Schedule two
Position Description
Position:
Play.sport Activator
Department:
Community Services
Division:
Recreation Services
Responsible to:
Recreation Advisor – Clubs and Schools
Reporting staff:
None
Relationships:
Work closely with all areas of Council, including Expressions, H²O Xtream,
Community Development and the Library
Sport New Zealand, Sport Wellington
Play.sport selected schools
Term:
Externally funded – Fixed term, full time position (3 years)
POSITION SUMMARY:
Activators will work within schools and across communities to ensure aligned, appropriate and organised opportunities that
meet the needs of all primary-aged and intermediate-aged children. This role will co-ordinate physical activity and sport
opportunities for schools, and will support all members of the school community in integrating quality physical activity and
sport in and out of school time.
It will also ensure effective connections between Physical Education (PE) and school sport/physical activity opportunities.
This position will facilitate cohesive relationships between schools, clubs, and private providers, and develop ways in which
communities, clubs and schools can work together to ensure consistent quality experiences for young people within the
Upper Hutt community.
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CORPORATE ACCOUNTABILITIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
1.
Policies and Procedures.
 Comply with Council’s Code of Conduct, Staff Manual including its Policies and Procedures at all times
 Uphold the Council Values.
2.
Customer and Community Relations:
 Present a positive image of Council at all times
 Ensure an efficient, courteous and professional service to customers at all times
 Positive relationships with internal and external stakeholders and suppliers are developed and maintained
 Observe and promote the Council’s Customer Service Charter.
3.
Continuous Improvement and Innovation
 Ensure the on-going evaluation and review of work practices and processes within all areas of responsibility to
ensure that they are effective and efficient and implement improvements where appropriate
 Identify and propose additional business or service opportunities that enhance Council’s existing capabilities.
4.
Health and Safety
 Ensure all work is performed in accordance with the requirements of the Health and Safety policies, procedures
and legislation
 Report all incidents, hazards and risks to the immediate supervisor.
5.
Teamwork
 Actively contribute to the team by looking out for others, supporting and empowering them and celebrating the
success of others
 Build successful workplace relationships by working co-operatively with others.
6.
Training and Development
 Undertake both internal and external training identified as relevant to the role
7.
Participate in Council’s civil defence emergency response.
 Participation in relevant emergency response training and duties as requested by the Chief Executive.
8.
To perform other duties as may be directed from time to time
 All duties must be carried out to the prescribed timeframes, systems, quality and standards and to the satisfaction
of the team Leader/Manager.
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SPECIFIC RESPONSIBILITIES AND PERFORMANCE MEASURES:
Bold text = responsibility
Bullet Point = associated performance measure(s)

Assist school staff (e.g. teacher in charge of sport) to deliver quality sporting programmes within the school
community.

Work with teachers and the wider Play.sport team to align the PE curriculum with co-curricular sports
opportunities.

Facilitate the delivery of a variety of before, after school and lunchtime sport including events and tournaments
Introduce sports to the schools through delivering “have a go days” involving local clubs and Regional Sport
Organisations.

Advise schools on effective consultation with, and recruitment of, parents and caregivers to engage in sport as
coaches, officials or managers.

Provide advice and guidance on coaching and organising teams in preparation for school cluster competitions.

Link with and share best practise with other personnel supporting primary school sport.

Collect and interpret relevant data relating to sport participation and support, as a means to improve the sport
offering for students and schools.

Work with other schools where appropriate to share equipment, facilities, personnel and sports opportunities.

Advise the sport sector and community providers about appropriate delivery of quality sports opportunities for
young people, and the realities of the school environment.

Understand the priorities and drivers for other initiatives in the region, and work with programme staff to ensure
Play.sport contributes positively those initiatives.
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PERSON SPECIFICATION:
Education and Qualification
 A tertiary study/qualification ideally related to education or the delivery of sport
Knowledge and Experience
 An ability to relate to children
 An understanding of the primary and secondary school education environment
 An understanding of how to develop and maintain effective relationships with schools, community and sporting
personnel
 Planning and organisational skills, particularly in the delivery of sports opportunities for young people
 Coaching ability and understanding
 Event and project management, and delivery experience.
Personal Attributes and competencies
 Strong relationship building skills and the ability to work across the education and community sector
 Considerable experience in planning, managing and prioritising multiple and competing tasks and projects to meet
deadlines and produce quality results
 Skilled innovative thinker and a superior ability to work with key insights to develop engaging solutions and
appropriate implementation plans
 A thorough understanding of how the sport and education sectors interact to deliver quality physical activity to
primary school age young people
 Excellent oral and written communication skills
 A strong commitment to customer service
 A strong commitment to customer service
 Demonstrated organisational skills and the ability to manage time and prioritize work with a flexible approach to
workloads
 Ability to co-ordinate people, equipment and complete actions within agreed timeframes and budgets
EMV:
Created June 2013
Updated October 2015
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Ability to establish and maintain productive working relationships
Energy, enthusiasm, creativity, lateral thinking, self-motivation and a sense of humour
Have the skills necessary to contribute to a positive team environment and the willingness to support others in the
team
A high degree of personal motivation and ability to work independently when necessary
Licences

A Full Class 1 (light motor vehicle) licence.
From time to time it may be necessary to consider changes in the job description in response to the changing nature of our
work environment – including technological requirement or statutory changes. Such change may be initiated as necessary
by the manager of this position. This Job Description may be reviewed as part of the preparation for performance planning
for the annual performance cycle.
Signed:
_________________________________________
Director/ Manager
_______________________________
Date
_________________________________________
Employee
_______________________________
Date
Background to the position
Sport NZ recently conducted an 18-month review into the state of school sport and physical education, and in conjunction
with sports organisations, education institutions, teachers, principals and other interested groups, has developed a support
package for schools called Play.sport.
Play.sport is designed to enhance the physical activity experiences of young people by providing support for the teaching
and provision of quality physical activity, sport and PE in our schools and communities. It includes:

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in-class assistance with PLD for primary teachers of Physical Education (PE);
access to a HPE Curriculum Facilitator (primary and secondary);
access to support for school sport programmes through a sport “activator” (primary);
advisory support for the introduction of the Sport in Education approach in schools (secondary)
The outcomes expected from Play.sport are:

improved teacher confidence and competence in the delivery of the PE Curriculum;

improved planning and management in the delivery of the PE Curriculum;

improved connection to co-curricular and extra-curricular sporting opportunities;

provision of sport opportunities that meet the needs of all students, and develop a love of physical activity

improved quality of PE delivery
The initiative will commence in 2016 and will be made available in two sites initially – West Auckland and Upper Hutt.
EMV:
Created June 2013
Updated October 2015