Set the bar for greatness...

We have an exciting opportunity for a Programme Manager to join our FA Learning division. The Programme Manager plays a strategic and connective role in shaping and coordinating activity across FA Learning, with a particular focus on digital and data transformation.

Within the digital and data transformation space, the purpose of the role is two-fold: to ensure digital and data change lands effectively across the business through strong business change, organisational readiness and adoption; and to ensure dependencies and connections across the strategy are clear, with digital and data activity effectively enabling wider strategic programmes and priorities.

Working closely with Learn Pod and other delivery partners who lead the technical delivery, the role helps join up activity across FA Learning, ensure programmes and initiatives are aligned to FA Learning Strategy and Business Plans, and support effective embedding across the wider business. The role will also pick up programmes outside of the digital transformation space, so it requires someone who can adapt their approach across different programme contexts and work effectively across a varied portfolio.

The position is advertised as a fixed-term contract until July 2027, and the role is located at St George's Park in Burton-Under-Trent.

Currently, the team are working within a hybrid working model where the expectation is to work from your contractual location is two days of the week, as well as when required by the team. The remaining days can be worked remotely. We will continue to monitor this model, and it may be adjusted in future if deemed necessary. The contractual location of this role can be found on the FA Careers page.

What will you be doing?

Strategic Alignment & Value – shape and steer strategic programmes to ensure they are clearly aligned to FA Learning's purpose and priorities, embedded within core business activity, and focused on delivering measurable value and outcomes, actively supporting prioritisation and sequencing to focus capacity on the initiatives that deliver the greatest strategic impact, including, but not limited to, the digital and data portfolio.
Programme Leadership & Integrated Delivery – Lead end-to-end programme coordination across multiple projects and initiatives, managing plans, milestones, dependencies, risks and resources to ensure coherence across activity, high-quality delivery, and strong connectivity between strategy, business teams, Learn Pod/delivery partners and operational areas. Apply a flexible and adaptable approach across both digital transformation and other programmes within the portfolio.
Stakeholder Influence & Connectivity – build and sustain strong, trusted relationships across teams, departments, divisions and external partners, acting as a strategic connector between senior leadership intent, delivery teams and operational areas, driving collaboration, joined-up thinking and shared ownership across strategic programmes to ensure alignment, connectivity and effective decision-
Change Leadership & Adoption – champion engagement, adoption and behaviour change across FA Learning, supporting teams through transformation with clear communication and inclusive change approaches to embed digital and data-enabled ways of working into everyday practice.
Business Readiness & Operational Integration – Ensure business readiness for digital and data initiatives by coordinating preparedness activities across people, processes, governance, capability and communication, enabling smooth transition from technical delivery into sustainable operational use across the business.
Governance, Assurance & Financial Stewardship – Establish and maintain effective programme governance, reporting, risk management and budget oversight, ensuring appropriate decision-making, transparency, control and value for money across programmes.
Insight-Informed Performance & Value Realisation – work closely with Strategic Insight Leads to track programme effectiveness against agreed outcomes and measures of success, using evidence to inform decisions, adapt delivery and maximise benefits realisation.
Capability Building & Continuous Improvement – support the Senior Lead – Programme Management to embed best-practice programme management across FA Learning, contributing to strategic, business and financial planning cycles, post-programme evaluation, and continuous improvement of ways of working.
Executes additional tasks as required to meet the FA's changing priorities.
Comply with all company policies and procedures to ensure that the highest standards of health, safety, and well-being 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

Undergraduate degree or equivalent.
Project management qualification.

Experience

Experience managing business change programmes in complex and fast-paced environments.
Ability to align programmes with strategy and business plans.
Ability to make informed decisions and manage risk effectively.
Strong leadership and influencing skills, with the ability to manage multiple stakeholders.
Ability to work within matrix structured organisations and galvanise people within non-direct reporting structures.
Excellent analytical and problem-solving abilities.
Excellent organisational and planning skills.
Excellent interpersonal, communication and relationship building skills.

Technical Skills

Experience with project management software, e.g. Smartsheet.
Extensive experience with Excel.
Advanced Reporting Writing skills.
Advanced Microsoft Office.
Ability to create presentations and present to a wide range of key stakeholders.

Beneficial to have

Knowledge

MBA or relevant postgraduate qualification or equivalent.
Programme management qualification.

Experience

Experience working in an educational or sports-focused environment.
Passion for sport and/or football.
Delivering project and programme management training to a diverse workforce.
Strategy planning and management.
Financial planning and management.
Understanding of the importance and requirements to develop the next generation of coaches and young players.
Excellent influencing & negotiation skills.

Technical Skills

Smartsheet.

We can confirm that the interview date will either be the 18th or 21st May at St George's Park.

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 on 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, encourages you to connect and learn with your colleagues and look after your mental health and well-being.
Free, nutritious lunches at Wembley Stadium and St. George's Park.
Free private medical cover.
A contributory pension scheme.
An additional 'Thank You' day's leave, volunteering days, as well as 25 days of annual leave (based on a full-time, permanent contract)
A hybrid working model which offers greater flexibility.

We are a diverse workplace, aspiring to represent football across the country. The Football Association actively promotes inclusion and diversity, encouraging you to be the best version of yourself at work.

We welcome applications from everyone and are proud to be an equal opportunities employer. If you have any particular requirements in respect of the recruitment or interview process, please mention this during your application.

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.

#J-18808-Ljbffr

FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION