Working in sport
If you're passionate about sport and want to build a career in the sector, it's important to understand the breadth of opportunities available.
From elite performance environments to community development and media, sport offers diverse roles that can align with your values, skills, and motivations.
To explore what might align with you the best, go to our self-awareness reflective exercise.
Spotlight On: Sports and Exercise Science
We invited four professionals to talk to you about their roles in sports and exercise science:
- Theo Bampouras, Researcher, Senior Lecturer, Coach and BASES Committee Member
- Joe Agu, Director of Nutrition Coaching
- Joe Payne, Sales Specialist within the NHS and private sector
- James Darling, Strength and Conditioning Coach
Login to SharePoint to watch a recording of this event
- Alumni: Email us to gain access to the webinar
Working for a professional sports team or club
Some examples of roles within sports teams or clubs.
Media roles
- Events manager
- Sponsorship
- Product licensing
- Product licensing
- Mobile and content
- Broadcasting
Community roles
- Community partnership officer
- Youth engagement
- Tour guide
- Supporters clubs
- Disability officer
- Safety
Science-based roles
- Coach
- Strength and conditioning
- Nutritionist
- Sports scientist
- Performance analyst
- Sport therapist
- Physiotherapy
- Doctor
- Psychologist
Corporate services
- Finance
- Marketing
- Legal
- Human resources
- Facilities management
Emerging careers in sport
The sports industry is evolving rapidly, creating new and exciting career paths:
- Sports branding and ambassadorship:
- Sports brand ambassador – representing brands at events, online, and in campaigns
- Brand strategy roles – marketing, sponsorship strategy, brand development, athlete representation
- Sports data and technology due to the increase in wearable technology and performance tracking. Performance analyst, biomechanics specialist, sports technologist
- Sustainability in sport - sustainability officer, environmental impact coordinator, green venue manager
- Fan experience and innovation - fan engagement strategist, experience designer, virtual event coordinator
- Women’s sport development - inclusive coaching roles, media and broadcasting for women’s leagues
- Commercial strategy and investment as global investment in sport increases - sports investment analyst, partnerships manager, licensing coordinator
Outside of professional or elite sport there are plenty of organisations and roles connected to sport. For example, if we look at the reach of Sport England you can see how sport works on many levels from increasing sport participation amongst the public, improving health and wellbeing and supporting elite talent. Examples of jobs are listed under the descriptors below.
Physical wellbeing
From helping to prevent and manage medical conditions to reducing the risk of type 2 diabetes, the benefits of sport and activity on a person's physical wellbeing are profound.
- Health mentor
- Psychological wellbeing practitioner
- Health and wellbeing coach
- Public health consultant
- Health and wellbeing advisor
Individual development
Evidence clearly shows that being active improves educational behaviour and attainment, through greater self-esteem, confidence and direct cognitive benefits.
- Disability sports participation officer
- Student engagement coordinator
- Club participation officer
- Community sport officer
Mental wellbeing
Physical activity can reduce stress and anxiety, with the mastering of new skills often increasing confidence and self-esteem.
- Fitness and wellbeing advisor
- Activity professional
- Occupational health worker
- Psychological wellbeing practitioner
Social and community development
Promoting social trust, reducing isolation, bringing people from diverse backgrounds together, volunteering and social engagement, helping communities to integrate.
- Rugby league development officer
- Sky Blues into the community - coach (Coventry City)
- Leisure and wellness co-ordinator
- Community activator
- Community project officer (Scottish FA)
- Sports project co-ordinator
- Community sports officer
Economic development
- Sport tourism
- Sports policy, programme and projects officer
- Sports development officer
- Health educator - diabetes
- Public health improvement officer
There are a variety of roles, diverse businesses and organisations that operate in the sports media space. The job examples below are not comprehensive, but an illustration of what is currently operating in this space.
Technology
- Engineer
- Technology lead
- Data engineer
- Data scientist
- Product manager
- Designer
- Software developer
Sport journalism
- Digital
- Print
- Broadcast
- Content editor
- Journalist
- Writer
- Reporter
- Social media
- Celebrity reporter
Betting and gaming
- Trading
- Marketing analytics
- Product development
- IT and technical
Social media
- Account executive
- Account manager
- Digital account manager
- Programmatic analyst
- Advertising technology manager
- Audience data analyst
- Media planning
- Commercial web developer
Broadcasting
- Software engineer
- Java developer
- Football systems operator
- Content insight analyst
- Digital content maker
- Video producer
Esports
- British Esports Association
- Admin/referee
- Agent
- Broadcast and production
- Shoutcaster/host
- Coach/analyst
- Community manager
- Event manager
- Journalist/content creator
- Observer
- Organisational manager
- Public relations/marketing
- Pro gamer
- Product manager
- Recruitment/human resources
- Sales
Making the most of opportunities at Nottingham and in the local area
Your time at university is a great chance to build experience and networks in sport. Consider the following.