Sports development officer
Organise sports based projects and training to encourage people to take part in sport and to have a healthier lifestyle.
About the job
What it's like
You'd organise sports based projects and training to encourage people to take part in sport and to have a healthier lifestyle. Your aim would be to make it easier for people of all ages and abilities to enjoy sport.
You could:
work with communities to find the demand for new activities
improve access to sport for young people, people with disabilities and people from disadvantaged communities
support initiatives to reduce crime and rehabilitate offenders
On a day-to-day basis, you'd:
find and train staff, coaches and volunteers
organise, promote and run projects and activities
check on the progress of projects
find funding and make sure it is used well
put local and national policies into practice
go to meetings, seminars and conferences
manage resources and budgets
You could work for a National Governing Body (NGB), for a particular school or for a local authority.
You may have the chance to coach and supervise the sport for which you are qualified. You could concentrate on promoting this specific sport, or promote sport in general.
Hours
If you have a full-time role, you can expect to work 35 to 40 hours a week. You'll need to be flexible with your hours as you may need to work some evenings and weekends.
Environment
You'd have an office base, but you'd also visit community groups, schools, events and sports venues.
Travel
Most sports development officers have access to their own transport as travel is usually a requirement of the role.
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Top skills
Skills are things you're good at. Whether you know what yours are or not, everyone has them!
It's useful to learn which ones are important in a job so you know the areas you need to brush up on. It can also help you work out if you're suited to a career.
Top specialised skills
These are the top specialised skills that have been found in job vacancies across Scotland. From March 2024 to March 2025.
- strategic prioritization
- fundraising
Meta skills
Here are some of the meta skills you'll need to do this job.
- taking responsibility
- motivating others
- coaching
- time management
- taking initiative
- managing resources
- developing a plan
- creative
- verbal communication
- positive attitude
Your skills are important
Our unique skillsets are what make us stand out from the crowd. Learn about each skill in depth and discover what employers look for in your applications and interviews.
Getting in
Explore each section to find more information about getting into this career.
Colleges and universities will list subjects you'll need for entry to a course. Some useful subjects include:
Care
Childcare and Development
PE (Physical education)
Skills for Work: Sport and Recreation
There are no set qualifications for this role. Many sports development officers have an HNC/HND (SCQF Level 7/8) or a degree (SCQF Level 9/10) in a sport-related subject like:
Sport Development
Sports Coaching
Sports Science
A degree isn't essential. You could get this job through work-based qualifications such as an SVQ in Activity Leadership. You'd need coaching experience and specialist skills in a particular sport.
You could also get into this job through a Modern Apprenticeship in Active Leisure, Learning and Wellbeing.
To enter a sports degree, you'd likely need National 5 qualifications and at least three Highers.
You can enter Higher National Certificate or Higher National Diploma courses with National 4/5 qualifications and one to two Highers or equivalent qualifications.
Qualifications and experience that show fitness and sporting skills such as Sports Leaders UK Award or Skills for Work Sports & Recreation.
You can search sports volunteering opportunities on Volunteer.scot.
To be approved for membership of the Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) Scheme run by Disclosure Scotland.
You may need to pass a fitness test for entry to some courses and jobs.
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