welcome to contact us in confidence at any stage of the recruitment process to discuss any reasonable adjustments or support that may be required to ensure fair and equal participation.
Recruitment selection processes are based on evidence of competence stated in the person specification and in relation to our values.
Timetable
Closing date: 9 a.m. Monday 9th November 2026.
Candidates informed of outcome: Thursday 26th November
First stage interviews (online): Monday 30th November
Final stage interviews (in person): Friday 11th December
Equal Opportunities Monitoring
Peridot and Together Active are committed to promoting equality and diversity. To help us raise awareness and support a culture that is diverse and recognises and develops the potential of all, we need to appreciate the profile of candidates who apply for positions. We will send you an equality monitoring survey at the point of receiving your application and at the time of placement. This ensures that our processes remain inclusive and equitable throughout, and provides us with important data to help us showcase our impact.
The information will be treated confidentially and anonymously and will help us to support our commitment to fair recruitment practice. All information provided will be held in the strictest confidence and will not be shared with anyone, in line with the Data Protection Act 2018 launched on 25 May 2018.
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