Head of Middlesbrough Football Club Foundation

Job title: Head of Middlesbrough Football Club Foundation

Reports to: Chair of the Board of Trustees

Location: The Riverside Stadium, Middlesbrough, TS3 6RS and The Herlingshaw Centre, Middlesbrough, TS6 9AE

Hours: 37.5 per week. This is a senior position and therefore match days and occasional unsocial hours are a requisite of the role

Salary: Competitive salary package (dependent on experience)

Key Relationships: Chair of the Board of Trustees, Board of Trustees, Foundation Senior Management Team, CEO and Senior Executives at Middlesbrough Football Club, Premier League Charitable Fund, English Football League in the Community, Football Foundation, North Riding County FA, Government Departments, Stakeholders across strategic areas of work

Direct Reports: Senior Operations Manager, Senior Business Development Manager, Finance and Administration Manager, People and Governance Manager

OVERVIEW

This is an exciting and unique opportunity to lead a passionate and impactful team based within an award-winning professional football club charity. We are looking to recruit a high calibre Head of Foundation who can show the commitment and inspiration required to drive our charity forwards, lead, and motivate a diverse team, build influential relationships, and further develop our exceptional reputation.

WHO WE ARE

Middlesbrough Football Club Foundation (MFCF) is the club’s independent charity set up in 1996 by chairman Steve Gibson. The foundation’s mission uses the power of Middlesbrough Football Club to deliver bespoke programmes providing opportunities to raise aspirations and improve the life chances of people across our local community. Our mission is underpinned by our core values of quality, inspiration, teamwork, inclusion, honesty and integrity.

OUR VISION

Inspire Confidence - Inspire Hope.

OUR MISSION

By using our years of experience, together with Middlesbrough FC, we raise aspirations, help realise potential and improve the life chances of people across the Tees Valley. This is a unique opportunity to lead an impactful and passionate team within an award-winning charity, contributing to the new Together Strategy aligned with exciting capital developments being undertaken. 

In this role you will use the influence of sport to deliver positive change in the lives and behaviours of under-represented or vulnerable groups and individuals within the local community. The Head of Foundation will play a pivotal role in driving strategic priorities including building our capacity; people, and governance; business development; diversifying and growing our income, reach and partnerships; demonstrating excellence in our service delivery, promoting our impact and brand; and demonstrating the value of the work we deliver.

THE ROLE OF HEAD OF FOUNDATION

- To provide strong, inspirational senior leadership to the Foundation, developing and delivering our ambitious strategic plans.

- Working closely with the Board and Senior Management team, the Head of Foundation will have overall responsibility for governance, development, and financial sustainability.

- The Head of Foundation will develop opportunities and identify and secure diverse income streams that can be reinvested in community-based activity for the benefit of all our communities.

- Oversee the development of all major projects on behalf of the Foundation, including facility developments and improvements.

- As an ambassador for both the Foundation and Club, the role will foster a positive culture, ensuring staff at all levels across the organisation are inspired and encouraged to succeed and prosper.

- The Trustees are looking for a high calibre Head of Foundation that can deliver and effectively communicate our vision, mission, and values clearly, making Middlesbrough Football Club Foundation one of the most respected and impactful Football Foundations in the world.

WE ARE LOOKING FOR SOMEONE WHO:

- Provides strategic leadership for the Foundation.

- Has exceptional business and people development experience.

- Demonstrates highly effective networking, partnership, advocacy and negotiating skills.

- Has the ability to influence successful relationships with key stakeholders and potential

commercial partners.

- Is comfortable managing executive and non-executive board level meetings.

- Can influence and establish credibility as a trusted leader across all our networks.

- Has a positive attitude towards work, with the capacity to be creative, innovative, and continually motivates and inspires.

- Understands national and local priorities (knowledge and understanding of Teesside is desirable).

Following recent legislative changes and financial challenges, we would particularly like to hear from those with demonstrable commercial acumen with a proven track record of developing diverse income streams and an understanding of how organisations like ours can positively contribute towards the regeneration of communities.

Importantly, the successful candidate will embody the values of the foundation and work in partnership with the football club, supporting the implementation of the club’s community strategy, which via effective collaboration will leave a legacy for decades to come.

HOW TO APPLY

Recruiting a Head of Foundation is critical which is why we are pleased to have appointed Jim Lord of iWonder Group to help us through the process.

We strongly recommend an informal discussion about the role with Jim before you apply and would ask you to contact him via [email protected].

To apply for the role, please supply an up-to-date CV with your preferred contact details and a supporting letter of no more than two pages, which fully addresses the criteria in the job description.

Applications to be sent via email to [email protected]

We ask applicants to complete an Equality Monitoring form to enable us to monitor the diversity of our job applicants and assist us in checking that our recruitment methods conform to equal opportunity guidelines. Completing this form is voluntary, and the information will not be used as part of the shortlisting or selection process. Please click on the following link to complete the form https://forms.office.com/r/wv1AHhuX1v

CLOSING DATE FOR APPLICATIONS

5pm Thursday March 27th, 2025

INTERVIEWS

Stage 1 Interviews will take place week commencing April 7th, 2025

Stage 2 interviews will take place week commencing April 14th, 2025