Programme Development Manager

The Programme Development Manager will lead the design, delivery, evaluation and continuous development of allocated programmes within Employability and Skills provision at EFL in the Community. Current programmes include the Greater London Authority Funded Training Ground programme and South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority Adult Skills provision. The role will ensure programmes align with organisational objectives, partner expectations, community impact goals, and local, regional and national policy priorities. The postholder will manage relationships with Football Club charities, external stakeholders and funding partners to deliver high‑quality initiatives that drive participation, inclusion and positive social outcomes.

Key Responsibilities

• Programme Management
  • Lead planning, implementation and monitoring of the programme across delivery partners, ensuring programmes meet agreed KPIs (recruitment, retention, progression), timelines, milestones and budget requirements.
  • Ensure programmes are delivered in compliance with relevant funder requirements (e.g. GLA, SYMCA), including performance reporting, financial records, timely and accurate submission of funder claims and supporting evidence and agreed outputs.
  • Use insight, research, policy knowledge and data to inform programme delivery, target groups and delivery models.
  • Identify opportunities for programme adaptation and improvement in response to delivery performance, emerging challenges, sector learning, including the development and implementation of targeted intervention strategies.
  • Support delivery partners to design and improve projects and programmes, including the development of action plans to address performance issues and actively challenge underperformance where required.
• Stakeholder Engagement
  • Build and maintain strong relationships with the funding provider(s), delivery partners and other key stakeholders.
  • Represent EFL in the Community at meetings, forums and events as required.
  • Contribute to the co‑design and development of programme delivery approaches, including employability and stakeholder engagement strategies.
  • Collaborate with local and national partners to align services and maximise impact for participants.
• Quality Assurance & Compliance
  • Oversee programme governance, safeguarding, data protection, health & safety and risk management processes across a national network of delivery partners, ensuring consistency and quality across multi‑site delivery.
  • Ensure compliance with funder requirements, organisational standards and delivery expectations, including alignment with relevant quality frameworks (e.g. Ofsted, ESFA or equivalent).
  • Support embedding continuous improvement and learning approaches across delivery partners to enhance quality and effectiveness.
  • Monitor delivery partner performance, holding partners accountable for contract performance, actively addressing underperformance, implementing improvement plans and escalating concerns as appropriate.
• Reporting & Evaluation
  • Produce accurate reports for internal and external stakeholders, including funder performance reports.
  • Use data and insights to demonstrate impact and inform future development, ensuring a clear performance management and improvement cycle is in place.
  • Maintain accurate data systems, supporting participant eligibility checks and performance tracking.
  • Use evaluation insights to inform programme refinement, sustainability and future funding opportunities.
• Team Collaboration
  • Work closely with colleagues and delivery partners to share best practice.
  • Support workforce development initiatives, including training, advice and guidance for delivery staff.
  • Support capacity building across delivery partners, including consistent induction processes and shared standards of delivery.

Qualifications & Attributes

• Knowledge & Understanding
  • Strong understanding of employability strategies, community engagement and participation within sport.
  • Knowledge of programme management methodologies and performance measurement.
  • Aware of safeguarding, equality, diversity and inclusion principles, particularly in relation to supporting disadvantaged and underrepresented groups.
  • Understanding of funding processes and partnership development.
  • Understanding of employability pathways, skills development and progression routes into education, training and employment.
  • Aware of local, regional and national labour market information (LMI) and skills priorities.
• Technical Skills
  • Programme planning and delivery using recognised frameworks (e.g. PRINCE2, Agile or equivalent), including employability or skills‑based programmes.
  • Budget management and financial reporting.
  • Data analysis and impact measurement tools, including tracking participant outcomes such as progression into education, employment or training.
  • Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite and programme management software.
  • Ability to use data to monitor learner engagement, retention and progression outcomes.
• Attributes
  • Excellent organisational and time management skills.
  • Strong communication and influencing abilities, including engaging individuals and partners to support progression outcomes.
  • Ability to work collaboratively and build positive relationships.
  • Proactive, solution‑focused and adaptable to changing priorities, with the ability to respond to individual needs and barriers.
  • Commitment to EFL in the Community values and social impact goals, including improving employability outcomes for individuals from diverse and disadvantaged backgrounds.
  • Lead by example by contributing to promoting the principles of the EFL.

Inclusive Employment

The EFL is committed to creating an inclusive and diverse environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. Applicants fulfilling the criteria will be considered in a meritocratic way and without regard to race, ethnicity, religion or belief(s), gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, age or with regard to pregnancy or maternity.

Safeguarding

The EFL is committed to safeguarding the welfare of children and adults at risk and requires all employees to share this commitment and promote the welfare of these groups. Applicants will be asked about any previous convictions and cautions. Amendments to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (2013 and 2020) provide that when applying for certain jobs and activities, certain convictions and cautions are considered ‘protected’. This means that they do not need to be disclosed to employers, and if they are disclosed, employers cannot take them into account.