Cricket Scotland: Head of Club Services and Growth (Deadline – May 26)

About Cricket Scotland

Cricket Scotland is the national governing body for cricket in Scotland. It is responsible for leading and developing the game from grassroots participation through to international cricket. Working with clubs, volunteers, officials, coaches, schools, communities, and partners, Cricket Scotland is committed to growing the game and ensuring cricket is inclusive, welcoming, safe, and enjoyable for all.

Job Purpose

The Head of Club Services & Growth is a key member of the Senior Leadership Team and reports directly to the Chief Executive Officer. The role provides strategic leadership across club cricket, participation and growth, community engagement, and safeguarding, acting as a visible advocate for recreational cricket across Scotland.

Key Responsibilities

• Growing the Game
  • Lead the national participation and growth strategy across clubs, schools, and communities.
  • Drive sustainable growth in recreational cricket participation across all demographics, with a particular focus on women and girls, young people, disabled people, and under‑represented communities.
  • Lead the strategic ambition to become the most inclusive team sport in Scotland.
  • Oversee the development of programmes, initiatives, and partnerships that create accessible, enjoyable, and inclusive opportunities to engage with cricket.
  • Ensure clear and sustainable pathways into club cricket from schools, community programmes, and recreational formats.
  • Strengthen access to cricket within state schools across Scotland, widening participation and creating inclusive pathways for young people from all backgrounds.
  • Support the development of welcoming and inclusive environments across clubs and recreational cricket settings.
  • Support the growth of community cricket initiatives that use cricket to positively impact health, well‑being, inclusion, and community connection.
  • Embed equality, diversity, and inclusion principles across all growth and participation activities.
• Servicing the Game
  • Provide strategic leadership and oversight of Scotland’s domestic cricket structures and club network.
  • Strengthen recreational cricket across Scotland by supporting clubs, leagues, volunteers, officials, and regional structures.
  • Lead the development and continuous improvement of club services, domestic competition structures, membership systems, and recreational cricket infrastructure.
  • Build strong relationships with clubs, Regional Associations, Junior Cricket Groups, Committees, and volunteers.
  • Work collaboratively with stakeholders to identify challenges, opportunities, and practical solutions that strengthen cricket at grassroots level.
  • Ensure clubs are effectively supported in areas including governance, volunteer development, participation growth, inclusion, safeguarding, workforce development, and sustainability.
  • Coordinate with coaching and performance colleagues to identify coach development needs and support sustainable coaching pathways.
  • Lead the implementation and development of PlayHQ and associated national systems, ensuring digital infrastructure supports club administration, competition management, participation insight, live scoring, and the overall experience of clubs, volunteers, officials, and participants.
  • Oversee national operational frameworks and administrative systems that support the effective running of recreational cricket across Scotland.
  • Act as staff lead for governance groups and committees, including the Domestic Cricket Committee, Development & Safeguarding Committee, and Competitions Management Group.
• Officiating the Game
  • Lead the transition of match official management and governance to Cricket Scotland.
  • Establish clear, transparent, and consistent policies, standards, and processes for match officials across domestic and international cricket.
  • Review and strengthen development pathways for umpires and scorers, creating progression opportunities.
  • Develop national recruitment and retention approaches for umpires and scorers, focusing on diversity and inclusion.
  • Enhance the quality, consistency, and professional standards of officiating through education, mentoring, support, performance review, and continuous development.
  • Support clubs and leagues in developing and sustaining local officiating capacity and volunteer workforce structures.
• Supporting the Game
  • Lead strategic relationships with key funders and partners, including sportscotland, ICC, Lord’s Taverners, Chance to Shine, MCC Foundation, local authorities, schools, and community organisations.
  • Secure and oversee investment that supports sustainable growth and long‑term impact across recreational cricket.
  • Ensure funded programmes and partnerships align with strategic priorities and deliver measurable impact.
  • Lead and develop a multi‑disciplinary team, fostering a high‑performing, collaborative, and values‑driven culture.
  • Provide leadership and development opportunities to direct and indirect reports.
  • Support the continued growth of the women’s and girls’ game as a core organisational priority.
  • Contribute to organisational leadership, planning, and strategic decision‑making as a member of the Senior Leadership Team.
  • Ensure effective reporting, insight, and data systems support evidence‑based decision‑making.
  • Lead budget planning, management, and monitoring across relevant operational areas and funding streams.
  • Support the development of a strong volunteer and workforce culture across recreational cricket in Scotland.
• Protecting the Game
  • Provide strategic leadership for safeguarding, wellbeing, and protection across recreational cricket.
  • Ensure compliance with safeguarding standards, legislation, and best practice.
  • Lead and manage the Safeguarding Team, ensuring policy development, education, training, and case management processes.
  • Promote safe, welcoming, inclusive, and positive environments at all levels of the game.
  • Support a culture of accountability, wellbeing, respect, and positive behaviour throughout Scottish cricket.
  • Embed safeguarding and wellbeing considerations across all participation, club development, community, pathway, and high‑performance activity.

Success Measures

• Sustainable growth in participation across recreational cricket in Scotland.
• Measurable growth in women’s and girls’ participation and engagement.
• Strong and effective relationships with clubs, volunteers, Regional Associations, and stakeholders.
• High‑quality domestic recreational cricket structures, competitions, and club support systems.
• Increased visibility, accessibility, and inclusiveness of recreational cricket opportunities.
• Successful delivery of funded programmes and achievement of investment outcomes.
• Strong safeguarding culture and robust wellbeing and protection systems across Scottish cricket.
• A motivated, collaborative, and high‑performing team culture.
• Improved data, insight, and reporting to support strategic decision‑making.
• Positive progress against strategic priorities and operational plans.

Working Relationships

The Head of Club Services & Growth is a key member of the Senior Leadership Team and reports directly to the Chief Executive Officer. The role leads the Development and Domestic Game function, supervising direct reports such as the National Development Manager, Community Engagement Manager, Domestic Game Administrator, Club Services & Officials Coordinator, and Safeguarding Coordinator. It also provides broader leadership and oversight across Women & Girls Engagement, Regional Development Officers, community programme staff, casual workforce, disability cricket development, and officiating administration and appointments. Key internal partners include the Senior Leadership Team, Performance & Pathways Team, Communications Team, Corporate Services Team, and the Board and Committee structures. Key external partners include cricket clubs, leagues, volunteers, Regional Associations, schools, local authorities, community organisations, sportscotland, ICC, and funding partners.

Hours of Work

Average 37.5 hours per week. Standard office hours are Monday to Friday, 9 am–5 pm, but the role requires flexibility, including evenings and weekends as needed.

Place of Work

The normal place of work is the National Cricket Academy, Edinburgh. The role operates a hybrid model with flexibility to work from home on some days.

Salary & Benefits

• £54,093 per annum.
• 35.5 days’ holiday per year, including public holidays.
• Enhanced sick pay provisions.
• Salary sacrifice schemes for cycle‑to‑work, home, and tech purchases, offering savings of up to around 8 %.
• Health Cash Plan, providing money back on everyday healthcare costs such as dental, optical, and physiotherapy.
• 24/7 counselling and wellbeing support, including access to online GP appointments.
• Mental Health First Aiders and an Employee Assistance Programme, offering confidential support.
• Hybrid working arrangements to support flexibility and work‑life balance.
• Opportunities for professional development and learning within a national governing body environment.

Skills, Knowledge & Experience

Essential

• Knowledge and understanding of cricket, especially recreational structures, clubs, competitions, and participation pathways.
• Significant leadership experience within sport, community development, charity, or a related sector.
• Experience of developing and delivering strategy and operational plans.
• Strong understanding of sports development, participation growth, club development, and community engagement.
• Experience of leading and developing teams and creating positive team cultures.
• Experience of partnership management and senior stakeholder engagement.
• Strong understanding of safeguarding, inclusion, and wellbeing within sport or community environments.
• Experience of budget management and working within externally funded environments.
• Excellent communication, influencing, and relationship‑building skills.
• Ability to think strategically while maintaining awareness of operational delivery and stakeholder needs.
• Understanding of the role that clubs, volunteers, and recreational sport play in strengthening communities and creating positive participant experiences.

Desirable

• Experience of leading participation initiatives for women and girls and under‑represented communities.
• Experience of governance or committee leadership.
• Experience of data‑led planning, reporting, and insight.
• Experience of working with digital participation or competition management systems such as PlayHQ.

Personal Attributes

• Strong leadership and interpersonal skills, building positive relationships with clubs, volunteers, colleagues, partners, and stakeholders.
• Strategic and forward‑thinking, translating organisational priorities into clear and practical action.
• Collaborative and approachable, working effectively across teams and bringing people together around shared objectives.
• Self‑motivated and resilient, working effectively within a complex and evolving environment.
• Practical and solutions‑focused, balancing strategic leadership with operational delivery.
• Strong communication and influencing skills, engaging confidently with a wide range of audiences and producing clear reports, presentations, and updates.
• Positive and supportive leadership style, developing and empowering individuals and teams.
• Strong organisational and planning skills, managing competing priorities and leading multiple areas of work effectively.
• Committed to inclusion, safeguarding, wellbeing, and creating safe, welcoming, and enjoyable environments across the game.
• Flexible and adaptable, able to travel and work occasional evenings and weekends.

Our Commitment to Inclusion

Cricket Scotland is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive organisation that reflects the communities we serve. We welcome applications from individuals of all ages, backgrounds, cultures, and identities, and we particularly encourage those passionate about women’s and girls’ cricket.

Complete our Equality Monitoring Form on the recruitment portal to help us monitor and improve inclusivity.

Our Values

We are proud to be diverse, committed to being inclusive and welcoming. We are transparent and accountable to ourselves and our sport. We ensure people are central to everything we do. We are bold and brave to drive the sport forward. We remember cricket should be enjoyable for all.