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National Panel Manager
England and Wales Cricket Board (The ECB)
The England and Wales Cricket Board is the national governing body for all cricket in England and Wales, supporting the game at every level - from grassroots to professional.
Job Posted- 4 Dec 2025
Status- Full Time
Location- England
Closing date- 8 Dec 2025
PURPOSE
The purpose of the role is to put umpires from the ECB National Panel (M2 and W2) into the best possible position to effectively officiate men’s County 2nd XI, NCCA and Tier 2 women’s cricket and to ensure that these umpires receive the opportunities and support to enable them to perform to their potential.
WHO WE ARE
The England and Wales Cricket Board is the national governing body for all cricket in England and Wales, supporting the game at every level – from grassroots to professional.
We believe cricket is a force for good that can have an enduring impact on everyone’s lives and we have an ambitious strategy to inspire a generation to say ‘cricket is a game for me’. It provides great entertainment. It teaches important skills, both physical and social. It can help inclusion and social cohesion, bringing communities together.
The ECB wants cricket to be the most inclusive sport in England and Wales. The ECB welcomes applications from all backgrounds to ensure we deliver our Inspiring Generations strategy and fulfil our purpose to connect communities and improve lives through cricket.
OUR VALUES
- Run on respect. We ensure our game is based on fairness, respect and decency.
- Embrace enjoyment. We make sure everyone finds fun in the game.
- Build belonging. We actively include so everyone can find a place in the game.
- Progress with purpose. We stay open to change to keep the game moving forward.
YOU’LL LOVE THIS JOB IF YOU
- Believe in the importance of excellent on-field officiating performance in sport.
- Are motivated to support match officials to perform at their very best.
YOU’LL BE DOING
- To appoint (and re-appoint) National Panel umpires to men’s County 2nd XI, NCCA and Tier 2 women’s cricket in England and Wales, providing opportunities primarily on the basis of performance and potential.
- To maintain a development pathway that ensures umpires with the potential to progress within the Panel have the support and opportunity to do so.
- To identify umpires with the potential to progress to the Professional Umpires’ Team (PUT) and to work with the Professional Umpires’ Manager to support their development.
- To develop and implement a training and development programme for National Panel umpires. To include the delivery of pre-season preparation meetings and regular, in-season CPD.
- To implement an effective performance management process, drawing upon feedback from observations and coaches’ feedback to monitor and evaluate performance.
- To put in place effective administration processes to support National Panel umpires.
- To lead the selection, annually, of recreational umpires to the National Panel.
- To work with the Regional Officiating Development Officers (RODOs) to identify and provide opportunities for umpires considered to have the potential to progress to the National Panel.
- To recruit, retain, develop and deploy umpire developers/coaches to support National Panel umpires.
- To ensure that match official regulatory matters are carried out effectively and efficiently.
- To attend matches to which National Panel umpires are appointed, observe their performances and provide feedback to them.
- To be a subject matter expert in the Laws of Cricket, playing conditions and regulations.
- To establish and maintain data relating to appointments, availability and performance.
- To establish and maintain effective relationships with National Panel umpires and umpire coaches, ECB Domestic Cricket Operations and Officiating Department staff and the NCCA Operations Director.
YOU’LL HAVE
Skills
- Effective influencing and negotiation and skills
- Excellent interpersonal, communication and presentation skills
- Effective coaching and mentoring skills
- Ability to collaborate and deliver innovative solutions
- A commitment to personal and professional development
- Ability to plan, prioritise and organise
- Ability to provide clear, constructive data driven performance feedback to individuals
- Competent in the use of Microsoft Office Applications and CRM systems.
Knowledge and understanding
- Current officiating practices
- Characteristics of high performing match officials
- Playing and officiating structures in professional and recreational cricket
- Laws, playing conditions and regulations in cricket
Experience
- Officiating sport (preferably cricket) at a high level
- Coaching and mentoring
- Managing performance management processes
- Managing people who operate remotely
- Appointing match officials
- Designing and delivering training programmes
- Working with a diverse range of people to ensure they can reach their potential.
YOU’LL RECEIVE
- Competitive salary
- Holiday - 25 days a year
- Volunteering – 2 days a year
- Pension Scheme
- Private medical insurance
- Employee health cash-back plan
- Long-term sickness insurance
- Life assurance - a multiple of your annual basic salary
- Enhanced family leave and pay
- OpenBlend - an innovative coaching and performance management tool
- Learning and Development - a range of programmes and initiatives to help you develop and reach your potential
- Employee Assistance Programme - 24/7 confidential access to expert services including counselling, wellbeing, and independent legal and financial advice
- 30% New Balance discount
- Cycle 2 Work Scheme
- Season ticket loan
- Preferential access to tickets to England games
- Opportunities to be a part of and be involved in our Employee Resource groups: Women in Cricket Employee Network, Race in Cricket Employee Network, Social Equality in Cricket Employee Network, Cricketability Employee Network (formerly called the Disability in Cricket Employee Network) and LGBTQ+ Community in Cricket Employee Network
How to Apply
Please click “Apply Now” to begin your application.