The FA's Grassroots Division is looking for a Regional Network Manager for the West Region to:

• Leverage and develop partnerships to achieve greater coverage, reach and profile of the grassroots game across a regional area to ensure maximum connectivity.


• Facilitate local partnerships in target areas, between Thriving Community Clubs and local football stakeholders to diversify the women and girls' game and grow disability football opportunities.


• Provide specialist development support, advice, and training to County FAs focussed on effectively implementing The FA's Women and Girls' and Disability Strategies.


• Lead and manage regional FA football for development and social change plans to tackle inequalities in the national game.


• Utilise WEURO 2025; EURO 2028 and the annual Biggest Ever Football Session as catalysts to grow the grassroots game.

What will you be doing?

Networks and Structures:

• Grow, retain and evolve Girls Football School Partnership structures.


• Support County FAs to create effective cross stakeholder action plans to achieve their targets and deliver successful football development outcomes for the local area.


• Design and deliver regional networking and training events for stakeholders.

Relationship Management:

• Strengthen relationships between the County FAs and wider football providers, connecting and aligning strategies.


• Represent The FA on regional/local strategy groups and make presentations on the work of the Grassroots Football Division.


• Champion the perspective of County FAs and delivery partners across The FA and with key partners, elevating their profile and the recognition of the work undertaken at local level.


• Influence stakeholders adoption of FA digital communication and products to reach customers across the wider football landscape.

Influence and Impact:

• Provide specialist advice and guidance to support the development of the male, female and disability pathways in England Football Accredited Clubs (the focus is on women and girls' and disability for the 24/25 season)


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  • Develop processes that enables local knowledge and insight to inform national strategies.
  
  
  • Relentlessly challenge alignment of football strategies across a regional area, including value for money and scale of impact.
  
  
  • Ensure the best possible return on football investment across regional projects and interventions.
  
  
  
  

• Execute additional tasks as required in order to meet FA Group changing priorities.


• Comply with all company policies and procedures to ensure the highest standards of health, safety and wellbeing can be maintained.


• As part of The FA's commitment to ensuring a safe environment for everyone in football, every employee will be required to complete a DBS check. The level of the check required will be based on the activity of the specific job role and in line with legislation and government guidance.

What are we looking for?

Essential for the role:

Knowledge

• Business / Sport development qualification.

Experience

• Strong Influencing skills in the areas of strategy and policy.


• Experience of grassroots football/grassroots sport.


• Track record of creating effective, detailed business plans to achieve a range of outcomes.


• Success in leading transformational change programmes.


• Broad business development skills covering the areas of people management, influencing, and negotiating.


• Developing successful partnerships and attracting investment.


• Ability to gain buy in to equality objectives.

Technical Skills

• Strategic management, policy implementation and business improvement.


• Evaluating risk, dealing with conflict and managing change.


• Achieving results through performance management.


• Relationship management through coaching and mentoring.

Beneficial to have:

Knowledge

• The FA Grassroots Football Strategy.

Experience

• Regional Management or Senior Sport Development role.


• Working in partnership with football and wider community organisations.


• Political and functional workings of Local Authorities, Sport England and other partners.

Technical Skills

• Health and safety skills / qualification.


• Project management skills / qualification.


• Understanding of data analysis.

What's in it for you?

We are committed to ensuring everyone can flourish in their roles, to achieve this we have unique office spaces under the arch of the iconic Wembley National Stadium, which is the home of English Football. We are also delighted to offer a world-class, Elite Performance Centre, St. George's Park in Staffordshire which is an exceptional setting to develop and inspire high-performing England teams and leaders.

We pride ourselves in offering a competitive salary as well as great opportunities to develop and grow in your role. But that is not all; we also have a range of exciting benefits, some of which can be found below:

• Access to event day tickets at Wembley Stadium, alongside a host of regular internal events throughout the season encouraging you to connect and learn with your colleagues and look after your mental health and wellbeing.


• Free, nutritious lunches, at Wembley Stadium and St. George's Park.


• Free private medical cover.


• A contributory pension scheme.


• An additional Thank You days leave, volunteering days as well as 25 days annual leave.


• A hybrid working model offering greater flexibility.