Reports to Head of Programmes
ABOUT THE ROLE
Nottingham Forest Community Trust is seeking an experienced and strategic Schools Manager to lead and develop our schools provision across Nottinghamshire. This is a substantive mid-management role with genuine scope to shape the direction of our education offer, build high-value partnerships, and lead a talented team of coaches and delivery staff.
Reporting to the Head of Programmes, you will take ownership of our flagship schools programmes — including PL Primary Stars, PL Inspires, Nottingham Schools FA, and Official Soccer Schools — and will be responsible for driving quality, managing strategic relationships, and building the capacity of your team to deliver exceptional outcomes for young people.
ABOUT NOTTINGHAM FOREST COMMUNITY TRUST
NFCT is a registered charity connected to Nottingham Forest FC, working to improve health and wellbeing through ambitious, inclusive community programmes across Nottinghamshire. We reach over 53,000 people each year, operate the Forest Sports Zone (the UK's most-used community football facility) and generate £13.17 of social value for every £1 invested.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
1. Partnership Management
– Develop, manage and grow strategic relationships with schools, the Premier League Charitable Fund (PLCF), local authorities, and key education stakeholders across Nottinghamshire.
– Represent NFCT at relevant meetings, forums and external events, advocating for the Trust's schools provision and actively securing opportunities for growth.
– Lead on the development of new school partnerships, identifying opportunities to expand reach, increase participation, and deepen long-term engagement.
– Manage the ongoing relationship with West Nottinghamshire College in relation to the CIMSPA Level 3 Community Sports Coach programme, ensuring effective collaboration and clear outcomes.
– Provide regular reporting to senior leadership, funders, and external partners, using data and impact evidence to demonstrate programme value and build stakeholder confidence.
2. Curriculum and Quality
– Take strategic ownership of the delivery and quality assurance of all NFCT schools programmes, ensuring they meet the highest standards and align with programme frameworks, schemes of work, and PLCF requirements.
– Oversee monitoring, evaluation, and impact reporting across all schools activity, using Salesforce and other data tools to track outcomes and drive continuous improvement.
– Lead the development and review of curriculum materials, session plans, and resources, ensuring content is age-appropriate, inclusive, and educationally robust.
– Identify areas for programme development and innovation, keeping pace with changes in physical education, youth engagement, and Premier League community priorities.
– Maintain compliance with safeguarding, health and safety, and organisational policies — leading by example in upholding NFCT's standards at all times.
3. People and Team Management
– Line manage, develop, and support a team of sessional and permanent delivery staff, providing clear leadership, regular supervision, and meaningful performance feedback.
– Lead in-house training and workforce development activity, identifying skills gaps and creating structured development pathways for team members.
– Set and uphold clear expectations around delivery quality, professionalism, and conduct, managing performance effectively and consistently.
– Foster a positive, high-performing team culture built on shared values, accountability, and a collective commitment to excellence in community sport.
– Manage staffing across school programmes, including scheduling, deployment, and contingency planning to ensure consistent and high-quality delivery.
PERSON SPECIFICATION
You are an experienced mid-level manager with a proven track record of leading teams and managing programmes in an education, community sport, or youth engagement setting. Strategic and solutions-focused, you are as comfortable building external relationships as you are developing the people around you.
You will bring:
– Demonstrable experience managing and developing staff within a programme delivery environment.
– Strong knowledge of the school-age education landscape, the physical education curriculum, and/or Premier League community programmes.
– A confident, credible approach to stakeholder and partner relationship management.
– Experience of quality assurance, monitoring, and reporting against programme frameworks and funder requirements.
– A genuine commitment to inclusion, safeguarding, and the welfare of children and young people.
– Excellent organisational skills and the ability to manage competing priorities across multiple programmes simultaneously.
– Strong communication and leadership skills, with the ability to inspire, influence, and hold others to account at all levels.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
– Enhanced DBS check, right-to-work verification, and satisfactory references are required for this post.
– All NFCT mandatory safeguarding checks must be completed prior to commencement of employment.
– A willingness to work evenings, weekends, and public holidays is required.
– A full UK driving licence and access to a vehicle is preferred.
