Suicide Prevention Programme Manager

Suicide Prevention Programme Manager - 12 month fixed term contract

The FA has launched an ambitious Suicide Prevention Plan designed to strengthen prevention, awareness, intervention and support within our own organisation and across grassroots football communities.

We are seeking an experienced Programme Manager to lead the first phase of delivery across grassroots football. Working alongside County FAs, community clubs, specialist partners and internal stakeholders, you will transform strategy into meaningful action, helping create safer, more supportive football environments for communities across England.

This is a unique opportunity to lead an innovative programme at the intersection of football, wellbeing and social impact, delivering tangible change in communities where football can play a vital role in building connection, resilience and support.

What You'll Be Doing

You will be responsible for leading the design, implementation and evaluation of the grassroots delivery programme, including:

• Developing and managing the implementation plan for the grassroots element of The FA's Suicide Prevention Plan.
• Working with specialist partners, including Chasing the Stigma, to translate evidence-based approaches into practical delivery models.
• Identifying and engaging priority clubs and communities using available insight and data.
• Embedding suicide prevention plans within selected grassroots football clubs.
• Supporting the rollout of suicide prevention awareness and training across participating clubs.
• Developing and promoting resources, guidance and signposting materials that improve access to support.
• Building strong relationships with County FAs, community clubs, health partners and wider stakeholders.
• Designing community-led initiatives that strengthen protective factors and increase local awareness of available support.
• Monitoring progress, capturing impact and identifying opportunities to scale the programme.
• Supporting the expansion of the programme towards a long-term ambition of reaching 1,000 thriving community clubs.

Essential

What We're Looking For

• Experience leading complex programmes, projects or community initiatives from design through to implementation.
• Experience working within mental health, wellbeing, public health, community development, sport for development, social impact or related sectors.
• Strong stakeholder engagement and partnership management skills.
• Experience influencing and engaging diverse audiences across multiple organisations.
• Ability to translate strategic objectives into practical delivery plans.
• Experience using insight and data to inform decision making and prioritisation.
• Excellent communication, facilitation and relationship-building skills.
• Strong project management and organisational skills.

Desirable

• Knowledge of suicide prevention, mental health promotion or wellbeing frameworks.
• Experience working with community organisations, charities or volunteer networks.
• Experience delivering programmes within sport, education, health or local communities.
• Knowledge of safeguarding and wellbeing approaches.
• Relevant programme management or public health qualification.

What's in it for you?

We are committed to ensuring everyone can flourish in their roles. To achieve this, we have unique office spaces under the arch of the iconic Wembley National Stadium, which is the home of English Football. We are also delighted to offer a world-class, Elite Performance Centre, St. George's Park in Staffordshire, which is an exceptional setting to develop and inspire high-performing England teams and leaders.

We pride ourselves on offering a competitive salary as well as great opportunities to develop and grow in your role. But that is not all; we also have a range of exciting benefits, some of which can be found below:

• Access to event day tickets at Wembley Stadium, alongside a host of regular internal events throughout the season, encourages you to connect and learn with your colleagues and look after your mental health and well-being.
• Free, nutritious lunches at Wembley Stadium and St. George's Park.
• Private medical cover funded by The FA.
• A contributory pension scheme.
• An additional 'Thank You' day's leave, volunteering days, as well as 25 days of annual leave (based on a full-time, permanent contract)
• A hybrid working model which offers greater flexibility.

For more information on what it is like to work at The FA, please visit our FA Careers page, https://www.thefa.com/about-football-association/careers

Currently, we are working within a hybrid working model whereby the expectation is to work from your contractual location for part of the week, and as and when required by the team. The remaining days can be worked remotely. We will continue to monitor this model, and it may be adjusted in future if deemed necessary. The contractual location of this role can be found on the FA Careers page.

We are a diverse workplace, aspiring to represent football across the country. The Football Association actively promotes inclusion and diversity, encouraging you to be the best version of yourself at work.

We welcome applications from everyone and are proud to be an equal opportunities employer. If you have any particular requirements in respect of the recruitment or interview process, please mention this during your application.

As part of the FA's commitment to ensuring a safe environment for everyone in football, every employee will be required to complete a DBS check. The level of the check required will be based on the activity of the specific job role and in line with legislation and government guidance.