Business Strategy Manager (MBA Graduate Programme), FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION

In 2026 The FA will be launching a new MBA programme as part of a wider talent initiative.

The programme aims to better enable the business to deliver against the 2024 - 2028 strategy by increasing business performance and providing supplementary expertise in key Divisions or across functional programmes of work.

This is a two-year fixed-term opportunity offering the chance to work on a rotational basis across a range of high-impact projects within the federation. You will be based in Wembley with an expectation of being on site at least 2 days per week. There may also be occasional travel to St.

George's Park The objective of the programme is to introduce talent into our leadership population in order to improve business performance and provide the division with a strategic and consultative leader to challenge, support and help the business evolve in order to meet and exceed our new strategy objectives. The success of the role will see opportunities for the cohort to work within the association or the wider football community. Please note there is no guarantee of a permanent role at the end of the 2-year cycle.

This is not a graduate level role. We are seeking individuals with prior professional experience who are ready to operate with credibility and influence in a complex, fast-paced organisation.

You may not have worked directly within football previously; however, we are seeking individuals who can translate technical thinking into clear strategic plans and deliver them effectively through strong operational execution. If you believe in the power of football and the impact it can have on our communities, we'd love to hear from you.

What will you be doing? The programme is responsible for helping the business to analyse, evaluate and define strategic initiatives which directly contribute towards The FA's strategic objectives.

You will be assigned 3 projects over a 2 year period, each placement lasting 8 months.

Responsibilities include: Strategic Analysis & Delivery

  • Analyse, evaluate, and provide robust recommendations on strategic initiatives aligned to organisational goals
  • Translate strategic intent into clear, executable operational plans with defined outcomes and success measures
  • Support prioritisation of initiatives and alignment of resources to maximise impact
  • Track and analyse KPIs, identifying opportunities to improve performance and delivery
Cross-Functional Project Leadership
  • Lead and support delivery of cross-functional projects across a diverse portfolio (including compliance, transformation, and major operational programmes such as tournament delivery)
  • Define project scope, objectives, timelines, and resource requirements in collaboration with stakeholders
  • Maintain hands-on oversight throughout the project lifecycle, ensuring delivery against agreed outcomes
  • Identify, manage and mitigate project risks, issues and dependencies.
Stakeholder Engagement & Cross-Team Collaboration
  • Provide strategic insight and delivery support to senior management, business partners and the strategy team
  • Build strong relationships across divisions to drive alignment, accountability, and effective collaboration
  • Engage internal and external stakeholders to encourage innovation and coordinated, joined-up delivery
  • Offer consulting-style support to help teams scope, plan, and deliver strategic initiatives effectively
Governance, Reporting & Continuous Improvement
  • Work closely with the Strategy and Business Management functions to ensure alignment with PMO best practice Monitor and report on key milestones, risks, and trends to enable transparent decision-making Champion continuous improvement by refining tools, methodologies, and ways of working across the programme Promote consistency, efficiency, and integration in project and programme delivery
  • Execute additional tasks as required to meet the FA's changing priorities.
  • Comply with all company policies and procedures to ensure that the highest standards of health, safety, and well-being can be maintained.
  • As part of the FA's commitment to ensuring a safe environment for everyone in football, every employee will be required to complete a DBS check. The level of the check required will be based on the activity of the specific job role and in line with legislation and government guidance.
What are we looking for?
  • MBA Level Education, ideally having graduated within the last 5 years
  • Proven experience in strategy, operations, consulting, transformation, or project delivery roles
  • Ability to translate strategy into structured operational plans and deliverable outcomes
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