Job description:

Kick It Out, football’s leading equality and inclusion organisation, is seeking a Head of Programmes and Strategy to lead the design, development, and strategic delivery of our talent development and education programmes. In this role, you will ensure all programmes are aligned with the organisation’s overarching strategy and impact goals, driving our mission and developing talent pathways from grassroots to elite levels.

As Head of Programmes and Strategy, you will oversee the full programme portfolio, including talent development, education initiatives, and community engagement. You will provide strategic leadership, ensuring programmes are innovative, inclusive, and high-impact, while continuously evaluating effectiveness and applying data-driven improvements.

You will also play a key role in driving strategic growth by building and nurturing relationships with stakeholders, funders, and partners, ensuring successful programme delivery. Working closely with senior leadership, you will integrate talent development into Kick It Out’s long-term vision and sustainability.

Role:                            Head of Programmes and Strategy

Salary:                        £50-60K 

Location:                    Home-based

Part-time/Full-time:   Full Time

 

Responsibilities:

Programme Development

• Proactively design, pilot, and oversee a portfolio of programmes to support KIO’s strategic priorities and outcomes.

• Lead the development of KIO's talent development and education programmes, ensuring alignment with strategic objectives, and collaborate with the Education Lead to enhance and co-manage existing educational programmes. 

• Establish and embed clear targets and KPIs for programmes, continuously monitoring performance to drive improvement throughout their development.

• Identify and secure income-generating opportunities that support the growth and sustainability of KIO through broad representation and strategic partnerships.

• Gather and analyse industry insights and audience behaviours to inform the development of new, relevant programme offerings.

Programme Delivery 

• Oversee the effective delivery of all programmes, managing quality, impact measurement, learner experience and budgets to ensure financial sustainability and compliance with funding requirements.

• Maintain a strong understanding of EDI principles to ensure all education programmes adhere to best practices, solidifying KIO's position as a leader in this area.

• Identify challenges, blockers, and potential risks within programme delivery, and recommend effective solutions to overcome them.

• Take a hands-on role in delivering impactful programmes, including in-person sessions, workshops, and events, aligned with our mission and strategic objectives. 

• Lead on partnership and stakeholder engagement for programme delivery, particularly across County FAs, clubs, sponsors, and community partners.

Strategy & Impact

• Provide strategic leadership for KIO’s programme portfolio, ensuring all activity drives forward organisational impact goals and long-term sustainability.

• Translate strategic objectives into clear programme roadmaps, ensuring effective measurement, evaluation, and reporting of outcomes.

• Use programme insights and case studies to influence sector-wide change, positioning KIO as a thought leader in education and talent development.

• Bring together teams across the organisation to collaborate on strategy, ensuring all programmes and initiatives contribute to KIO’s overarching aims.

• Contribute to organisational strategy as part of the Senior Leadership Team, integrating programmes into wider initiatives across football and society.

Leadership & Collaboration

• Lead and manage the Programme team, supporting staff development and maintaining a collaborative, inclusive working culture.

• Collaborate with the wider KIO team to ensure that programme initiatives are well integrated into the organisation’s broader strategy.

• Oversee strategic planning and budget management for the Programmes function, ensuring effective allocation of resources and alignment with organisational priorities.

• Represent KIO at relevant events, conferences, and external engagements, proactively seeking opportunities to amplify our mission and strengthen key relationships.

What we’re looking for:

• Commitment to equality and inclusion and the aims and values of Kick It Out 

• Experience in programme strategy, delivery, and evaluation, including budget management and oversight of multiple projects or programmes at various stages, ensuring alignment with organisational goals and high-impact outcomes.

• Leadership experience with a strong record of building and leading high-performing teams to achieve organisational vision and long-term objectives.

• Expert knowledge of EDI principles and how they apply in sports education and development pathways.

• Excellent stakeholder management experience, with confidence in representing the organisation externally and shaping conversations with funders, governing bodies, and senior stakeholders to inform decision-making.

• Excellent project management skills, able to juggle multiple programmes at various stages of delivery.

• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to translate complex ideas into clear, compelling messages for diverse audiences.

• Strategic thinker with a creative and proactive approach to programme delivery and development.

• Experience in at least two of the following areas: digital learning and education, community outreach or engagement, talent or player development pathways (grassroots to elite)

• Understanding of football and/or sports development environments from grassroots to elite levels.

Benefits 

• Fully Remote Working:

   Enjoy the flexibility of working remotely. While we don’t have a physical office, we organise in-person “away days” for team-building and collaboration. 

• Annual Leave: 

  Enjoy 25 days of annual leave alongside bank holidays.  

• Additional Leave: 

  Enjoy 2 extra days off during the Christmas season and a day off for your Birthday. Your leave allowance also increases with years of service.  

• Group Income Protection: 

  Financial security in case of illness or disability.  

• Group Life Insurance: 

  Peace of mind with life insurance coverage for you and your loved ones.  

• Medical and Wellbeing Benefits: 

  Comprehensive support from day one, including a nutrition and fitness program, digital GP service, and mental health services.  

• Private Health Insurance: 

  Optional access to our private healthcare plan.  

• Pension Contribution: 

  A 5% pension contribution to help secure your financial future. 

• Inclusive Parental Leave: 

  Supportive parental leave policies to help you balance work and family life. 

Equal Opportunities Statement

Kick It Out is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community. Our commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion extends to every aspect of our work, from our hiring practices to our everyday interactions and wider mission. If you're hesitant to apply because you don’t meet every single job requirement, please know that we encourage all qualified candidates to apply. We value diverse experiences and skills, and we believe that potential can often outweigh specific requirements. 

If you require additional support, reasonable adjustments or have any questions about the recruitment process, please reach out to our People Team on [email protected]. 

We wish you the best of luck in the application process and look forward to the possibility of welcoming you to our team. 

All of our roles are fully remote but require travel for monthly away days, relevant events, and meetings, mainly in London but sometimes elsewhere in the UK. Occasional evening and weekend work may be required.