ECB: Head of Programme Management and Integrated Planning – The Hundred & T20 (Maternity Cover) (Deadline – Oct 8)

PURPOSE

We have an exciting maternity cover opportunity for the right person to join the Hundred and T20 Women’s World Cup (WCC) leadership teams as Head of Programme Management and Integrated Planning. The purpose of this role is to work with relevant teams to drive and deliver 2 global sporting events. The role will have a high-level programme view across both the Hundred and T20 WWC (2026); will use robust programme management methodologies to facilitate planning across ECB teams and incorporate specific ICC operational plans, as well as report on progress to stakeholders to deliver these global sporting events.

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

· Stronger As One Team – We are stronger together. We allow for individual strengths and beliefs but head in the same direction. We respect, support and really listen to each other along the way.

· Push New Boundaries – We are bold, brave and curious. We challenge and don’t settle. We forge the future whilst remembering our roots.

· Be The Best In The Game – On & Off The Pitch – We train hard. We strive to be our best to help the team be the best. We celebrate our victories and learn from our let downs.

· Passion For Play – We are here to inspire & be inspired. We are serious about what we do, but don’t take ourselves seriously. We enjoy the journey and have fun.

YOU’LL LOVE THIS JOB IF

· You want to be at the heart of a global tournament

· You have an unshakable can-do attitude.

· You thrive under busy, variable and exciting environments where no two days are alike.

YOU’LL BE DOING

Business planning:

· Lead the Hundred and T20 leadership teams through the business planning process; building a robust delivery budget, with line-by-line detail; formulating objectives, milestones and KPIs; and completing the headcount process; and ensure delivery is aligned to business timings, processes, and templates.

Programme planning:

· Working as part of the Hundred and T20 senior leadership teams to set-up and drive programmes of work and acts as an ‘engine room’ for planning and delivery.

· Facilitate the key leadership meetings for the Hundred and T20 WWC to discuss workstreams activities, budget, and programme issues.

· Work within set ECB and ICC governance processes to deliver reporting to stakeholders, and ensuring governance meetings have agendas, and decisions and updated are clearly communicated.

· Use established programme management methodologies, documentation, reporting tools and systems, including Smartsheet. Setting benchmarks for project management within the ECB.

· Own the holistic view of the Hundred and T20 WWC roadmaps to ensure milestones are delivered on time and that interdependencies are clearly communicated between ECB teams and with the ICC.

· Be custodian of planning and prioritisation, understanding when programmes of activity will happen to ensure focus is on the right planning at the right time.

· Facilitate and support ECB teams across the Hundred and T20 WWC with planning expertise and ad hoc project management support to demonstrate best practice programme management.

· Oversee Smartsheet projects with the appointed agency to build, test and deliver solutions to support operational planning and reporting across the Hundred and T20 WWC, and be the custodian of the system.

· Work with the Hundred and T20 WCC Leadership Teams to determine, evaluate and mitigate risks and support issue resolution, using a set framework

· Facilitate the staff operational planning and logistics programme with the Head of Operations – The Hundred and the Head of Cricket and Operations on the T20 WWC; ensuring there is a robust resilience staff covering all match days.

· Oversee the incident management process for the Hundred and T20 WWC to ensure processes and protocols are in place to support resolution and escalation, and work with the ECB and ICC established crisis comms processes.

· Lead the coordination (and where necessary facilitate) the tournament time meetings and reporting processes for the Hundred and T20 WWC.

· Support the development and implementation of the post tournament review process and reporting documents with Hundred and T20 WWC leadership Teams and stakeholders.

Finance planning:

· Support the ECB Finance Team with managing the monthly finance management process and have visibility of the forecast and spend across the Hundred and T20 WWC budgets. to ensure the tournaments are delivered within budget.

Specific Hundred responsibilities:

· Facilitate progress meetings with ECB teams to track against milestones.

· Support the Tournament Director with projects linked to growing the future of the Hundred.

Specific T20 responsibilities:

· Have an oversight of the T20 WWC procurement plans and recruitment plans and ensure milestones are delivered to the agreed timings.

· Have an oversight of the T20 WWC operational readiness programme across internal and external stakeholders and ECB Teams and support the programme where necessary.

· Inspire, mentor, and lead the programme management team. Manage the process to recruit a T20 Programme Executive.

· Support the coordination of any transfer of knowledge programme.

YOU’LL HAVE

This role requires an individual who has proven experience in programme management. The successful candidate will need to display skills in planning, organisation, reporting, and leadership.

· Demonstrable experience, knowledge, and implementation of programme management methodologies at least 5 years’ experience

· Demonstrate experience in major event planning (not a pre-requisite)

· Experience in managing large-scale and complex programmes.

· Educated to degree level or equivalent with a professional qualification.

· Demonstrate ability to facilitate meetings.

· Experience of using Smartsheet (not a pre-requisite)

· Demonstrate experience in stakeholder management and networking effectively to establish stakeholder relationships.

· Strong professional verbal and written communications skills

· Motivated, enthusiastic attitude and able to work creatively on own initiative.

· Exceptional time management skills and attention to detail

· Flexible to adapt to changing priorities and respond to tight deadlines.

· Ability to work effectively under tournament pressure.

· Passionate to be part of a team, for sports &/or events.

Additional information

This role will involve domestic travel, and some out of hour’s work, which could include weekends and bank holidays, especially during tournament delivery.

YOU’LL RECEIVE

· Competitive salary

· Holiday – 25 days a year (this will be pro-rata based on contract)

· Volunteering – 2 days a year

· Pension – Non-contributory pension

· Private medical insurance

· Employee health cash-back plan

· Long-term sickness insurance

· Life assurance – four times your annual basic salary

· Enhanced family leave and pay

· OpenBlend – an innovative coaching and performance management tool

· People Academy – 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% Castore discount

· Cycle 2 Work Scheme

· Season ticket loan

· Preferential access to tickets to England and The Hundred 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 Mobility in Cricket Employee Network, Disability Employee Network and LGBTQ+ Community in Cricket Employee Network