Business Strategy Manager (MBA Graduate Programme) in London

In 2026 The FA will launch a new MBA programme as part of a wider talent initiative. The programme aims to enable the business to deliver against the 2024–2028 strategy by improving performance and providing expertise in key divisions or across functional programmes. This is a two‑year fixed‑term opportunity offering a rotational experience across high‑impact projects within the federation. You will be based in Wembley with an expectation of being on site at least two days per week, and occasional travel to St. George’s Park.

The objective is to develop talent for future leadership and improve business performance, challenging and supporting the business to meet strategy objectives. Success may present opportunities to work within the association or the wider football community. There is no guarantee of a permanent role at the end of the cycle. This is not a graduate‑level role; we seek individuals with prior professional experience ready to operate credibly and influence in a complex, fast‑paced organisation.

What will you be doing?

The programme is responsible for helping the business analyse, evaluate and define strategic initiatives that contribute to The FA’s objectives. You will be assigned three projects over two years, each lasting eight months.

Responsibilities

• Strategic Analysis & Delivery
  • Analyse, evaluate, and provide recommendations on strategic initiatives aligned to organisational goals.
  • Translate strategic intent into clear, executable operational plans with defined outcomes and success measures.
  • Support prioritisation of initiatives and alignment of resources to maximise impact.
  • Track and analyse KPIs, identifying opportunities to improve performance and delivery.
• Cross‑Functional Project Leadership
  • Lead and support delivery of cross‑functional projects across a diverse portfolio (including compliance, transformation, and major operational programmes such as tournament delivery).
  • Define project scope, objectives, timelines, and resource requirements in collaboration with stakeholders.
  • Maintain hands‑on oversight throughout the project lifecycle, ensuring delivery against agreed outcomes.
  • Identify, manage and mitigate project risks, issues and dependencies.
• Stakeholder Engagement & Cross‑Team Collaboration
  • Provide strategic insight and delivery support to senior management, business partners and the strategy team.
  • Build strong relationships across divisions to drive alignment, accountability and effective collaboration.
  • Engage internal and external stakeholders to encourage innovation and coordinated delivery.
  • Offer consulting‑style support to help teams scope, plan, and deliver strategic initiatives effectively.
• Governance, Reporting & Continuous Improvement
  • Work closely with the Strategy and Business Management functions to ensure alignment with PMO best practice.
  • Monitor and report on key milestones, risks and trends to enable transparent decision‑making.
  • Champion continuous improvement by refining tools, methodologies and ways of working across the programme.
  • Promote consistency, efficiency and integration in project and programme delivery.
  • Execute additional tasks as required to meet the FA’s changing priorities.
  • Comply with all company policies and procedures to ensure the highest standards of health, safety and well‑being.
  • Complete a DBS check as required for this role.

What are we looking for?

• MBA Level education, ideally graduated within the last five years.
• Proven experience in strategy, operations, consulting, transformation or project delivery roles.
• Ability to translate strategy into structured operational plans and deliverable outcomes.
• Strong analytical, problem‑solving and critical thinking skills.
• Experience managing complex projects with multiple stakeholders.
• Excellent communication and stakeholder management capabilities.
• Ability to operate effectively in ambiguous, fast‑paced environments.
• Strategic thinker with strong operational execution capability.
• Confident and credible with senior stakeholders.
• Highly collaborative and relationship‑driven.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office, particularly PowerPoint and Excel; knowledge of Microsoft Project and Visio is an advantage but not required.

Unfortunately, we cannot offer sponsorship for this role, so you must provide the right to work in the UK.

What's in it for you?

We are committed to ensuring everyone can flourish in their roles. You will work in unique office spaces under the arch of the iconic Wembley National Stadium, and have access to the world‑class Elite Performance Centre at St. George’s Park in Staffordshire. We offer a competitive salary, opportunities to develop and grow, and a range of benefits detailed below.

Benefits

• Access to event‑day tickets at Wembley Stadium and regular internal events to support networking 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” leave day, volunteering days, and 25 days of annual leave (based on a full‑time, permanent contract).
• A hybrid working model offering greater flexibility.

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 them during your application.