Head of Community Football

Barnsley Football Club; Blackburn; Hybrid; GBP 60.000 - 90.000; Vollzeit

Zusammenfassung

Blackburn Rovers Community Trust seeks a senior leader to shape its Community Football strategy and drive high‑quality, inclusive delivery across programmes such as Rovers Play and ETC. You will lead the workforce, manage budgets, and build strong partnerships with BRFC, funders and community partners.

A proven track record in strategic leadership and safeguarding is essential. You will oversee performance, ensure sustainable income, and create clear progression pathways from engagement to

Qualifikationen

• Senior leadership experience in football development or community sport.
• Experience managing multiple programmes and teams.
• Proven track record of growing participation and impact.
• Strong knowledge of safeguarding, risk and governance in football.
• Experience with budgeting, income targets and funding.
• Ability to secure partnerships and external funding.

Aufgaben

• Lead development and continuous review of BRCT’s Community Football strategy.
• Provide strategic and operational leadership across football programmes.
• Oversee budgeting, income generation and value-for-money.
• Build relationships with Blackburn Rovers FC, funders, schools and guardians.
• Lead workforce planning, recruitment, induction and performance management.
• Ensure safeguarding, quality assurance and governance across delivery.

Kenntnisse

Strategic leadership

People management

Budget management

Stakeholder management

Data & performance analysis

Partnership development

Communication & reporting

Coaching & workforce development

Ausbildung

UEFA B Licence

UEFA A Licence (in progress)

UK driving licence

FA Safeguarding qualification

FA First Aid qualification

Degree in Sports Development/Coaching/Management

Tools

Salesforce

Jobbeschreibung

The Head of Community Football is a senior management role with strategic and operational responsibility for Blackburn Rovers

Community Trust’s community football portfolio. The post holder will provide visible leadership across football development, participation and player pathway programmes, ensuring provision is high quality, inclusive, financially sustainable and aligned to BRCT’s charitable objectives and wider organisational strategy.

As the organisation’s senior lead for community football, the post holder will shape and implement the Community Football strategy; lead and develop the football workforce; hold accountability for budgets, income, performance, quality and risk; and build influential relationships with Blackburn Rovers FC, governing bodies, funders, grassroots clubs, schools, facilities and community partners.

The portfolio will include, but is not limited to, ‘Rovers Play’ (holiday camps, development centres, Women and Girls), Emerging Talent Centre (ETC), provision for underrepresented groups such as South Asian heritage and other community participation programmes, alongside strategic oversight and quality assurance of football delivered through programmes such as Premier League Kicks. The role will ensure clear, inclusive progression opportunities exist from first engagement through to sustained participation and appropriate talent pathways.

Strategic Leadership and Management

• Lead the development, implementation and continuous review of BRCT’s Community Football strategy, translating organisational priorities into clear annual plans, objectives and measurable outcomes.
• Act as BRCT’s senior lead and subject-matter expert for community football, providing advice and recommendations to the Executive, Senior Leadership Teams and contributing to wider organisational planning and decision-making.

The Head of Community Football is a senior management role with strategic and operational responsibility for Blackburn Rovers

Community Trust’s community football portfolio. The post holder will provide visible leadership across football development, participation and player pathway programmes, ensuring provision is high quality, inclusive, financially sustainable and aligned to BRCT’s charitable objectives and wider organisational strategy.

As the organisation’s senior lead for community football, the post holder will shape and implement the Community Football strategy; lead and develop the football workforce; hold accountability for budgets, income, performance, quality and risk; and build influential relationships with Blackburn Rovers FC, governing bodies, funders, grassroots clubs, schools, facilities and community partners.

The portfolio will include, but is not limited to, ‘Rovers Play’ (holiday camps, development centres, Women and Girls), Emerging Talent Centre (ETC), provision for underrepresented groups such as South Asian heritage and other community participation programmes, alongside strategic oversight and quality assurance of football delivered through programmes such as Premier League Kicks. The role will ensure clear, inclusive progression opportunities exist from first engagement through to sustained participation and appropriate talent pathways.

Strategic Leadership and Management

• Lead the development, implementation and continuous review of BRCT’s Community Football strategy, translating organisational priorities into clear annual plans, objectives and measurable outcomes.
• Act as BRCT’s senior lead and subject-matter expert for community football, providing advice and recommendations to the Executive, Senior Leadership Teams and contributing to wider organisational planning and decision-making.

Take overall accountability for the performance, quality, growth and sustainability of the Community Football portfolio, ensuring activity remains relevant to local need and BRCT’s charitable objectives.

• Lead service planning, workforce planning and resource allocation, balancing quality, impact, participation, income generation and value for money.
• Identify emerging opportunities, risks and trends within community and grassroots football and ensure BRCT responds proactively.
• Represent Community Football at internal senior management meetings and provide clear, evidence-based updates on performance, risks, opportunities and priorities. Programme Leadership, Quality and Pathways
• Provide strategic and operational oversight of all community-focused football programmes, ensuring consistently high standards across delivery, venues, participant experience and safeguarding.
• Own the football coaching philosophy and curriculum across relevant programmes, ensuring age-appropriate, inclusive and participant-centred practice.
• Create clear pathways across BRCT’s football offer, from introductory community participation through to development and talent opportunities, with appropriate links into grassroots and wider football structures.
• Lead quality assurance through observations, audits, participant feedback, performance reviews and improvement plans.
• Maintain sufficient visibility within delivery to understand participant and staff experience, while ensuring day-to-day coordination is appropriately delegated.

People Leadership and Workforce Development

• Provide effective line management, leadership and direction to Community Football staff, setting clear expectations, objectives and standards of performance.
• Lead recruitment, induction, deployment, retention, supervision and performance management across the football workforce, including permanent, part-time and casual staff.
• Create and implement a workforce development and CPD plan that strengthens coaching quality, leadership capacity and succession planning.
• Develop a positive, accountable and inclusive team culture in which staff are supported to perform, develop and take ownership.
• Ensure appropriate staffing structures and rotas are in place to meet programme needs safely and efficiently.

Financial Management, Income and Business Development

• Hold delegated responsibility for Community Football budgets, ensuring robust forecasting, monitoring, financial controls and value for money.
• Develop annual income and expenditure plans and take corrective action where performance is outside agreed tolerances.
• Lead the development of sustainable earned-income opportunities across football programmes while protecting accessibility and charitable benefit.
• Identify and develop funding, sponsorship and partnership opportunities and contribute to high-quality bids, proposals and business cases.

• Lead service planning, workforce planning and resource allocation, balancing quality, impact, participation, income generation and value for money.
• Identify emerging opportunities, risks and trends within community and grassroots football and ensure BRCT responds proactively.
• Represent Community Football at internal senior management meetings and provide clear, evidence-based updates on performance, risks, opportunities and priorities. Programme Leadership, Quality and Pathways
• Provide strategic and operational oversight of all community-focused football programmes, ensuring consistently high standards across delivery, venues, participant experience and safeguarding.
• Own the football coaching philosophy and curriculum across relevant programmes, ensuring age-appropriate, inclusive and participant-centred practice.
• Create clear pathways across BRCT’s football offer, from introductory community participation through to development and talent opportunities, with appropriate links into grassroots and wider football structures.
• Lead quality assurance through observations, audits, participant feedback, performance reviews and improvement plans.
• Maintain sufficient visibility within delivery to understand participant and staff experience, while ensuring day-to-day coordination is appropriately delegated.

People Leadership and Workforce Development

• Provide effective line management, leadership and direction to Community Football staff, setting clear expectations, objectives and standards of performance.
• Lead recruitment, induction, deployment, retention, supervision and performance management across the football workforce, including permanent, part-time and casual staff.
• Create and implement a workforce development and CPD plan that strengthens coaching quality, leadership capacity and succession planning.
• Develop a positive, accountable and inclusive team culture in which staff are supported to perform, develop and take ownership.
• Ensure appropriate staffing structures and rotas are in place to meet programme needs safely and efficiently.

Financial Management, Income and Business Development

• Hold delegated responsibility for Community Football budgets, ensuring robust forecasting, monitoring, financial controls and value for money.
• Develop annual income and expenditure plans and take corrective action where performance is outside agreed tolerances.
• Lead the development of sustainable earned-income opportunities across football programmes while protecting accessibility and charitable benefit.
• Identify and develop funding, sponsorship and partnership opportunities and contribute to high-quality bids, proposals and business cases.

Work with colleagues to develop pricing, capacity and growth models informed by demand, impact and financial performance.

Partnerships and External Representation

• Build and maintain strategic relationships with Blackburn Rovers FC, the Premier League Foundation, EFL in the Community, The FA, Lancashire FA, local authorities, schools, grassroots clubs, leagues, facilities and other key stakeholders.

• Represent BRCT professionally at senior external meetings, networks, events and working groups, advocating for the Community Trust and identifying opportunities for collaboration.

• Develop partnerships that increase participation, improve pathways, extend reach into underrepresented communities and strengthen the local football ecosystem.

Performance, Impact and Governance

• Set and monitor annual targets and KPIs across the Community Football portfolio and ensure performance is reviewed regularly with appropriate action plans.
• Ensure high-quality data, registers, monitoring information, evaluation and case studies are maintained in line with funder and organisational requirements.
• Use insight, participant feedback, financial information and performance data to drive continuous improvement and evidence impact.
• Provide accurate and timely reports for senior leaders, funders, partners and, where required, Trustees.
• Ensure contractual and funding requirements are understood and delivered, with risks or underperformance escalated promptly.

Safeguarding, Risk and Compliance

• Provide leadership that ensures safeguarding, health and safety, equality, diversity and inclusion are embedded throughout Community Football provision.
• Ensure programme risk assessments, operating procedures, incident reporting and venue arrangements are appropriate, current and consistently applied in addition to effectively recognise and record safeguarding concerns in a timely manner.
• Work closely with BRCT’s safeguarding leads and relevant colleagues to ensure concerns are managed and escalated in accordance with policy.
• Ensure staff maintain required qualifications, checks and professional standards and that provision complies with governingbody and funder requirements.

General Senior Management Responsibilities

• Contribute actively to cross-organisational priorities and work collaboratively with other service leads and senior managers to maximise BRCT’s collective impact.
• Champion BRCT’s values and model professional, accountable and inclusive leadership at all times.
• Act as an ambassador for Blackburn Rovers Community Trust and Blackburn Rovers FC, protecting and enhancing the reputation of both organisations.
• Attend relevant meetings, training, fixtures, matchdays and events, including evening and weekend commitments where required.
• Undertake other duties commensurate with the seniority and nature of the role.

About The Candidate

Knowledge and Experience

ESSENTIAL

Substantial experience in a senior football development, community sport or related leadership role, with responsibility for multiple programmes and teams.

Demonstrable experience of leading, managing and developing staff, including performance management, workforce planning and professional development.

Strong track record of designing, developing and improving football programmes at scale, with clear evidence of increasing participation, quality and impact.

Strong knowledge of community football, player development, inclusive participation and ageappropriate coaching practice.

Experience of managing significant programme budgets, financial forecasting, income targets and resources.

Experience of setting and managing KPIs, using data and insight to drive performance and producing highquality reports for senior stakeholders.

Experience of developing strategic partnerships and representing an organisation with senior stakeholders.

Experience of business development, income generation and/or securing external funding.

Strong understanding of safeguarding, health and safety, equality, diversity and inclusion, risk management and governance within football/community provision.

Experience of managing externally funded programmes and meeting contractual, monitoring and reporting requirements.

DESIRABLE

Senior leadership experience within a professional football club, football club community organisation or comparable sports charity.

Experience of overseeing football camps, Development Centres, Emerging Talent Centres or similar participation/playerdevelopment pathways.

Knowledge and experience of Premier League Kicks, EFL in the Community, The FA and/or County FA programmes and funding.

Strong knowledge of Blackburn with Darwen and surrounding communities, including barriers to participation.

Skills

Strategic leadership skills, with the ability to translate organisational priorities into clear plans, targets and delivery.

Strong people-management skills with the ability to lead, motivate, challenge and develop multidisciplinary football staff.

Excellent financial and commercial awareness, with confident budget management and decision-making skills.

Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including the ability to produce reports, proposals and presentations for senior audiences.

Strong stakeholder-management and influencing skills, with the credibility to represent BRCT at senior level.

Ability to analyse performance information, identify trends and make evidence-based decisions.

Strong organisational, prioritisation and problem-solving skills, with the ability to manage a complex portfolio and competing demands.

Ability to lead quality assurance and create a culture of continuous improvement.

Strong IT and information management skills.

Ability to work independently, exercise sound judgement and take accountability for decisions within delegated authority.

Experience of organisational change, service redesign or significant programme growth.

Experience of mentoring or developing managers and future leaders.

Experience of Salesforce or similar monitoring and evaluation systems.

Ability to build external profile and promote football programmes effectively to partners and participants.

Qualifications

Minimum UEFA B Licence or equivalent recognised football coaching qualification.

Valid FA Safeguarding Children qualification or equivalent.

Valid FA First Aid qualification or equivalent.

UEFA A Licence or currently working towards the qualification.

Relevant degree or Level 4+ qualification in Sports Development, Sports Coaching, Management, Leadership or a related subject.

Full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle for work purposes.

Recognised management or leadership qualification.

Additional FA qualifications relevant to inclusive football, coach development or talent development.

Qualification in mentoring, assessing or coach development.