Yorkshire Cricket Foundation: Development Manager (Wakefield)

The Yorkshire Cricket Foundation (YCF) is the home of community and recreational cricket, putting cricket at the heart of Yorkshire and inspiring people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds to connect with the game.

From the iconic Headingley Stadium to communities across Yorkshire, the YCF creates opportunities, experiences, and a positive impact that supports participation, wellbeing, and social connection.

As part of the Yorkshire Cricket network, the YCF delivers programmes, events, and initiatives that bring people together, strengthen communities, and support the development of clubs and leagues. Working in partnership with schools, clubs, local authorities, faith groups, and other organisations, the YCF aims to grow participation, foster inclusive environments, and ensure cricket is accessible, welcoming, and sustainable across Yorkshire.

Lead the strategic planning, coordination and quality assurance of all cricket delivery within a defined geographical area, ensuring alignment with Yorkshire-wide strategic priorities and the YCF’s vision.

The Development Manager will:

• Apply specialist knowledge of their area to shape and oversee local delivery, acting as the primary point of contact for the Yorkshire Cricket Foundation in that area

• Lead programme delivery across both Clubs & Leagues and Community Programmes, ensuring consistent quality, inclusivity and impact

• Develop, implement and monitor a local delivery plan aligned with county-wide strategy and KPIs

• Manage and support a team of Cricket Development Officers (CDOs) and others to deliver high quality, inclusive programmes

• Build partnerships with key local stakeholders to strengthen the reach and sustainability of cricket

• Identify and develop opportunities for income generation to support sustainable cricket delivery across the area

• Provide local insight, data and feedback to inform strategic planning and programme development

• Collaborate with the Head of Delivery & Development, Head of Clubs & Leagues, and Head of Community Programmes for expert guidance and strategic alignment

Area Delivery Strategy & Management

- Develop and implement an area delivery plan that aligns with the YCF’s strategic priorities, funding requirements and local needs.

- Work collaboratively with the Head of Delivery & Development, Head of Clubs & Leagues, Head of Community Programmes and other Development Managers to ensure consistent delivery, shared learning and aligned area plans.

- Coordinate and support Clubs & Leagues and Community Programmes to ensure cohesion, quality and efficiency.

- Engage and support Clubs with planning ECB National Programmes (such as All Stars, Dynamos etc.) and community initiatives (such as ACE, Wicketz, Walking Cricket etc.) in your area, to understand their capacity, facilities, and volunteer availability.

- Ensure activity is inclusive and reflective of local communities and demographics.

- Monitor progress against KPIs, ensuring delivery targets and quality standards are achieved.

- Support the Facilities Manager by providing insight into local delivery needs, helping to ensure facilities are fit for purpose for all programmes.

- Ensure area delivery plans take account of facility availability, capacity, and quality, supporting sustainable use and participation growth.

- Manage the delivery budget for your area, ensuring resources are allocated effectively to achieve strategic priorities and delivery targets.

- Monitor spend against budget, reporting regularly to the Head of Delivery & Development and taking corrective action where necessary.

Stakeholder Engagement & Relationship Management

- Act as the main point of contact for local strategic relationships (e.g. local authorities, key community partners), and support CDOs to maintain operational relationships (e.g. clubs, schools) within the defined area.

- Represent the Yorkshire Cricket Foundation locally, promoting its programmes, values and impact.

- Build strong partnerships that connect community participation with club engagement and long-term sustainability.

- Work collaboratively with colleagues across the YCF to ensure joined up delivery and shared learning.

- Support clubs and leagues to adopt inclusive and sustainable practices, embedding EDI, safeguarding and good governance.

Monitoring, Evaluation & Insight

- Lead on the collection and reporting of data to the Head of Delivery &

Development, ensuring accuracy and timeliness for funder, partner

and internal reporting.

- Analyse trends, impact and feedback to inform continuous

improvement.

- Provide local insight to support YCF’s strategy development, funding

bids and impact reporting.

- Capture and share success stories, case studies and learnings that

demonstrate the value and social impact of both recreational and

cricket in our communities.

- Support CDOs with collecting accurate data and feedback for

reporting.

People Management 

- Line manage and support a team of Cricket Development Officers and

other deliverers, fostering a positive, inclusive, high-performing culture

- Plan, allocate and monitor workloads to ensure effective delivery

across clubs, leagues and community programmes

- Provide clear leadership, coaching and performance management for

CDOs and other deliverers, setting expectations, reviewing progress,

and supporting professional growth

- Model and advocate company vision and values

- Make and communicate decisions clearly, be accountable for those

decisions and empower team members to make good decisions in

their areas of responsibility

- Motivate and engage team members by setting and maintain clear

standards and expectations

- Model and implement all relevant policies and procedures

- Model and implement effective communication within team and

across the company

Development Manager

Head of Delivery & Development

Head of Clubs & Leagues

Head of Community Programmes

Cricket Development Officers and casual employees

Local clubs, leagues and their volunteers

Schools, community organisations, local authorities and faith groups

National and local partners (e.g. England & Wales Cricket Board, Chance to Shine, Lords Taverners)

Enablement Team

Yorkshire County Cricket Club and Yorkshire Cricket Foundation colleagues

Essential

• Minimum 2 years experience of planning, coordinating and evaluating sport or community programmes end-to-end, from concept to delivery and review
• Proven ability to manage people or teams within sport or community development
• Ability to interpret strategy and translate it into effective local delivery plans aligned with organisational priorities
• Strong leadership, communication and organisational skills, with the ability to inspire and motivate others
• Experience of monitoring and reporting against KPIs and funding requirements
• Experience engaging and coordinating with a range of organisations (e.g. clubs, schools, community groups or local authorities) to achieve shared objectives

Desirable

• Experience supporting or mentoring volunteers or casual deliverers