Programme Development Manager

The EFL in the Community (EFLitC) is looking for a Programme Development Manager to work in the Projects & Participation Team. The role is a 12 month fixed-term role due to the current contracted funding for the role running until July 2027.

JOB PURPOSE

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.

Working as part of the Projects and Participation Team, 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 (i.e. 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.
  • Where applicable, 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.

About The Candidate

WHO WE ARE LOOKING FOR

KNOWLEDGE & UNDERSTANDING

• Strong understanding of employability strategies, community engagement and participation within sport.
• Knowledge of programme management methodologies and performance measurement.
• Awareness 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.
• Awareness 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 and/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:

• Everybody Working Together - We are one team supporting each other and collaborating on our shared goals.
• Fairness & Equality - Being consistent and inclusive for everyone - showing respect.
• Listening & Learning - Communicating with trust and honesty - growing as individuals and enabling others to do so too.
• Changing Lives - We support the communities and Clubs we serve.

About The Club

INTRODUCTION TO EFL IN THE COMMUNITY

The EFL is about two things; great football competition on the pitch and improving lives of people in communities off it. With more than 40 million people living within 10 miles of an EFL Club, the potential to connect with local people is as great as it has ever been.

EFL in the Community is the charitable arm of the EFL (English Football League). EFL in the Community (formerly the EFL Trust) was established in 2008 to support the groundbreaking work of EFL Football Club charities. This network of charities across England and Wales use the power of the Club badge to reach people who need help. They deliver a wide range of initiatives focused on improving health and wellbeing; raising aspirations and realising potential – building stronger, more cohesive EFL communities.

Football Club charities engaged over 1.1 million participants last season and generated a total of £1.24 billion worth of social value across the full range of community initiatives and programmes.

OUR TEAM AT THE EFL

Alongside the key skills, experience and attributes – we want people to join us to show energy, commitment and belief in what we are trying to do for the good of our Football Club Charities, our Clubs, our partners and most of all – our communities.

Our recruitment process will be rigorous and demanding (but hopefully enjoyable!) and so will our role. In return, we offer honesty, integrity, and a unique opportunity to work within an exciting, and ever changing, sector. Our employees and volunteers are crucial to our success and equality, diversity and inclusion (using an equity approach) are fundamental elements of building our team. Each of us come from different backgrounds and have an array of qualifications, skills and life experiences. If you have any particular requirements in respect of the recruitment or interview process please mention this in your application.

SAFEGUARDING

The EFL is committed to safeguarding the welfare of children and adults at risk and require 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) provides 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. Guidance about whether a conviction or caution should be disclosed can be found on the Ministry of Justice website.

INCLUSION

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 regards to pregnancy or maternity. If you have any particular requirements in respect of the recruitment or interview process, please mention this in your application. The EFL reserves the right to close this vacancy early should we receive enough applications.