Location: Ipswich
Contract: Full-time (37.5 hours)
Reports to: Chief Executive Officer
Works closely with: Executive Team, Senior Leadership Team and all departments within the organisation.
Role Overview
Ipswich Town Foundation is seeking to recruit a Chief Operating Officer to play a pivotal strategic and operational leadership role within the charity. Acting as a strategic partner to the CEO across all facets of the charity, to drive organisational performance, ensuring strong governance, financial sustainability, operational excellence and regulatory compliance.
As a member of the Executive Team, the postholder will provide day-to-day leadership across the organisation, working collaboratively with departments to support the effective delivery of the Foundation’s strategy. The role will ensure teams are empowered to deliver high-quality programmes that harness the power of Ipswich Town Football Club to positively impact lives across Suffolk.
About Ipswich Town Foundation
Ipswich Town Foundation is the official charity of Ipswich Town Football Club. We care deeply about the people in our community and believe in their potential. Each week, we engage with almost 9,000 young people and vulnerable adults through our diverse range of programmes across health and wellbeing, social inclusion, youth engagement, football development, and education and employability. Through the commitment of our staff and partners, we are delivering meaningful opportunities and life-changing impact across Suffolk.
Vision
An empowered, inspired and inclusive community to be proud of.
Mission
The Ipswich Town Foundation exists to provide impactful and inclusive activities to improve health, skills, opportunities, and lives of all generations across Suffolk. By using the presence, power, and reach of Ipswich Town FC, we aim to inspire individuals to realise their potential both on and off the football pitch and create pride in their communities.
Core Values
- Honesty
- Hard Work
- High Standards
- Willingness to Learn
- Integrity
Key Responsibilities
Organisational Leadership & Strategy
- Act as a strategic partner to the CEO – and deputise where required – contributing to organisational vision and long-term planning across all departments – delivery and non-delivery.
- Work with CEO on capital projects.
- Actively contribute to the direction, development and growth of the charity as a member of the Executive Team.
- Lead the development of robust, efficient and effective organisational systems, processes, policies and structures that support the charity’s strategic aims.
Income Generation & Marketing and Communications
- Lead the development of income generation strategies including fundraising, corporate partnerships and events.
- Work closely with CEO and Heads of Departments to diversify income streams and ensure financial sustainability.
- Set and drive annual marketing and communications strategy for the team to implement and deliver.
- Provide leadership to the Marketing & Communications function to strengthen the Foundation’s visibility, reputation and stakeholder engagement.
- Oversee the Junior Blues memberships for young supporters of Ipswich Town Football Club.
- Represent the Foundation in key meetings, events and strategic networks.
Finance
- Work with CEO and Finance Team on setting annual budgets across multiple departments.
- Work with CEO and Finance Team on management accounts, financial analysis, audit and other regulatory financial compliance.
Operations, Compliance & Risk Management
- Oversee all non-delivery operational functions, ensuring efficient, safe and compliant running of the charity.
- Ensure that regulatory and statutory requirements – including charity governance, health & safety, data protection, EDI and finance – are met.
- Oversee with CEO the charity’s CCOP compliance.
- Oversee the organisation’s risk management processes, ensuring risk mitigation measures are in place and monitored.
- Drive operational systems and process improvements across the charity.
People & Safeguarding
- Provide strategic leadership to People, Compliance and Safeguarding functions, ensuring alignment across internal and external policies.
- Drive a culture of inclusion, welfare and professionalism and safeguarding across all operations.
Safeguarding & Compliance
- Ensure full compliance with Ipswich Town Foundation and school safeguarding policies and procedures.
- Maintain accurate safeguarding records and report concerns in line with policy.
- Undertake relevant safeguarding and CPD training as required.
Person Specification
Essential Experience
- Senior leadership experience within a community-based organisation.
- Strategic operational leadership across multiple service areas or programmes.
- Experience operating at Executive or Senior Leadership Team level, influencing strategy and organisational direction.
- Experience of financial operations and analysis to drive excellence and continuous improvement.
- Proven experience of managing revenue-generating departments and hitting targets, including corporate income generation streams.
- Experience collaborating with fundraising and commercial teams to support income growth of the charity.
- Experience managing commercial partnerships.
- Demonstrable experience overseeing complex operations, including facilities, logistics, systems and organisational infrastructure.
- Experience leading people-focused functions such as HR and managing change in an organisation.
- Strong background in implementing effective recruitment, performance management, staff wellbeing and CPD systems.
- Experience managing multiple budgets, contributing to financial planning, and ensuring value for money.
- Understanding of charity funding models, cost control and sustainable resource allocation.
- Experience leading or overseeing safeguarding practice within a regulated environment.
- Experience working with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders, including senior leaders, trustees, funders and statutory bodies.
- Strong understanding of charity governance, compliance and safeguarding.
- Experience of leading a Marketing & Communications team.
- Commitment to embedding equality, diversity and inclusion throughout programmes.
Desirable Experience
- Senior leadership experience within a Football Club Charity.
- Experience working with or reporting to a Board of Trustees.
- Understanding of EFL in the Community and Premier League Foundation structures.
- Experience and understanding of charity finance systems and processes.
- Experience with charitable audits.
- Experience of working on capital projects.
Essential Skills & Knowledge
- Inspirational, engaging and empathetic leadership style to drive strong team cultures.
- Able to translate organisational vision and strategy into effective operational plans.
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to make evidence-based decisions.
- Ability to balance multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
- Excellent written and verbal communication with the confidence to present to boards, partners and external audiences.
- Highly organised with a strong understanding of operational systems to improve processes.
- Deep commitment and understanding to safeguarding, welfare and inclusive practice.
- Integrity, professionalism and alignment with Foundation core values.
- Willingness to work weekends and unsocial hours.
- Full clean UK driving licence and access to a vehicle.
- Enhanced DBS check.
- First Aid qualification.
Desirable Skills & Knowledge
- Understanding the power of football to positively impact communities.
- Level 3 or above Safeguarding qualification.
What Do You Get in Return?
- Competitive salary
- Access to Ipswich Town match tickets
- Ipswich Town training kit
- 20 days annual leave plus bank holidays
- Contributory Pension Scheme
- Free onsite parking
- Discounted Ipswich Town Football Club merchandise.
Ipswich Town Foundation is an Equal Opportunities Employer. Ipswich Town Foundation is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. DBS checks required for relevant posts.
