People and Change Manager

Closing date: 12/10/2026, 17:00

Location: Manchester

Position Type: 6 Months Fixed Term

Salary: £59,234 - £67,940

The Independent Football Regulator (IFR) has been established to protect and promote the sustainability of English football, for the benefit of fans and the local communities football clubs serve.

The IFR will help improve financial sustainability of clubs, ensure resilience across the leagues, and safeguard the heritage of English football. It will operate a licensing regime; set corporate governance standards and monitor, protect, and promote financial resilience. It will also enforce compliance with requirements on financial regulation, club ownership and directors, fan engagement, and heritage protection.

The IFR will also have powers to prohibit clubs from joining competitions that are not fair or meritocratic, or that threaten the heritage or sustainability of English football.

About the role

We're seeking a People & Change Manager who can quickly build credibility, provide expert people advice and support the delivery of key organisational priorities. Combining strong HR knowledge with excellent influencing and stakeholder management skills, you'll be confident navigating complex issues, challenging constructively and finding practical solutions that work for both managers and employees.

This role will play an important part in supporting organisational change, strengthening people practices and ensuring the IFR has the capability and capacity needed to achieve its objectives. You'll enjoy working in a fast-moving environment and will be motivated by the opportunity to make a visible impact from day one.

This is a six-month fixed-term appointment to provide maternity leave cover. You'll join a collaborative and purpose-driven organisation where your expertise will help shape decisions, support colleagues through change and contribute to the continued development of the IFR.

Responsibilities Include:

Delivering expert HR advice and support across the employee lifecycle.
Leading recruitment, resourcing and workforce planning activity.
Supporting performance management, learning and development, and pay and reward activities.
Driving people-related change and organisational improvement programmes.
Building strong relationships with managers and senior leaders across the IFR, including the COO and CEO.
Helping to create a positive, inclusive and high-performing culture

Essential Requirements

Strong experience across all areas of HR and people management.
Experience of delivering organisational change, transformation or organisational development initiatives.
Excellent knowledge of employment law and HR best practice.
Experience of workforce planning, recruitment, pay and reward, and learning and development.
Outstanding stakeholder management and communication skills.
The ability to work independently, influence senior leaders and deliver outcomes at pace.
CIPD qualification/membership.

Desirable Skills

Experience working in a similar regulator, financial or otherwise, or Arms' Length Body HR team.
Experience managing third party HR and payroll systems and providers.

Terms and Conditions of Employment

If successful, you will join a Non-Departmental Public Body and will be employed as a Public Servant.

If you are an existing Civil Servant or a DCMS employee, you will no longer have access to Civil Service benefits including the Civil Service pension.

The terms and conditions of employment include:

Pension 12% – An employee contribution of 5%, with an employer contribution of 7%.
Flexible Benefit 8% – Employees can choose to invest 8% of their base salary into their pension or take as cash (post tax).
Reward – We will have a performance-based reward programme.
31.5 days annual leave.
Flexible and hybrid working – 40% in office attendance.
Occupational sick pay.
9 months paid Maternity Leave and generous paternity and adoption leave.
A bespoke L&D programme to help you achieve your personal CPD, including paid membership fees.
Cycle-to-work scheme and much more!

Interested Click apply and you will be redirected to our careers site to complete your application.

The Independent Football Regulator

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People and Change Manager