Regulatory Advocate (1yr FTC)

We are excited to be searching for a Regulatory Advocate on a 1-year fixed term contract, who will conduct and present regulatory cases before the relevant independent panels and provide legal advice and support on regulatory matters primarily to the Legal & Governance and Football Operations divisions.

What will you be doing?

• Provide legal and policy advice primarily to the Legal & Governance and Football Operations divisions, but also to the wider FA group when necessary. This includes, but is not limited to, advising the County FAs and assisting the FRA where necessary.
• Advise on, prepare and conduct all stages of regulatory cases brought by The FA and any related appeals, expeditiously and to a high standard.
• Assist as necessary in developing, refining, and adjusting the regulatory rules, regulations, systems and procedures.
• Assist as necessary in advising on and drafting rule and regulation changes.
• Represent the FA on external forums and manage relationships with internal and external stakeholders as necessary.
• Execute additional tasks as required to meet the FA's changing priorities.
• Comply with all company policies and procedures to ensure that the highest standards of health, safety, and well-being can be maintained.

As part of the FA's commitment to ensuring a safe environment for everyone in football, every employee will be required to complete a DBS check. The level of the check required will be based on the activity of the specific job role and in line with legislation and government guidance.

What are we looking for?

Essential for the role:

• Knowledge: Qualified Solicitor or Barrister, or equivalent. Law and practice in an adversarial litigation context.
• Experience: Preparing and conducting prosecutions, often to strict time scales. Advising on investigations and prosecutions (including decision to prosecute). Personal management of a busy and varied caseload.
• Technical skills: Advocacy in an adversarial setting. Providing oral and written legal advice. Drafting (advice and charges). Confidence when dealing with internal and external stakeholders. Proficient skills in Microsoft Office.

Beneficial to have:

• Knowledge: Sports or similar regulatory law.
• Experience: Advising on prosecution policy, particularly in a regulatory context. Advising on law, rule, and regulation changes.
• Technical skills: Drafting of rules and regulations. Experience in delivering presentations.

What’s in it for you?

We are committed to ensuring everyone can flourish in their roles, to achieve this we have unique office spaces under the arch of the iconic Wembley National Stadium, which is the home of English Football. We are also delighted to offer a world-class, Elite Performance Centre, St. George's Park in Staffordshire which is an exceptional setting to develop and inspire high-performing England teams and leaders. We pride ourselves in offering a competitive salary as well as great opportunities to develop and grow in your role.

But that is not all; we also have a range of exciting benefits, some of which can be found below:

• Access to event day tickets at Wembley Stadium, alongside a host of regular internal events throughout the season, encouraging you to connect and learn with your colleagues and look after your mental health 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' days leave, volunteering days as well as 25 days annual leave (based on a full-time, permanent contract).
• A hybrid working model which offers greater flexibility.

We are a diverse workplace, aspiring to represent football across the country. The Football Association actively promotes inclusion and diversity, encouraging you to be the best version of yourself at work. 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 this during your application.

As part of the FA's commitment to ensuring a safe environment for everyone in football, every employee will be required to complete a DBS check. The level of the check required will be based on the activity of the specific job role and in line with legislation and government guidance.

Company

The Football Association (The FA) is the governing body of football in England and is responsible for promoting and developing the game at all levels from grass roots through to the professional game, The FA Cup and the England international teams.