Closing date: 18th January 2015

Reporting to: Director of Participation & Growth
Location: Strong preference for London based candidates
 
The England and Wales Cricket Board is the governing body of cricket in England and Wales and has recently shared our exciting vision to make Cricket a game for everyone – played, watched and loved by more people. A key element of this strategy is to significantly grow and diversify participation in the game.  This includes a focus on attracting new players and participants, both female and male, across a variety of formats and wider participation opportunities.  Critically, this will also demand a focus on inspiring children to take up a lifelong association with this game that so strongly fosters both their personal and physical development.

In order to deliver this, and in line with our values to “push new boundaries” and “be the best”, we are undertaking a significant restructure of the Participation and Growth department and its management team.

As a result, we are looking to recruit a Head of Participation. This newly created position will play a critical leadership role in ensuring the long term strength of one of the most important assets in the game, the local cricket club.
 

Job Purpose

• To set the strategic plan that supports the growth ambitions for clubs and leagues. Focussing primarily on retention strategies that deliver outstanding experiences for all participants, including players, volunteers, officials and coaches.
• Provide functional expertise support for clubs, leagues and volunteers
• Lead leagues in the appropriate administration philosophies to drive a growth agenda
• Work closely with the Head of Growth to facilitate a seamless transition from new and emerging programmes into the mainstream club and league structures where possible
• Drive a more inclusive culture across the Recreational Game that supports a vastly diverse participation base
• Responsible for Facility Development Strategies, including access of additional funding, to support our growth ambitions
• Create opportunities for young talented players to develop
• Actively contribute to the senior management team within the Participation and Growth function and across the wider ECB business
• Contribute to growing the fan base of the game
•  

Key accountabilities and responsibilities

    Grow diverse and inclusive participation in recreational cricket through clubs and leagues
    Develop the ECB and CCB’s relationship with clubs and leagues through a consultative and collaborative approach
    Provide enhanced resources and practical support for clubs, leagues and volunteers, in particular addressing the key drop off points in youth cricket
    Provide guidance and best practice initiatives to clubs around governance and financial sustainability
    Enhance experiences within clubs through the delivery of a refined Club accreditation programme
    Grow the strategic investment fund to support the ongoing improvement of facilities and grow the game, including a complete review into the expansion of artificial surfaces
    Facilitate a number of national under age talent  competitions
    Develop a comprehensive volunteer recruitment and retention strategy that ultimately attracts volunteers to the game and minimises the administrative burden placed on them
    Actively partner with the ECB Association of Cricket Officials to grow their membership base whilst also adopting a continuous improvement philosophy for all officials
    Undertake an active involvement in the creation of the new coaching strategy that adopts world’s best practice in the development of players, teams and coaches to achieve their full potential
    To consider how other sports, in the UK and globally, support their traditional club and league structures and take learning’s where appropriate
    Drive better physical and digital signposting of how and where to play

What we are looking for:

• The ideal candidate will have a detailed understanding of all areas of the recreational cricket game
• Experience in developing growth strategies that prioritise centrally administered functions and regional delivery plans to ensure outstanding “end to end” implementation
• Strategic thinker who has a proven strength in fostering strong mutually beneficial partnerships with a range of complex stakeholders to drive a sustainable participation agenda
• Experience of driving volunteer growth and engagement strategies
• A track record in accessing additional 3rd sector funding and meeting agreed responsibilities
• Proven experience at senior management level in leading a highly engaged team
• A collaborative and instinctive leader, highly accountable, with the energy and proven experience to drive a change agenda

 
So if you are keen be a part of a global game that still maintains a strong sense of community and belief that the game of Cricket can genuinely make a difference in people’s lives, we would love to hear from you.

Click here to apply