Core Fund and Inclusion Manager

Contract type: Permanent, full time

Reports to: Head of Community and Workforce Development

Location: Premier League Offices, Paddington, W2 1HQ

Overview

Working flexibly as part of the Community and Workforce Development team, you will support the delivery of the Premier League and Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) Core Fund and the delivery of the PLCF Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy, working with colleagues across the business and external partners. In this role, you will help to review and develop the Fund and grant management processes, build stronger connections with the network of CCOs and key partners, help the charity maximise the impact of the Fund and tell this story better, gather insight and best practice to support continued improvement of funded Club Community Organisations (CCOs), and drive forward and embed equality, diversity and inclusion in all we do.

You will interact with the CCO network and partners on a daily basis, developing the CCO and Funds’ networks, ensuring they have the capabilities needed to deliver funded activities to the best possible standards whilst understanding the specific needs of key stakeholders and local communities. You will play an active role in enhancing existing provision and leading on the development and implementation of strategy.

The right candidate will have strong organisational and communication skills, and a demonstrable commitment to helping children and young people achieve their potential.

Who we are

The Premier League Charitable Fund, established in 2010, is one of the biggest sports charities in the world, with an annual budget of around £35 million. The independent charity supports CCOs in delivering high-quality projects that help young people to achieve their potential and evidences its success to key stakeholders.

Aligned with the Premier League Communities Strategy, the Premier League Charitable Fund aims to create positive and lasting sporting, social, educational, and health outcomes for a wide range of beneficiaries, especially children and young people. The Premier League Charitable Fund team supports and inspires the impactful work of over 100 CCOs across the Premier League, EFL, National League, Women’s Super League, and Women’s Championship, directly benefiting more than 500,000 individuals at thousands of community venues and schools each year.

The Premier League and PFA Core Fund enables CCOs to become stronger and more sustainable organisations through funding to support good governance practices and effective and efficient operations aligned with the standards set out in the Premier League Charitable Fund’s Capability Code of Practice (CCOP). The Premier League Charitable Fund’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Strategy (2021-25) aims to embed a culture of equality, diversity, and inclusion at all levels of the charity and across the CCO network.

Our hybrid-working model allows you some variety in your place of work, offering you the chance to work from home on some days each week. Where possible, you will attend the office or club/site visits in line with our company policy. All staff liaise closely with their line manager to manage their time appropriately and according to their work and team requirements.

The role

Management of the Premier League and PFA Core Fund

• Lead the development of the Premier League and PFA Core Fund, ahead of a new funding cycle and organisational strategy from 2025-2026.
• Support a network of 97 CCOs to have a positive impact in their communities through the effective distribution of Core Funding, working closely with key stakeholders.
• Work closely with funding partners (Premier League and PFA) and colleagues to develop and implement a new funding model for the Premier League and PFA Core Fund from Season 2025-26; with considerations to change management and transition.
• Build strong relationships across the CCO network, with a particular focus on the 20 Premier League linked CCOs, whilst working closely with EFL in the Community to provide effective support to the network of CCOs linked to EFL clubs.
• Manage the Core Fund and monitor funding distributed to CCOs to deliver impact. Lead the assessment of Core Fund Applications and Monitoring Reports working with the Head of Community and Workforce Development and external consultants as required. Work with colleagues and funders to review Core Fund outcomes and how impact is measured ahead of the 2025-2028 funding cycle.
• Review the current Core Fund processes and procedures to drive innovation, effectiveness, and efficiency; identifying areas where systems, performance and/or delivery require improvement.
• Connect with the team leading the CCOP governance review to support the development of the CCOP Framework and maximise opportunities/manage implications for Core Funding.
• Work through EFL in the Community and National League Trust to gather insights on CCOs performance against CCOP standards to help inform Core Funding awards and EDI Action Plans.
• Identify training needs of the CCO workforce to support the delivery of Core Fund objectives and help build capability across the network, and work with the Learning and Events Manager to inform and develop the charity’s learning and development offer.
• Support CCOs to use Core Funding to help develop a diverse and representative workforce that is reflective of their communities and ready to respond to local need through their National Programme and Fund delivery.
• Work with colleagues in communications to support and promote campaigns, events, and good practice case studies linked to the Premier League and PFA Core Fund and Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion.

Inclusion Lead for Premier League Charitable Fund

• Lead the implementation and review of the Premier League Charitable Fund’s equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) strategy (2021-2025) working with colleagues across the charity to embed this work in all we do; and with funders and key stakeholders to deliver success. Design and develop an EDI action plan for 2025-2028; including key priorities, clear outcomes and success measures for the next funding cycle.
• Support the Head of Community and Workforce Development to effectively service and support the Premier League Charitable Fund EDI Committee, ensuring meetings run smoothly with Committee papers prepared and circulated in a timely manner and to deadline.
• Work with the two Regional EDI Network Chairs and Vice Chairs (north and south regions) to design, deliver and review Regional EDI Network Meetings (two per season, per region); aligned with EDI Committee and the Premier League Charitable Fund Strategy.
• Support the network of CCOs to deliver success against their EDI Action Plan linked to CCOP standards and Core Funding objectives; working closely with funders, partners, EFL in the Community, and the National League Trust.

Safeguarding

• Take responsibility for safeguarding in all your work and consult with the Safeguarding Team to understand and support the complex safeguarding and risk requirements linked to Community and Workforce Development activities and events, and local CCO delivery.

Wider support

• Liaise with other relevant departments of the Premier League including the Premier League Communities Team.
• Ensure the Premier League Charitable Fund is connected to other initiatives, policies, and organisations working in the same fields through participation in a range of relevant external forums and networks. Keep up to date with current debates within the sports, voluntary and quality assurance sectors.
• Share in the Premier League Charitable Fund’s values and participate as a full member of the team, and where appropriate, carry out other duties as may reasonably be required giving support to other members of the team at busy times.

Requirements for the role

• Experienced in project management, ability to prioritise and manage multiple workstreams and competing priorities.
• Competent relationship builder with the ability to engage, manage and influence a complex network of stakeholders.
• Ability to work independently under pressure, make sound judgement calls and solve problems at pace.
• Influential communicator with a range of audiences, and the ability to use a range of different mediums, with written skills to an excellent standard.
• Ability to work collaboratively and flexibly as part of a team and experience working with high profile partners with differing views and need and a wide range stakeholders.
• Experience of leading, and commitment to, equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) workstreams and an understanding of how EDI relates to the work of the charity and organisations we fund.
• Experience of leading grant-making processes, including approaches to monitoring, evaluation, impact, and learning.
• Understanding of the sport, community and/or charity sector including policy, initiatives, and legislation relevant to the Fund/EDI which could include high-need areas, underserved and underrepresented communities, and at-risk young people, or the ability to acquire it.
• Knowledge and understanding of the role that football and player engagement can play in engaging and inspiring communities.
• Knowledge and understanding of how to support organisations to be sustainable and effective to deliver impact aligned with the theory of change.
• Ability to identify trends and analyse project data, both qualitatively and quantitatively, to turn data into insight to inform decision making.
• Excellent negotiation, interpersonal and relationship management skills to build and maintain strong professional relationships and connect with partners' priorities.
• Experience of planning and delivering events, training, and/or conferences.
• High level of computer proficiency, particularly with MS Office packages. Experience of using Salesforce CRM would be advantageous.
• Motivated and committed to making a difference to beneficiaries and local communities through your work.
• Willingness to travel within England and Wales as and when appropriate.
• A commitment to safeguarding and have a satisfactory enhanced DBS check to be completed.

Our commitment to safeguarding includes implementing robust safer recruitment procedures to assess the suitability of individuals applying for roles that involve work with children and adults who are or may be at risk of harm.

To apply please visit our careers page and apply with your CV and a cover letter. The closing date for applications is Monday 16 December 2024.

We will remove barriers that prospective candidates might face at any stage of our recruitment process. If you have a disability and would like the advert in an alternative format, or would like to talk about how we can adjust the interview process to best support you, please contact recruitment@premierleague.com