Position: Director of Women’s Cricket

RESPONSIBLE TO: Director of Cricket

RESPONSIBLE FOR:

• Women’s professional cricket
• Women’s Head Coach and Performance Staff
• Player Pathway (EPP/CAG Programmes)
• Cricket Operations (Women & Girls Programme)
• Line management of Head of SSM

We are Trent Bridge — a cricket ground of global repute, proudly established in 1838 and recognised around the world as one of the sport’s most iconic venues.

Steeped in a rich and illustrious history, we are custodians of generations of cricketing excellence, unforgettable moments, and a deep-rooted connection to the game. Our continued success is driven by a steadfast commitment to invest in our world-class cricketing talent, ensuring we attract, develop, and support players capable of performing at the very highest level.

Through this investment, we are able to host and deliver international-quality fixtures that uphold the prestige of Trent Bridge, showcasing elite performance, inspiring future generations, and reinforcing our reputation as a premier venue on the global cricketing stage.

As part of this ambition, we are now seeking to appoint a Director of Women’s Cricket, a critical and exciting leadership role that will help drive the continued growth, performance, and success of the women’s game at Trent Bridge.

1. RELEVANT GENERAL OBJECTIVES

• As a member of the Wider Leadership Team, support the Chief Executive in shaping and delivering the strategic direction, leadership and long-term development of women’s cricket at Trent Bridge
• Develop and implement a clear vision and strategy for women’s cricket that aligns with the Club’s wider business plan and the ECB’s strategic priorities
• Lead the high-performance environment across the women’s professional team and pathway, ensuring sustained success at County and national level
• Take overall responsibility for the management and leadership of the women’s cricket programme, from elite performance through to pathway development
• Establish strong working relationships with the ECB, Tier 2 counties and key stakeholders to support the growth and development of women’s cricket
• Oversee all player recruitment, contracting and negotiations, including overseas players, ensuring alignment with agreed financial parameters and ECB regulations
• Develop, manage and maintain budget accountability for all aspects of the women’s high-performance and pathway programmes
• Ensure compliance with all ECB and Cricket Professional Association (CPA) requirements relating to the women and girl’s programme
• Protect and enhance the Trent Bridge brand and contribute to the continued growth of women’s cricket across Nottinghamshire
• Provide effective leadership of the women’s cricket staff group, fostering a high-performance, inclusive culture and supporting the ongoing development, wellbeing and progression of all team member

2. SPECIFIC ROLE PROFILE

Strategic Leadership

• Lead the vision and long-term strategy for women’s cricket across Nottinghamshire
• Shape and deliver a world-class high-performance environment aligned to ECB frameworks and England pathway requirements
• Ensure alignment between the Club, County structure and ECB strategic objectives
• Provide leadership across all elements of the women’s cricket structure, from elite level to pathway development
• Contribute as a member of the Club’s wider leadership team and, where appropriate, the Cricket Committee

High Performance & County Team

• Lead the County Senior Team programme, ensuring delivery within ECB 50-over and T20 competition structures
• Agree, monitor and control budget expenditure for the senior programme
• Lead and manage a multidisciplinary performance team to deliver high-quality, individualised, year-round player programmes
• Work collaboratively with the ECB to ensure performance standards support the development of England players
• Build a high-performance culture that supports player wellbeing, development and competitive success

Player Recruitment & Talent Identification

• Lead all aspects of player recruitment, including contract negotiations and overseas player strategy
• Develop and implement an effective talent identification system across the talent catchment area
• Support and lead the Elite Pathway Manager to ensure a strong and sustainable pipeline of players progressing from academy to professional level
• Build relationships with Tier 2 counties to support talent identification and development
• Monitor squad balance and succession planning across short, medium and long-term cycles

Talent Catchment Area Academy & Player Pathway

• Provide overall leadership of the Academy, EPP and CAG programmes
• Agree, monitor and control Academy budget expenditure
• Ensure delivery of the Academy in line with ECB Talent Development Framework
• Promote best practice in talent development and identification, ensuring a high-quality, inclusive pathway for women and girls
• Oversee progression routes from recreational cricket through to elite performance

Facilities & Operations

• Lead planning and development of facilities to support the women’s high-performance and pathway programmes
• Work with internal and external stakeholders to develop new grounds and training facilities
• Manage venue relationships, including liaison with host clubs for fixtures away from Trent Bridge
• Ensure appropriate infrastructure is in place to support elite performance standards

People Leadership & Culture

• Lead, manage and develop all staff within the women’s cricket programme
• Drive the development of staff through structured CPD, mentoring and clear progression opportunities, ensuring individuals are supported to grow and reach their full potential
• Oversee recruitment, retention, performance management and appraisals of staff
• Create a high-performance, inclusive and collaborative team culture
• Set clear KPIs and objectives aligned to strategic priorities
• Ensure effective workforce planning, including seasonal and temporary staffing

Governance, Stakeholder Management & Compliance

• Ensure compliance with ECB regulations, CPA requirements and safeguarding standards
• Support the growth of women’s and girls’ recreational cricket across Nottinghamshire
• Maintain an understanding of the Trent Rockets’ position within the Club’s wider structure and its impact on the women’s game

Experience and Knowledge (Essential)

• Experience in professional sport, in a playing, coaching or management capacity
• Proven leadership experience within high-performance environments
• Strong understanding of elite sport structures, talent pathways and player development
• Experience of budget management and strategic planning
• Strong stakeholder management and communication skills
• Proven experience in leading, developing and managing staff, with a strong track record of building high-performing teams and fostering a positive, growth-focused culture

3. Role Summary

The Director of Women’s Cricket is a senior strategic leadership role responsible for delivering the vision, performance and growth of women’s cricket across Nottinghamshire. The role requires the ability to lead high-performing teams, manage complex stakeholder relationships and deliver a world-class player pathway that supports both regional success and the development of England players.

4. Core Criteria

• Provides strategic leadership with a proven track record of building and sustaining high-performance environments, with a clear focus on long-term player and programme development. Demonstrates a strong commitment to developing and empowering staff, ensuring player development remains at the heart of the programme
• Is an influential relationship builder, with experience of working collaboratively across organisations and stakeholders, and a track record of empowering staff and players to deliver excellence in their roles
• Is an authentic, empathetic and emotionally intelligent leader, able to operate effectively in high-pressure environments, demonstrating outstanding communication and providing clarity, direction and confidence to both staff and players
• Puts people at the centre of decision-making, investing time in understanding individuals to support their development as people, practitioners and performers
• Has a clear and compelling vision for the growth of women’s cricket, aligned to the wider game in England & Wales, and is able to translate this into a coherent and deliverable strategy
• Demonstrates curiosity, adaptability and a continuous improvement mindset, recognising what has driven success while identifying opportunities to evolve and strengthen the programme

5. Leadership & Impact Expectations

• Provide visible, credible leadership for the women’s game within the club and across the wider cricket network
• Act as a key contributor to the club’s broader strategy, ensuring alignment between women’s cricket and overall Club objectives
• Build and embed a high-performance culture that supports player development, wellbeing and sustained success
• Drive continuous improvement, challenging the status quo and introducing new approaches to programme development
• Represent the club externally, building strong relationships with the ECB, partners and wider stakeholders

Person Specification

Essential:

Experience

• Extensive experience of delivering strategy through innovative and engaging interventions
• Experience of leading complex programmes, including budgeting, planning, programming and monitoring delivery of strategic priorities
• Experience of working within high-performance sport or similarly demanding environments

Skills & Abilities

• Excellent leadership, communication, interpersonal and influencing skills
• Strong understanding of best practice principles underpinning talent development environments
• Ability to build high-performing, values-driven cultures
• Ability to operate strategically whilst maintaining oversight of operational delivery
• A clear passion for changing lives and making a difference through sport
• High standards of personal and professional integrity
• High levels of energy and enthusiasm
• Resilience and a strong commitment to driving and sustaining change
• Honesty and openness
• An appetite to constantly seek improvement in all aspects of work

Qualifications

• Coaching or high-performance sport qualifications (or equivalent experience)

Desirable:

Experience

• Experience within elite women’s sport
• Experience working within ECB, county, or national governing body structures
• Proven track record of building or transforming high-performance programmes

Skills & Knowledge

• Experience leading multi-disciplinary teams (e.g. coaching, science & medicine, talent pathways)
• Experience of stakeholder management across governing bodies, partners and internal leadership teams
• Commercial awareness, with an understanding of the growth and sustainability of women’s sport