JOB TITLE: Education & Community Inclusion Lead (Maternity Cover)
CONTRACTUAL STATUS: Full-time, Fixed Term maternity cover up to 3rd July 2026 * *Open to Part Time – 4 days, 30hr/week
DEPARTMENT: Sale Sharks Foundation
REPORTING INTO: CEO
HOURS OF WORK: 30-37.5 hours per week
BASED: Sale Sharks Performance Centre, Carrington, Trafford. Training Ground – M31 4AB
SALARY: £35,000-£37,000
KEY RELATIONSHIPS: External; Grant funders, sponsors, place-based community leads Internal; Head of Rugby Development & Operations, Sale Sharks Club, Trustees.
REPORTS IN: Community Inclusion Manager, Education Officers x 2
CLOSING DATE:
We are ideally looking to fill this vacancy, to start on 1st July.
We will begin interviewing as soon as strong applications are received and will close the vacancy once a suitable candidate is found. We encourage early applications.
ABOUT SALE SHARKS FOUNDATION
Sale Sharks Foundation is the charity partner of Sale Sharks Rugby Club. Our Vision is to use the power of our sport to change lives throughout the North West.
We work with over 15,000 people annually in three key areas: Community Inclusion, Education and Rugby Development. You can see the impact we had by checking out our 2023/ 2024 Sharks Watch Impact Report. Our highly skilled, dynamic, and passionate team now deliver over 50 community projects that change the lives of a huge spectrum of people across the North West: from children and young people right through to senior citizens. We believe in the immense power of our sport to positively transform people’s lives. We believe the North West is a home to extraordinary people like you – This is your chance to be part of our story!
Job Summary
The Education & Community Inclusion Lead will develop and deliver the strategic direction of both the Education and Community Inclusion departments at Sale Sharks Foundation. This includes developing the Foundation’s Education department, focusing on alternative provision for primary and secondary education aged children, as well as our Hitz programme for 16–19-year-olds. The role involves working closely with the Community Inclusion Manager and team to develop and monitor projects/programmes around disability, social inclusion, health, and wellbeing. This is an exciting time for an experienced leader to join the Foundation and help us achieve our strategic direction goals across the education and community inclusion space.
Roles & Responsibilities:
Education Design and Development
- Lead the design and development of innovative educational programmes and initiatives.
- Expand and enhance alternative provision offerings for primary and secondary education, both in-school and out-of-school.
- Collaborate with educational institutions to align programmes with educational standards and best practices.
- Design and lead new programmes and initiatives towards education, including the development and roll out of our paid education provision programmes mixing rugby with curriculum skills, such as numeracy.
Relationship Management:
- Lead the strategic direction of the team, building strong relationships with internal and external organisations.
- Work with commercial partners to support key projects and secure long-term funding.
- Establish and maintain effective partnerships with stakeholders in the Education and Community Inclusion sectors.
Leadership
- Contribute to the Senior Leadership Team, managing budgets, and providing strategic direction and support.
- Lead and motivate a diverse team, ensuring alignment with the Foundation’s vision, values and strategic direction.
- Manage multiple departmental budget streams, setting and meeting targets.
Development and Implementation:
- Seek out and develop new funding applications to support the future ambitions and sustainability of the Foundations Education and Community Inclusion.
- Ensure health and safety protocols are in place for all activities across Education and Community Inclusion.
- Support the Community Inclusion Manager to Design and lead new programmes and initiatives.
Monitoring and Evaluation:
- Maintain accurate records and data collection for all grants and funding streams.
- Track and deliver against KPIs associated with grant funding. Providing KPI’s updates to the CEO and Trustee’s on request.
- Design and implement monitoring and evaluation systems for all programmes, working with colleagues to add consistency across the organisation and industry recognised measures.
- Design and implement monitoring social impact and wider outcome measures associated with community delivery.
- Produce reports to present findings to grant and funding partners.
It is expected that the role may, on occasions, include working evenings and weekends including match days. This will always be agreed in advance with time off in lieu offered.
This job description is not necessarily an exhaustive list of duties but is intended to reflect the range of duties the post-holder will perform.
It is key to this role that candidates:
- Always demonstrate the Sale Sharks Foundation values.
- Promotes Sale Sharks Foundation’s brand and ethos in a professional and positive manner.
- Be committed to applying and promoting equality, diversity and inclusion as Sale Sharks Foundation and comply with all Charity policies and procedures.
- Act in line with the Foundations code of conduct always showing professionalism in all environments we work across, acting as role models for our community.
*Due to insurance purposes candidates must be over 21 and hold a full clean driver’s license. Points on a licence will be consider however increased costs to insurance may be asked to be covered by the employee at Sale Sharks Foundations discretion.
Staff Benefits:
- 25 days annual (3 to be taken between Christmas and New Year), with additional leave after 3 and 5 years of service.
- £240 per year (Pro-rata, claimed monthly) wellbeing benefit.
- 3% Pension contribution.
- 2 free tickets per game (Men’s & Women’s).
- Kit provided worth in excess of £300.
- 20% discount on the staff shop.
- Access to Sale Sharks High Performance Gym after 4pm.
- Opportunity to buy into Sale Shark performance meal prep on site.
- Flexible working (where possible around delivery needs).
- Dogs allowed in the office/outdoor kennels (behaviour permitting).
- Free tea & coffee in the office.
- Free onsite parking.
- Health insurance through Vitality, including access to the Headspace app, discounted gym memberships, free weekly coffee and film rental, health checks, employee assistance, and discounts on health and wellbeing products (upon successful completion of probation period).
- Annual reward and recognition awards.
- Access to e-learning platform.
- Bi-annual all staff training days & Foundation socials.
- Other CPD opportunities throughout the year.
To Apply:
To apply, please upload your CV, covering letter and completed Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Form (available to download on the portal or our webpage) via Apply Here
If you are experiencing any problems with applying online, please contact foundation.hr@salesharks.com
Please do not hesitate to contact Faye Richardson, Community Inclusion Lead, via faye.richardson@salesharks.com or 07355 092119 if you would like to discuss the role in more detail.
Sale Sharks Foundation is an equal opportunities employer and encourages applications from all sections of the community. The successful candidate will undergo an enhanced DBS check to work with children and adults at risk and employment will only be offered the role if a clear check and suitable references are received back.
Unfortunately, we are unable to offer feedback on individual applications.
Please note only candidates selected for interview will be notified. If you’ve not heard from us within 3 weeks unfortunately you have been unsuccessful this time.
