About the Role
The Head of Development will report directly to the Chief Executive Officer (CEO). The post will line manage the development department staff team. The role is to develop, manage, direct and lead the development strategy of BSUK, as set by the organisation. This involves setting and monitoring the strategic aims and targets of the department and being responsible for the delivery of these targets.
The main areas are:
• Securing grants locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally.
• Stakeholder management, specifically engaging with local authorities, regional and national sports partnerships.
• Coordination and deployment oversight of a nationwide team of development staff, collaborating with clubs, leagues, and coaches.
• Strategic planning, including revamping the Facilities Strategy and formulating growth strategies for both sports. • Development and maintenance of partnerships, agency support, and implementation of mechanisms to disseminate sports initiatives at scale.
• Actively increasing visibility and presence across the country through in-person attendance at club meetings and other relevant events.
• Maintenance of current participation levels;
• Growth of participation in our sports;
• Enhancement of the experience of those within the sports, including; o Workforce development (coaches, activators, captains and administrators); o Organisational development (teams, clubs and leagues); o Player development, including the talent programmes; o Facility development; and o Playing opportunities, such as competitions and events.
Key Responsibilities
Strategic Planning and Financing
• To lead and deliver a comprehensive expansion of the sports development strategy focusing on the discovery of, application to and effectively delivery of numerous new grant funded programmes regionally and nationally;
• Securing grants locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally;
• Stakeholder management, specifically engaging with local authorities, regional and national sports partnerships;
• Report to the CEO on the development strategy of BSUK, to be responsible for the oversight and delivery against the Key Performance Indicators;
• Produce a high-level sports development plan(s) for BSUK identifying key long-term objectives and strategies for achieving objectives, including: o Oversight responsibility for delivery of the development aspects of the BaseballSoftballUK Strategic Plan and associated development plans (including the Facilities Strategy) and any further additional plans; o Responsibility for ensuring that KPI’s are met and documented; o The production of an annual participation report with the two sports’ NGBs; o Supporting local baseball and softball organisations to be well organised and governed; o Actively increasing visibility and presence across the country through in-person attendance at club meetings and other relevant events; o Working with the grassroots volunteer workforce to be well supported and capable (including coaches, activators, captains and administrators); and o Developing new initiatives and approaches to deliver against the above.
•Development and maintenance of partnerships, agency support, and implementation of mechanisms to disseminate sports initiatives at scale;
• Strategically manage BSUK's approach and work into the identified new market areas of Schools, Further Education Colleges, Universities, Companies and Leisure Trusts;
• Oversee the strategic planning around the development of baseball and softball facilities across the UK. Programme Management and Development
• To manage the successful delivery of the following programmes against agreed Key Performance Indicators: o The MLB London Series Legacy Programme; o BUCS Baseball and Softball; o Hit the Pitch (if relevant, excluding corporate softball days); o BSUK Coach Development Programme; o The Slowpitch Academy; o The Slowpitch Captains Programme; o The Women’s Recruitment Programme; and any other BSUK development programmes.
• To develop and deliver appropriate programmes as required to achieve the outcomes set within the BSUK Strategic Plan;
• To establish, develop and maintain effective systems to plan for and monitor increases in participation, producing reports for both internal and external partners evidencing the impact of BSUK’s developmental impact. Management of Development Department
• To head up the Development Department, including: o The performance management and assessment of staff in the Development Department; o Divide the sports development plan into key performance indicators and allocate responsibility for delivering and processes for monitor and review; o Recruitment and selection of development staff; o Support delivery of HR processes to development staff; o Manage staff development for development staff; and o Control of all Development Department Budgets. Development Relationships
• Strengthen key relationships and partnerships with stakeholders (e.g. Sport England, MLB, Mayor of London’s Office, BUCS);
• Securing grants locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally;
• Stakeholder management, specifically engaging with local authorities, regional and national sports partnerships; and • Maintaining existing relationships and building new ones with organisations able to enhance BSUK’s development outcomes.
Financial
• Informing the setting of the BSUK annual and four year budgets, specifically in relation to the development budget lines;
• Management of development budgets against budgets, including managing the development staff’s oversight of their relevant budget codes;
• Support for the BSUK’s commercial activities. Grants
• Oversight and management of all regional and national sports development grant applications and their delivery, including the Mayor of London’s grant for MLB London Series Legacy. Additional Responsibilities as a Member of Staff As a member of the staff team, the role will be expected to be prepared to contribute across a wide range of activities, accepting collective and individual responsibility, where needed and necessary.
At times, this may include becoming involved with regional work, directly delivering development or sports activities or working upwards to shape the strategic direction of the organisation. All staff are expected to be organised and administratively sound, assisting others where necessary.
The activity that a staff member could become involved in includes:
• Setting strategic direction for the development of baseball and softball;
• Identifying initiatives and overseeing strategic planning and implementation;
• Raising public awareness of sporting opportunities and promoting participation in baseball and softball;
• Evaluating and monitoring activities and projects using performance indicators, including maintaining records and producing written reports;
• Attending local, regional and national meetings, seminars and conferences;
• Liaising with clubs and leagues to develop best practice in a range of areas;
• Managing resources and a budget and identifying potential opportunities for external funding;
• Maintaining links with county, regional and national sporting representatives;
• Working within specific guidelines, e.g. equal opportunities, health and safety, child protection;
• Providing technical and general articles for BSUK media as requested;
• Incorporating Equity and Child Protection into development delivery and ensuring relevant actions and targets are met; • Offering event organisation, coaching, organisation and administration support across the organisation and the sports when appropriate and / or needed.
Job descriptions cannot be exhaustive and the post-holder may be required to undertake other duties broadly in line with the above key responsibilities.
Person Specification Experience
Proven experience in securing grants at various levels, including locally, regionally, nationally, and internationally. Substantial background in stakeholder management, specifically engaging with local authorities, regional, and national sports partnerships. Track record in strategic planning, with experience formulating growth strategies for sports, aligned to the organisation’s strategic vision. Demonstrated ability to lead and coordinate a nationwide team of development staff effectively.
Experience in collaborating with clubs, leagues, and coaches to achieve common developmental goals. Proven success in developing and maintaining partnerships with various stakeholders, including agencies, to support sports initiatives. Ability to create and sustain mechanisms for the effective dissemination of sports programmes at scale. Demonstrated ability to increasing participation in sport.
Experience working on development projects at an international level. Knowledge Understanding of BSUK structures and programmes. Understanding of the British and international sporting landscape. Skills Strong networking skills to foster beneficial relationships with others. Excellent verbal and written communication skills. Ability to articulate complex ideas and strategies to diverse audiences, including clubs, authorities, and funding bodies.
Skilled in working with volunteers. Strong planning and organisation skills, with the ability to delegate and empower. Skilled in sports programme creation, review and development. Skilled in strategic leadership. Skilled to use spreadsheets (with intermediate level formula), word processing, email clients and other modern IT. Capacity for innovative thinking and introducing new approaches to sports development. Ability to work flexibly, under pressure, adapting to changing situations.
Other
A leader who can effectively develop other people's areas of work. A team player, who can work well as a member of the staff team Organised and delivery focused - able to deliver against targets, based on a sound prioritisation of time and resource, with a heavy workload Honesty and diplomacy in working with others. Reliable and accountable. Problem solver, making good decisions with a ‘can do’ attitude. Modern, enlightened and embracing of diversity. Willingness and ability to work a flexible working week including unsociable hours (evenings and some weekends) Genuine passion for sports and a commitment to the positive impact of sports development on individuals and communities.
