Head of Grant Management – Cymru Football Foundation
The Cymru Football Foundation supports the development of football facilities through investment, assistance and guidance.
Established in 2022, the charity delivers the Football Association of Wales’ (FAW) commitment to develop inspirational fit-for-future football facilities that will improve and grow Welsh football on and off the pitch.
The standard of football facilities across Wales, particularly at grassroots level, requires coordinated and long-term investment to deliver the most accessible and appropriate environments for current and future members of the Welsh football family.
The Cymru Football Foundation plays a leading role in addressing this challenge by delivering a series of grant programmes that will develop outstanding football facilities and help to deliver:
- improved experiences and environments enabling participation growth and retention;
- quality facilities meeting wider community needs and tackling inequalities;
- stronger and sustainable community focussed clubs;
- more women and girls playing football;
To date, the Cymru Football Foundation has invested over £17 million across 176 projects, representing the largest level of investment in Welsh football history to date.
Role Purpose
The Head of Grant Management will play a pivotal role in delivering the Foundation’s mission by leading and managing all aspects of grant funding. This includes overseeing the design, delivery, and evaluation of grant programmes that support the development of football facilities. The role ensures that funding is strategically allocated to maximise impact, align with the Foundation and funding partners objectives, and meet the needs of the communities across Wales.
Key Responsibilities
Grant Programme Development and Management
- Design, implement, and oversee grant funding programmes that align with the Foundation and funding partners strategic goals.
- Develop clear eligibility criteria, guidelines, and application processes to ensure transparency and accessibility.
- Manage the full lifecycle of grant applications, from assessment and approval to monitoring and evaluation.
Strategic Leadership
- Work closely with the Director and Board of Trustees to shape the Foundation’s grant-making strategy ensuring compliance with relevant regulations and best practices in grant management.
- Use data and insights to identify funding priorities that address community needs and opportunities for growth.
Stakeholder Management
- Build and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders including, but not limited to, funding partners, local authorities, Sport Wales, clubs and community organisations.
- Act as an ambassador for the Foundation, promoting the impact of its grant programmes to internal and external audiences.
Monitoring, Evaluation and Reporting
- Develop and implement robust systems for monitoring the impact and effectiveness of funded projects and provide regular reports to the Director and Board on the performance of grant programmes and their contribution to strategic goals.
- Identify and share best practices and lessons learned to continuously improve the Foundation’s approach to grant management.
Team Leadership and Development
- Lead and develop a small team of grant management staff, fostering a culture of collaboration, innovation and excellence.
Manage budgets and resources effectively to ensure efficient and impactful grant delivery.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
Essential Qualifications and Experience
- Proven experience in managing grant programmes or similar funding initiatives, ideally within the sports, community, or charitable sector.
- Strong understanding of funding processes, including assessment, compliance and evaluation.
- Demonstratable success in building relationships with diverse stakeholders and managing complex partnerships.
- Experience in managing budgets and grant funding reporting.
- Familiarity with the challenges and opportunities in developing community sports facilities.
Desirable Qualifications and Experience
- Knowledge of Welsh football, the community sports landscape and the needs of diverse communities across Wales.
- Experience in leading and developing teams.
- Welsh language skills or a willingness to learn.
Skills and Competencies
- Strategic Thinking: Ability to align grant programmes with broader organisational goals and adapt to changing priorities.
- Analytical Skills: Capacity to use data and insights to inform decision-making and evaluate impact.
- Communication: Strong written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to engage and inspire diverse audiences.
- Leadership: Proven ability to lead, motivate and develop a team to achieve high performance.
- Attention to Detail: Meticulous approach to managing funding processes and ensuring compliance.
- Problem-Solving: Creative and proactive in overcoming challenges and identifying opportunities for improvement.
Personal Attributes
- Passion for community development and transformative power of football.
- Committed to inclusivity, diversity, and sustainability.
- Self -motivated and adaptable, with a collaborative mindset.
- We aim to attract the best talent and to reward our staff we offer the following competitive benefits:
- Modern office environment
- Generous pension scheme
- Healthcare cash plan scheme
- Employee social events
- Two tickets to senior international matches
- Opportunities to learn and develop
- Flexibility of work location
Note:
This job description covers the main duties of the post holder. From time to time, other duties may be required, commensurate with the grade of the post and the needs of the organisation.
To apply, please send a covering letter outlining your suitability for the role alongside your CV to [email protected] by 12 noon, 3 March 2025. Interviews will take place on 13 March 2025 at Dragon Park, Newport.
Each candidate will be asked to complete an equal opportunities form. The information you provide will be treated as confidential and will solely be used for monitoring purposes. It will not affect the consideration of your application for employment.
We are committed to ensuring that everyone feels accepted and welcome applicants from all backgrounds. If your experience looks different from what we’ve advertised and you believe that you can bring value to the role, we’d love to hear from you. If you require any adjustments to the recruitment process, please let us know so we can help you to be at your best.
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