Job Description
Gloucestershire Cricket Board and Wiltshire Cricket Limited are running a joint recruitment process to identify a Growth Development Officer for each county. The ECB has recently released a new whole game strategy, Cricket Unleashed, which attempts to unify the game, from recreational cricket through to the professional game, with a major strand of the strategy being ‘More Play’. The newly recruited Growth Officer will have an exciting opportunity to introduce and drive aspects of the ‘More Play’ strategy in their county.

Please note that whilst the role is being advertised as initially a 12 month contract, this is primarily because Cricket Booards are currently entering the final year of their current funding contract with ECB. Over the course of 2017, a new funding MoU between ECB and Cricket Boards for the period from 2018 onwards will be confirmed, and so it is both Boards’ aspiration that given ECB’s commitment to the More Play agenda we will be able to continue the positions beyond the initial 12 month contracts.

1. Job purpose and focus
As part of the development team the Growth Development Officer will lead on managing existing programmes, as well as driving new opportunities within the following growth areas of the game:
• Womens and girls cricket entry level and participation programmes
• Disability Cricket
• Community and casual cricket offers
• Diverse community engagement
• Management of priority competitions
The post holder will be expected to engage with traditional cricket partners such as clubs and schools, however we will also expect the post holder to investigate new partners to work with who may be able to help bring new audiences to the game.

Specific responsibilities across the areas above will include:
Womens and girls cricket entry level and participation programmes:
• Managing and developing existing participation programmes (e.g. Vipers Indoor League in Wiltshire, Active8 Cricket in Gloucestershire)
• Working with clubs and local leagues to identify suitable competition formats for women and girls
• Liaising with the ECB over the delivery of national women and girls initiatives at a local level
• Utilising major events (Kia Super League / Women’s World Cup) to inspire players, coaches and volunteers at a local level

Disability Cricket:
• Delivering in school and community settings to help grow awareness of disability cricket
• Working with existing and new partners to maintain and grow the disability player pathway from entry level through to representative cricket

Community and casual cricket offers:
• Working with clubs to increase the number of social cricket offers available to new or lapsed players
• Supporting clubs to deliver Return to Cricket initiatives
• Liaising with ECB over the delivery of national initiatives at a local level to support the community aspect of ECB’s Cricket Unleashed strategy

Diverse community engagement:
• Working with partners such as local authorities, other NGBs and Chance to Shine to deliver Street Cricket or other suitable offers for minority groups

Management of priority competitions:
• Improving the quality of player experience for existing competitions managed by the Cricket Boards
• Introducing new competitions to support above growth areas
• Working with volunteers to support them with the administration and management of competitions

2. Supervision and work planning
A Growth Development Officer will be employed by both Gloucestershire Cricket Board (GCB) and Wiltshire Cricket Limited (WCL). In both counties, the respective post holder will be line managed by the county’s lead officer.

In Gloucestershire, the officer will be based from the GCB offices at the County Ground, Bristol, but will be expected to travel around the county to fulfil the role’s requirements. Likewise in Wiltshire, the officer will be based from the WCL offices in Chippenham but will be expected to travel throughout the county.

In both counties the position will be a full time role. The employees’ normal working days will be Monday-Friday and the employee will not normally be required to work before 9am or after 5:30pm. However due to the nature of the work involved in the position, the employee may be required to work evenings, weekends or public holidays, and will be required to carry out their duties at such times and on such days that are the most effective to perform the responsibilities of the position.

3. Experience and Qualifications
Essential:
• Understanding of a variety of Cricket Development programmes
• Experience of working within Sports Development or another National Governing Body, as either a volunteer or paid professional
• Experience of working with recreational sports clubs and the enthusing of volunteers
• Good project management skills and ability to prioritise and work to deadlines
• Excellent customer service skills, with the ability to build relationships and communicate effectively with a diverse range of people.
• Excellent leadership skills
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Excellent administrative skills and evidence of project work
• High levels of energy and enthusiasm and the desire to succeed
• Computer literate and effective user of Word, Excel, Outlook and other Microsoft programmes
• Experience as a cricket coach to ECB level 2 or UKCC2 (or overseas equivalent)
• Child protection trained or commitment to achieving this within a short period of time
• First Aid trained or a commitment to achieving this within a short period of time
• ECB DBS checked or a commitment to achieving this within a short period of time
• A member of ECBCA or a commitment to attaining this within a short period of time
• Ability to travel independently between sites (Full and valid UK driving licence)

Desirable:
• Examples of how you have used innovation to implement and successfully deliver a new project
• Understanding of partnership working and the ability to create strong and sustainable links
• Two years’ experience as a cricket coach to ECB Club Coach Award level or above (or overseas equivalent)
• Experience of working on cricket specific projects
• Experience of teaching/coaching children of all ages
• Knowledge of the National Curriculum Teaching Programme
• A knowledge of the structure of cricket in Gloucestershire and Wiltshire

4. General
This job description only contains the principle accountabilities/main duties relating to this post and does not describe in detail all of the duties required to carry them out. Other duties may be required to be undertaken from time to time as directed by the Board.

To apply please submit a CV and covering letter, taking note of the Job Description and email it to Edgar Herridge at edgar.herridge@ecb.co.uk. Please note that the recruitment process is being run jointly between both Cricket Boards, meaning one application process and one interview day. However, at the end of the process there will be two positions appointed, one for each Board. Therefore, in your application please state whether you are applying for a position in either county or whether you would only be prepared to be appointed in one of the counties.

Closing date for applications: Friday 3rd February 2017
Interview day: Wednesday 15th February 2017
If you wish to discuss the role before applying please contact either:
Steve Silk at steve.silk@glosccc.co.uk, 07554 452228 or
Pete Sykes at pete.sykes@wiltshirecricket.co.uk, 07920 581413

How to apply
To apply please submit a CV and covering letter, taking note of the Job Description and email it to Edgar Herridge at edgar.herridge@ecb.co.uk or post to Steve Silk, The Brightside Ground, Nevil Road, Bristol. BS7 9EJ

Please note that the recruitment process is being run jointly between both Cricket Boards, meaning one application process and one interview day. However, at the end of the process there will be two positions appointed, one for each Board. Therefore, in your application please state whether you are applying for a position in either county or whether you would only be prepared to be appointed in one of the counties.