FA seeking new Head of Participation
Written by Simon Austin — February 28, 2017
ONE of the key roles at the Football Association is currently up for grabs - Head of Participation.
The incumbent will be responsible for growing participation in mini, youth, disability and adult football for both men's and women's football in England. They will also have to ‘create and deliver a robust plan’ for the ambitious objective of doubling female participation in the game by 2020.
The role was vacated in January this year by Pete Ackerley, who had been in position since January 2010 but has now gone freelance, and applications are open until March 8th.
Ackerley's successor will report into Kelly Simmons MBE, the FA's Participation and Development Director, and will also work closely with Sue Campbell CBE, the Head of Women’s Football.
Someone with ‘proven leadership and management skills at a national level within Sport Development’ is being sought, and the salary is described as competitive.
Developing a good relationship with Sport England, the body responsible for allocating grassroots funding, will be also be key for the incumbent.
The FA is having to wait to find out how much funding it will get over the next four years after being allocated funding - £5.6million - for only its disability and women's development programmes by Sport England this year.
Football's governing body received £30m from Sport England between 2013 and 2017.
Meanwhile, the Manchester FA will hold an interview day for their own Head of Participation on March 17th.
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