Kent FA - Facilities & Investment Lead

Job description

Kent FA are looking for a Facility and Investment Lead to support their current team to deliver investment in grassroots football facilities where it is most needed in the county.

They are looking for someone who is passionate about grassroots football facilities, has the ability to help club volunteers shape their ideas and be in a position to apply for funding to improve their facilities and sustain their clubs.

Kent FA have made great strides to improve its grass pitches across Kent, and this role will ensure they meet their targets and ensure that clubs and partners are able to access advice, support and funding through the Grass Pitch Improvement Programme.

Their clubs require support to access grants for small-scale projects for improvements, equipment and activities. Using your skills, you will guide them through the maze of opportunities available in the county and nationally.

Location: Hybrid working from home and at Kent FA HQ, Invicta House, Cobdown Park, London Road. Aylesford. Kent. ME20 6DQ.
Salary: £30,000 - £33,000.
Hours per week: 35 hours per week.
Closing Date: 5pm on the Thursday 24th September 2026
Vacancy Type: Permanent, full-time position, 35 hours per week.

Key Accountabilities

• Line Manager the FDO Adult Male and the FDO Inclusion, to ensure they reach their key objectives and KPI's, receive support throughout the season and complete the personal development reviews for each officer.
• Support delivery of all activities that ensure every affiliated football fixture is played on a 'good' quality pitch including the use of PitchPower.
• Track the quantity and quality of football pitches and ground locations for affiliated fixtures.
• Ensure that the outcomes of each facility project are aligned to the Football Foundation measurement framework and the FA's Grassroots Football Strategy.
• Activate grass pitch facilities, that are not on the Pitch Power register, to ensure we meet the 471 GOOD pitches.
• Support the delivery of support days to each Football Foundation applicant around the Grass Pitch Improvement Programme and Small Grants Programme.
• Support applicants to develop their football development plans to enable them to apply successfully for funding.
• To support clubs and organisations to gain support from the following Football Foundation programmes: Howden's Game Changer, Lionesses HERe to Play, Home Advantage, Inpost
• Develop collaborative working partnerships with local authorities, clubs, leagues, schools and other facility providers.
• To lead on all issues regarding planning protection, completion of Sport England planning requests and safeguard playing pitches within Kent.
• To work with the new unitary authorities to create partnerships and a work relationship, represent Kent FA on identified Place Partnership meetings.

What Kent FA are looking for

The successful candidate will be educated to degree level or have 2 years' relevant industry experience. They will be able to think and work strategically, be self-motivated and have excellent leadership skills. In addition, they will be able to forge and build excellent relationships with partner organisations and have a strong customer service ethos.

What they can offer

• A great start to your career in football with the local governing body of the grassroots game here in the heart of the County.
• Opportunities to progress your career across the County FA Network throughout England and at The FA.
• Access to high-quality training, networking and personal development opportunities.
• A varied and exciting working life, where you'll learn about all aspects of grassroots football.
• Enhanced Holiday entitlement.
• Access to employee benefits including an employee experience and engagement platform, and employee assistance scheme.

About Kent FA

The Kent FA prides itself on being an innovative and forward-thinking organisation and these are exciting times as they continue to deliver the Kent FA strategy; Play, Promote and Protect 2024-28, which reinforces the vision and objectives moving forward towards 2028.

Kent FA has played an important role in strategically planning, developing and delivering facilities for grassroots football since The FA, The Premier League, Sport England and Government formed the Football Foundation in 2000. During the 24-28 strategy period, they have secured £17.5 million to improve grassroots football facilities for players, clubs, leagues and other football facility providers in the County.

The Football Association, through the National Football Facilities Strategy, has set out objectives to improve the facilities and partnership working:

• Improve the quality of grass pitches in England, 12,000 good pitches.
• Build 3G Football Turf Pitches - 1,000 by 2030.
• Develop quality ancillary facilities - changing pavilions
• Playzones - develop a network of community-based multi-use areas
• Protect playing fields and sports sites.
• Develop place-based partnerships within identified unitary areas.

The FA, Sport England, the Government and the Premier League, have clearly identified the aspirations for football to contribute directly to important government education, social and health agendas. Alongside this, the strategy is clear that traditional, affiliated football remains an important priority and a core component of the game, whilst recognising and supporting the more informal environments used for community and recreational football.

The Government backed the strategy with additional funding announced as part of its Comprehensive Spending Review. This investment represents an opportunity for Kent FA to drive forward and deliver projects that they have identified in their Local Football Facility Plans and Playing Pitch Strategies within Local Authorities on a far greater scale than they have been able to achieve before.

About the application and selection process

Complete the Application Form and Equality and Diversity Monitoring Form and return to [email protected] no later than 5pm on Thursday 24th September, 2026.

Please complete the Application form in Microsoft Word format; Kent FA ask applicants not to convert the file to a PDF format.

Applications received after the deadline will only be considered in exceptional circumstances, e.g. proof of posting indicates undue delay through no fault of the applicant.

Receipt of applications will not be acknowledged.

Shortlisted applicants will be contacted by week commencing October 1st to arrange a mutually convenient interview time. If you have not been contacted by the October 2nd, please assume that your application has been unsuccessful.

Interviews will be held on 8th October 2026.

If required, second interviews may be held in to determine the most suitable candidate for the role.

Application Documents

Job Description and Person Specification

Application Form

Equality and Diversity Monitoring Form

Safeguarding

Kent FA is committed to safeguarding children and adults at risk. Due to the nature of this role, the successful candidate will be required to undertake a Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check through The FA DBS process. The possession of a criminal record will not necessarily prevent an applicant from obtaining this post, as all cases are judged individually according the nature of the role and the information provided.

Equality and Diversity

Kent FA promotes inclusion and diversity and welcomes applications from everyone. If you have any requirements in relation to the recruitment or interview process, please include details on the application form.

Contact

If you have any questions about the role, please contact Jeff Davis, Head of Football Development and Investment, [email protected] for an informal discussion.