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Senior Manager - Recreational Game Workforce
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- 15 Apr 2026
Status- Full Time
Location- England
Closing date- 3 May 2026
PURPOSE
Through Inspiring Generations, we have set ambitious goals to become the most inclusive team sport. With record-breaking growth across the recreational game, sustaining and accelerating this progress requires strong, joined-up plans to develop the people who make the game work.
The Senior Manager – Recreational Game Workforce will lead the strategic coordination of workforce and volunteer development across the recreational game. This includes volunteers who operate as club and league administrators, coaches, officials, scorers, grounds managers and more. The post holder will collaborate across departments to align teams behind a single workforce plan and ensure coordinated deployment of resources that supports recruitment, retention and recognition of the people who make the recreational game possible.
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 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’re passionate about helping people thrive and want to make a real difference to the volunteers who power the recreational game.
- You enjoy bringing teams together around a shared vision and feel energised by collaboration, influence and building strong relationships.
- You’re motivated by creating positive change and love designing solutions that make things simpler, more inclusive and more impactful.
- You get satisfaction from leading projects end to end and seeing your work directly improve experiences for thousands of people across the game.
- You’re excited by the chance to shape national campaigns, celebrate volunteers and help ensure cricket becomes the most inclusive team sport.
YOU’LL BE DOING
- Lead the creation and delivery of a unified Recreational Game Workforce plan aligned to Inspiring Generations.
- Coordinate workforce and volunteer development across Coaching, Officiating, Grounds Management, Regulations and the wider Recreational Game team.
- Lead and oversee campaigns and initiatives such as Get Set Weekend and the Cricket Collective Awards to strengthen volunteer engagement and recognition.
- Develop strategies that strengthen recruitment, retention and recognition of volunteers and workforce roles, supporting inclusivity and long-term growth.
- Build strong relationships with counties, leagues, clubs and partners to support consistent workforce planning and development across the network.
- Oversee development of resources, learning pathways, digital tools and support materials that improve volunteer experience.• Use data and insight to identify workforce gaps, predict future needs and inform strategic decision making.
- Support colleagues to deliver workforce initiatives and embed best practice across the game.
- Champion the value of the recreational game workforce and promote an inclusive, supportive and positive culture.
- Please note that this role is office based and requires you to be in the office a minimum of three days per week.
YOU’LL HAVE
- The right to work in the UK
- Skills and Experience:
- Strong experience in workforce development, volunteer management or people strategy in a multi-stakeholder environment.
- Proven ability to collaborate across multiple departments/teams and align stakeholders behind a shared plan.
- Experience working within and across matrix management structures with the ability to influence without direct authority.
- Extensive experience of relationship management, with the confidence to engage diverse stakeholder groups and deliver compelling presentations to senior leaders and volunteers.
- Demonstrable experience in strategic planning with the ability to create long term workforce strategies that support organisational goals.
- Experience in leading or supporting change management initiatives that improve systems, processes or culture.
- Strong influencing skills with the ability to guide stakeholders through change and build alignment across varied groups.
- Strong project management skills with the ability to plan, prioritise and deliver complex programmes on time.
- Experience in digital product thinking, including designing or shaping user journeys to improve volunteer experience and engagement.
- Understanding of the recreational game landscape, volunteer motivations and community sport operations.
- Experience developing training pathways, development frameworks or capability resources.
- Ability to analyse data, extract insight and translate it into action.
- Excellent communication, organisational and stakeholder engagement skills.
- Commitment to inclusion, continuous improvement and high standards.
Desirable Experience:
- Experience in working on digital transformation, including shaping or supporting the adoption of new digital systems or platforms that enhance user experience and operational efficiency.
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
- 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
Please note that this role is office based and requires you to be in the office a minimum of three days per week.
How to Apply
Please click APPLY NOW to begin the application process.