Football Operations Manager

Organisation: Suffolk FA
Salary: 36,000 - 37,500
Location: Stowmarket, Suffolk with some home working
Contract type: Permanent (Full time)
Closing date: 14 May 2026
Job Description: Overview of the Role

SUFFOLK FA have a vacancy for a Football Operations Manager. They will join the organisation’s Senior Leadership Team and lead the operations department.

This is a new role that will be responsible for leading the organisation’s discipline, behaviour, safeguarding, coaching and refereeing teams and be responsible for ensuring the effective delivery of Suffolk’s County Cup programme. Each of the department’s core strands are delivered by experts in their respective field and this role will play a critical part in developing the department, ensuring the organisation’s key strategic priorities are delivered and providing clear strategic leadership.

The role will also work closely with other SLT members to ensure internal collaboration is seamless and that teams unite to deliver great outcomes as a collective. We are looking for an induvial who is highly organised, can lead people well and can collaboratively with external partners and stakeholders well.

Exceptional candidates will demonstrate innovation and the ability to deliver in creative ways. The role will also play a critical role in supporting Suffolk’s leagues around rules and will manage the affiliation process each year.

The individual should have experience in working in any of the following areas: coaching, refereeing, safeguarding, discipline and behaviour improvement or competitions and events.

As an organisation we are responsible for supporting and helping our footballing community and the right candidate will embrace this responsibility and be a part of Suffolk FA’s drive to serve the football community effectively and fairly.

You will:
• support delivery of Suffolk FA’s Strategy 2024-2028 ‘A Thriving Local Game’ and the FA Grassroots Strategy 2024-2028
• lead the wider workforce development in Suffolk, leading the coaching and refereeing teams to achieve the key objectives and targets around coaching and refereeing
• lead safeguarding in the organisation, managing the Designated Safeguarding Officer
• oversee the business functions of Suffolk FA including behaviour improvement, discipline and competitions
• lead the delivery of Suffolk’s County Cups, managing the County Cups Manager and working with the Commercial Funding and Partnerships Manager to make them a commercial success
• contribute to the effective implementation of The FA’s Safeguarding Operating Standard for County FAs
• support the adoption of FA technology systems across grassroots football
• comply with FA rules, regulations, policies, procedures and guidance that are in place from time to time

If this sounds like the role for you, please check out the Job Pack download for details on how to apply.

If you want more information about the role, please contact Andy Wilesmith, Chief Executive Officer, on 07903 842747.

https://www.thefa.com/-/media/cfa/suffolkfa/files/job-adverts/sfa-recruitment-application-pack---football-operations-manager-april-2026.ashx
How to apply: To apply, please send your CV and a covering letter of no more than 2 pages outlining how you meet the person specification and how your values align to the organisation’s values. Your CV and covering letter should go to Andrew Wilesmith, Chief Executive Officer at andrew.wilesmith@suffolkfa.com. If you wish to have an informal discussion about the role please contact Andrew Wilesmith, Chief Executive Officer on andrew.wilesmith@suffolkfa.com / 07903842747. Interviews: Interviews will be held on Weds 20th and Thurs 21st May 2026