Sports Ministry Lead

Sports Ministry Lead

The Sports Ministry Lead will oversee River Active, our fast-growing sports outreach ministry, sharing the Gospel through Bridge the Gap football, running groups, and our student-only gym, providing pastoral care and discipleship to participants, and supporting our wider student ministry at the University of Suffolk.

24-30 hours | Up to £29,250 pro rata

Closing date: 1st July 2026

Role Profile

Job title: Sports Ministry Lead

Department: River Active

Reports to: Head of Operations

Direct reports: River Active and Bridge the Gap volunteers

Principal location: River Church Ipswich; MOVE Gym; Portman Road Stadium

DBS check required: Yes

Special conditions of employment: As a minister of religion role, there is a genuine occupational requirement that the post-holder is a Christian, as permitted under the Equality Act 2010.

Start date: May-June 2026

Working days/hours: 28-35 hours (flexible, Sun-Thu)

Salary: Up to £29,250 pro rata (depending on experience)

Travel: May be required on occasion

Holiday: 25 days per annum plus bank holidays (pro rata)

Probation period: 6 months

Contract length: Initial 2 years (extension subject to funding)

Other expectations: The role holder will need to be available to work some other key dates outside the usual working pattern, such as special services (Christmas, Easter etc.), annual meetings, and Focus (our annual one-week church holiday in the summer). It is expected that staff members will be active members of River Church (praying, serving, giving, and growing).

For a candidate with the right skillset and character, this role could be combined with another role currently vacant.

Key Responsibilities

- Work with Senior Pastors to develop and implement strategy for our sports ministry, ‘River Active’ in line with the dream, purpose, and goals of River Church

- Oversee Bridge the Gap Ipswich, delivering football sessions for young men, based at Portman Road Stadium (Ipswich Town FC), inviting participants to Alpha and Sundays, and sharing faith in Jesus

- Work to expand to Bridge the Gap to offer youth sessions, in partnership with River Youth

- Manage ‘MOVE’, our gym exclusively for University of Suffolk students, including subscriptions via Squarespace and twice-weekly safety checks

- Liaise with the University of Suffolk and Student Union to deliver inductions, sessions, and other support to users of MOVE gym

- Ensure that all safeguarding and health and safety requirements are met across River Active

- Deliver River Active running sessions for varying abilities alongside the existing volunteer team

- Actively disciple and pastor those attending River Active sports sessions, sensitively sharing the Gospel with those who are not yet Christians, making frequent invitations to Alpha and Sundays

- Oversee, recruit, train, and pastor the River Active volunteer team

- Manage River Active departmental budget

- Contribute to other River Church events including Alpha and Sundays

- Support other areas of Student and Collective (young adults) ministry as required

- Work with Comms and Media Manager to curate River Active and Bridge the Gap Ipswich social media accounts and webpages

- Track impact data and report to Head of Operations, as well as external partners and funders

- Explore and implement opportunities to expand River Active provision

- Attend and contribute to Staff Meeting, Alpha, Sundays, and Tuesday morning Prayer Meeting, and other River Church events such as Focus

- Regularly pray for all River Active ministries

- Ad hoc tasks and other project work

Personal qualities and beliefs

It is essential that the role holder:

- has a personal faith in and relationship with God as Father, Son and Holy Spirit

- is committed to the dream, purpose, and goals of River Church

- believes and embodies the orthodox Christian teaching revealed in the Bible and in accordance with the CEEC basis of faith and declarations

- is demonstrably committed to their own discipleship (i.e., praying, serving, giving, and sharing faith)

- is passionate about football, sports, and evangelism

Personal skills and abilities

It is essential that the role holder:

- has excellent teamwork and team-building skills, and is able to manage, motivate, and encourage others

- has good organisational skills and time management

- is self-motivated

- has good communication and interpersonal skills, both written and verbal, including an excellent level of English spelling, punctuation, and grammar

- has good attention to detail and high production values

- is able to manage an organisational budget

- is flexible, with a can-do attitude

- is teachable, humble, and has a desire to learn and grow

- understands the importance of confidentiality, and is trustworthy and reliable, with a good self-awareness

- has enthusiasm, energy, commitment, and a sense of humour

Knowledge, qualifications, and experience

It is essential that the role holder:

- has, or is willing and able to undertake prior to starting the role, fitness instructor and/or PT training qualifications, and first aid training

- has good IT skills, and experience in and/or the ability to learn to use Mac OS X, ChurchSuite, Squarespace, and Expense Plus

- has prior experience in sports ministry or bringing together faith and sport in another context

- has a good understanding of sports and fitness equipment and facilities

- has a thorough and up-to-date understanding of statutory child protection and safeguarding requirements, health and safety legislation, and other legal aspects of operations

It is desirable that the role holder:

- holds a bachelors degree (or higher level qualification), ideally in a field related to the role

- has prior experience of Bridge the Gap football

- has worked within the HTB Network of churches (or is able to demonstrate a strong level of familiarity and alignment with the Network’s vision, values, and ecclesiology), in a city centre resource church setting or another large church

- has prior experience working in a gym or sports setting

- has other relevant qualifications in a field related to the role

- has an eye for detail and aesthetics

- has other relevant experience or skills related to the role or other areas of ministry