WSL Football are excited to be recruiting their first Head of People and Culture.

This critical and newly created role will lead the organisation's HR function, ensuring best in class policies and practises across recruitment, retention, development and performance management. Initially operating as an individual contributor, the role demands a unique blend of strategic vision and hands-on delivery.

WSL Football is building the most distinctive, competitive and entertaining women's football club competition in the world for the players and fans of today and tomorrow.

Our competitions represent the pinnacle of women's professional football in England, where the world's best players and 24 clubs compete for honours in the Barclays Women's Super League (BWSL), the Barclays Women's Super League 2 (BWSL2) and the Subway Women's League Cup (SLC).

To support in this search, we have partnered with BIE Executive, please send your cover letter and CV through to WSL@bie-executive.com

Key Accountabilities

People and HR Leadership 

• Lead the organisation's HR function, ensuring best in class policies and practises across recruitment, retention, development and performance management
• Develop and deliver a people strategy aligned with the league's long term vision and values 
• Set up and manage HR systems, policies, and processes and ensure compliance with employment laws and regulations.
• Manage compensation, benefits, and payroll in collaboration with finance.
• Champion an inclusive culture that promotes wellbeing, accountability, learning and innovation
• Oversee employee lifecycle processes, contracts, payroll liaison and employment law compliance
• Act as a trusted advisor to the senior leadership on organisational design, workforce planning and change management

High Performance Environment 

• Foster a high performance mindset across the organisation through effective leadership development, coaching and feedback
• Design and implement performance frameworks that align with strategic objectives and league KPIs
• Support succession planning and talent development programmes

Equality Diversity & Inclusion

• Lead the implementation of EDI strategies, targets and actions plans across the professional womens game
• Monitor and report on EDI progress, ensuring compliance with legal obligations and standards across football ecosystem
• Partner with external experts and networks to build inclusive hiring practises an educational initiatives

Corporate Health and Safety

• Ensure compliance with all health and safety legislation, including risk assessments, training and incident reporting
• Lead a proactive approach to physical and psychological wellbeing in the workplace
• Maintain up to date health and safety policies and embed these into the organisational culture 

Safeguarding oversight

• Provide executive leadership to safeguarding team within the league
• Executes additional tasks as required in order to meet WSL Football changing priorities.

Living WSL Football's Cultural Principles

FOR THE LOVE OF THE WOMEN'S GAME
Every decision we make drives the growth, quality, and impact of women's football for future generations. 

GREATNESS NEVER SETTLES
We have the relentless drive to keep the women's game, growing, and reaching for more.  We have the courage to push boundaries, innovate boldly and continuously rewrite the playbook.  

FIND A WAY TO WIN, TOGETHER
We move as one – lifting each other up and having each other's backs.  Together, we unite players, clubs, fans, and communities to achieve greatness.  

CHAMPION THE FEMALE ATHLETE, ON AND OFF THE PITCH
We celebrate and support female athletes, empowering them to shine in their football careers and beyond.

PUT FANS IN THE FRONT ROW 
Fans are the VIPs at the heart of our game.  We must thrill, inspire, and connect with them to build lifelong loyalty.

Essential Skills

• Proven experience in a senior people leadership role, ideally in elite sport, major events or a mission driven organization
• Demonstrable experience leading high performance teams and driving organizational culture change
• Demonstrates the highest standards of honesty, transparency, and ethical conduct in all interactions and decisions
• Excellent organisational skills and project management experience
• Excellent interpersonal and influencing skills, with the ability to build trust and collaborate at all levels
• Strong analytical and decision-making capabilities.
• Strategic thinker with hands-on execution ability.
• Passion for building culture and creating exceptional employee experiences.
• Comfortable working in a fast-paced, ambiguous environment
• Strong understanding of employment law, health and safety and knowledge of safeguarding
• Track record of embedding EDI strategies and delivering inclusive environments 

Desirable Skills

• Experience of working in a sports governing body, or with elite performance environments
• CIPD or equivalent professional qualification
• Safeguarding and or Health and Safety qualifications for training