Regional Partnerships Manager

Impact/Outcomes

• More people playing rugby through well planned and well supported programmes.
• Stronger partnerships that make it easier and more effective to deliver rugby opportunities locally.
• Increased funding and resources that allow the region to expand its reach and support long term growth.

Some key responsibilities include:

• Work with the Independent Chair and Regional Board to build strong relationships with key regional partners - such as councils, charities, businesses, and education providers - to create new opportunities for rugby growth.
• Act as a deputy to the Independent Chair when necessary.
• Engage with clubs, CBs, professional clubs (PWR, Prem and Champ), RFU staff, and wider partners to develop a Regional Plan that increases the number and diversity of people playing rugby.
• Work with RFU colleagues to allocate and manage funding so Regional Plan projects can be delivered effectively, using both RFU investment and external funding.
• Line manage the Regional Fundraising Manager and support them in securing extra income to help the region grow and become financially sustainable.
• Create a positive, inclusive, and results focused environment for the regional team and stakeholders.
• Manage reporting on regional activity - both operational and financial - and share progress against KPIs with the RFU, Regional Board, and other stakeholders.
• Use data, insight, and local knowledge to think creatively about how to promote rugby in the region, bringing a “start‑up” mindset.
• Build strong working relationships across the RFU to share learning and support consistent, effective practice.
• Acting as an ambassador for, and promoting the best interests of the RFU, including the promotion of our culture and core values – This Rose Means Everyone: Put The Team First, Shape The Future, Respect Each Other.
• Undertaking other duties as may be required from time to time as are consistent with the responsibilities of the post and the needs of the organisation.

Qualifications, Skills & Experience:

The skills and attributes outlined in this description are not exhaustive and we welcome candidates who can bring different relevant experiences to the role.

Essential:

• Proven experience creating and delivering strategic and operational plans that achieve clear targets.
• Strong understanding of grassroots/community sport and its benefits for local communities.
• Excellent partnership skills, with the ability to collaborate, challenge constructively, and influence at all levels.
• Experience bringing different stakeholder groups together to agree and deliver shared goals.
• Knowledge of fundraising or wider commercial experience.
• Good financial skills, including managing budgets, performance and risk.
• Experience leading a high‑performing team that delivers results quickly.
• Good judgement and a creative, problem‑solving mindset.
• Strong interpersonal and relationship‑building skills.
• Confident communicator who can deliver clear written and verbal messages.
• Able to work independently, manage time well, and handle multiple priorities.
• Self‑aware and committed to ongoing personal and professional development.
• Proficient with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Smartsheet.
• Committed to embodying the ethos our culture by using our three core values – Put The Team First, Shape The Future, Respect Each Other – to guide your day-to-day decisions, actions and interactions.
• Committed to actively contributing and building an inclusive culture in your role and day to day behaviours.

Desirable:

• Previous marketing and/or communications experience.
• Degree level education or higher desirable, but not essential.

Additional Information:

• We want you to have every opportunity to demonstrate your skills, ability and potential. If there is anything we could do to support you through your application or to provide the best environment for your interviews, including assistance or adjustment, please reach out to recruitment [recruitment@rfu.com].
• During your application, we will ask questions about your identity. This information is considered highly confidential and will not be seen by hiring managers. You can find out more about why we ask these questions here.

About England Rugby
England Rugby or Rugby Football Union (RFU) is the national governing body for rugby in England. We deliver three core activities, and our purpose is to enrich lives, introduce more people to rugby union and develop the sport for future generations.

Our core activities are:

• Rugby – supporting rugby from grassroots to performance level
• Commercial – building partnerships and hosting matches and events
• Running the business - ensuring our organization and people can thrive

Our Culture
At England Rugby, one of our core objectives is to drive rugby union to better reflect the diversity of society. We are aware that rugby, and sports in general, has not always been as welcoming an environment for everyone as we would like, and we are working hard to make rugby a more inclusive space for all identities.

We believe hiring people from underrepresented groups into positions at all levels is vital to creating spaces and initiatives that better support those identities. We would love to see applications from disabled people, LGBTQIA+ people, people from ethnically diverse communities, people of faith, people from lower socio-economic backgrounds, and women and non-binary people.

We know that representation is more than just getting people through the door, it’s about keeping people by responding to structural barriers relating to identities and valuing the insights that different lived experiences bring. We have network groups that provide peer-to-peer support and drive forward change internally. We support colleagues to develop, and each colleague has access to a personal coaching platform that can provide same-day one-to-one coaching. We are pushing ourselves to create a more inclusive culture every day through role modelling our culture and core values; This Rose Means Everyone: Put The Team First, Shape The Future, Respect Each Other.

We know that flexible working is important to our colleagues, so our guiding principles are designed to support everyone to work in the way that suits them, their teams, and the organisation in the best way.

We want you to have every opportunity to demonstrate your skills, ability and potential. If there is anything we could do to support you through your application or to provide the best environment for your