Director of Programmes

Are you ready to make a significant impact in the world of sport and community development? Do you have the strategic vision and leadership skills to shape and deliver transformational programmes that leave a lasting legacy? If so, we’d love to hear from you!

Location – Hybrid working, split between the Foundation’s office in London and home. 

We’re the Football Foundation – the Premier League, The FA and Government's charity that helps communities improve their local football facilities through football grants. This means better games and more players - helping transform communities where demand is greatest, and impact will be strongest. We have ambitious plans and with the support from our funding partners, the Football Foundation is well-supported to continue to invest in community pitches and facilities across the nation. 

 

The Director of Programmes will play a pivotal role in the strategic leadership and management of our Programmes Directorate. Reporting to the Chief Executive and working closely with the Board of Trustees, you will help shape the strategic direction of our key programmes and new business opportunities, driving meaningful progress and measurable results.

As a member of our Senior Management Team (SMT), you will support the CEO in steering the organisation towards continuous improvement and success, serving as a trusted adviser to the Foundation Group Board and Panels, and contributing to the Foundation’s overall strategic vision.
 

We’re looking for a dynamic and visionary leader with a deep understanding of sport, community projects, government strategies, and funding opportunities, underpinned by expertise in participatory sports development. You will bring extensive leadership experience, demonstrating a proven ability to manage performance, balance workloads, and foster positive, supportive team environments. Your skill in navigating multi-stakeholder environments will be essential, ensuring objectives are met, expectations are managed, and performance insights are communicated clearly and effectively.

With a track record of driving key strategies, leading impactful projects, and optimising resources for success, you will translate our organisational strategy into ambitious programmes that inspire partner collaboration and deliver tangible results. You will oversee the management and delivery of our core strategic initiatives, including grass pitches, multisport advisory services, and multi-pitch hubs, ensuring these programmes consistently meet and surpass their goals.

Building on your expertise in designing and delivering innovative programmes, you will take a lead role in developing tech-enabled post-award processes to ensure that grant awards achieve their full potential. By maximising the impact of our funding partners’ significant contributions, you will play a pivotal role in driving the long-term success and sustainability of our shared initiatives.

This is a unique opportunity to shape meaningful programmes that make a lasting difference, working within a collaborative and forward-thinking organisation dedicated to positive change.

Our Four Corners

We refer to our company values as our Four Corners:

•    Fair Players – open and inclusive in our approach
•    Star Performers – trusted to deliver
•    United Team Player – collaborative and easy to work with
•    Passionate Supporters – flexible and willing

If you share these values and have the necessary skills and experience for the role, then we look forward to hearing from you.

For more details about the role and full person specification, please download the recruitment pack.

You will start on 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays (which increases after 2 years), plus additional time off to volunteer. We also offer a generous pension scheme (8% employer contribution), free health care provision, a monthly gym subsidy, death in service benefit and access to selected match tickets.

We are committed to helping our team members maintain a healthy work-life balance, so offer flexible working around core hours to help achieve that.

The Football Foundation is committed to, and values the principles of diversity, equality, equity, and inclusion. We strive to provide an inclusive and supportive working environment where all our team feel respected and supported in fulfilling their potential. We encourage and welcome applications from all, regardless of background and are particularly interested to hear from individuals belonging to under-represented groups including diverse ethnic communities, individuals with a disability, and those from the LGBTQI+ community.

Should you need any adjustments to the recruitment process at either application or interview stage, please contact us at jobs@footballfoundation.org.uk

To apply, please follow the steps outlined below:

Please send the following to jobs@footballfoundation.org.uk

• CV
• Cover letter - please highlight briefly and clearly your suitability for the role, together with your reasons for applying (no more than one page of A4). 

The closing date for applications is 11:59pm on Sunday 19th January 2025.

1st stage interviews via MS Teams are currently scheduled for 27th and 28th January 2025, with 2nd stage in person interviews to follow.

Due to the volume of applications received for most roles, the Foundation only contacts candidates if they are shortlisted for interview. If you do not hear from us within two weeks of the closing date, you should assume your application has not been successful.

Please note that you must be eligible to work in the UK to apply.