Governance Delivery Manager

This role plays a key part in supporting County FAs to achieve and maintain high standards of governance, leading the implementation and ongoing development of The FA's Code of Governance for County FAs. The postholder works collaboratively with County FAs, Sport England and other stakeholders to assess compliance, provide practical support and help organisations continually improve. The role also contributes to evolving governance standards across the wider grassroots game, including emerging standards such as the League Code of Governance and the 'A Game for All' Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Standard.

• Establish, execute and manage the implementation of The FA's Code of Governance for County FAs compliance framework and support the County FA network to achieve and maintain Code compliance.
• Assess County FAs against version 3.0 of the Code and support them to reach full compliance by 30th June 2028 and to remain compliant beyond that date.
• Introduce and manage a robust ongoing compliance mechanism so that compliant County FAs remain compliant, with risks identified and reported to enable proactive action.
• Provide diligent, forensic and robust inspection of evidence, ensuring full compliance with all requirements prior to sign off and protecting the County FA network from 'paper compliance'.
• Ensure a simple, efficient process and system is in place to gather evidence, test that evidence and keep it updated and current.
• Report monthly on Code adoption progress, including Board diversity measures, and establish and maintain a County FA Code of Governance risk register.
• Meet with Boards, Chairs and Executive County FA staff to provide clarity on requirements and support adoption and maintenance of the Code, seeking opportunities to improve diversity on Boards and in Executive teams.
• Develop and implement an ongoing programme of training and education for County FA colleagues, including sourcing internal and external funding, providing regular governance surgeries and delivering governance conferences.
• Contribute to the evolution of the Code as a gold standard for sport in England, working with Sport England to retain and protect its proxy status for Tier 3 of the Code for Sports Governance, and act as an advocate of the Code with Sport England and other external bodies.
• Develop, signpost and continually review high-quality governance assets and resources that help County FAs meet requirements and achieve best practice.
• Lead the cascading of Code of Governance standards within grassroots football, including assessing the pilot League Code of Governance programme, evolving the League Code, establishing a training and education programme for leagues and adapting the Code for grassroots clubs.
• Support the development of other County FA Operating Standards and associated compliance frameworks, including the 'A Game for All' Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Standard and the Customer Service Standard.
• Execute additional tasks as required to meet The FA's changing priorities and comply with all company policies and procedures.

• Experience of sports development.
• Experience of working with Boards of Directors.
• Applied knowledge of sports governance and the Companies Act.
• Applied knowledge of project management and planning.
• Ability to work flexibly and sometimes unsociable hours.
• Diplomacy and the ability to deal appropriately with confidential information.
• Completion of a DBS check, the level of which is based on the activity of the specific job role and in line with legislation and government guidance.

• Knowledge of the structure and organisations within football.
• Experience in a legal role.
• IT skills including word processing, database work and PowerPoint presentations.

• Contractually Wembley based, with the expectation to be on site two days a week at Wembley, usually Tuesdays and Wednesdays, when not travelling to meet County FA colleagues.
• Hybrid working model whereby the expectation is to work from the contractual location for part of the week and as and when required by the team, with the remaining days worked remotely; the model is kept under review and may be adjusted in future.

• Access to event day tickets at Wembley Stadium, alongside a host of regular internal events throughout the season, encouraging colleagues to connect and learn together and to look after their mental health and well-being.
• Free, nutritious lunches at Wembley Stadium and St. George's Park.
• Private medical cover funded by The FA.
• A contributory pension scheme.
• An additional 'Thank You' day's leave, volunteering days, as well as 25 days of annual leave (based on a full-time, permanent contract).
• A hybrid working model which offers greater flexibility.
• Unique office spaces under the arch of the iconic Wembley National Stadium, the home of English Football, and a world-class Elite Performance Centre at St. George's Park in Staffordshire.
• Great opportunities to develop and grow in the role.

We are committed to ensuring everyone can flourish in our roles, supported by unique office spaces under the arch of the iconic Wembley National Stadium, the home of English Football, and a world-class Elite Performance Centre at St. George's Park in Staffordshire, which is an exceptional setting to develop and inspire high-performing England teams and leaders. We are a diverse workplace, aspiring to represent football across the country, and The Football Association actively promotes inclusion and diversity, encouraging you to be the best version of yourself at work.