• Duration: Fixed term from Monday 20th October 2025 (contract 10 - 12 months)

• Salary: Circa £67,000 per annum

• Job Level: Level 2

• Hours: 35 hours per week

• Reporting to: Director of Soccer Aid

• Team: Soccer Aid

• Disclosure Level: Basic. This role may involve some limited direct contact with children

•  Location: Working from home and 1 Westfield Avenue, Stratford, London, E20 1HZ

At the UK Committee for UNICEF (UNICEF UK), we pull together to achieve the best possible results for children in danger around the world. We believe in an inclusive workplace and in the power of fulfilled colleagues who share the same values and goals, enjoy their work and are motivated to do their utmost for children.

Our work is guided by the UN Convention of the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which recognise the universality of children’s rights. 

ABOUT THE SOCCER AID FOR UNICEF TEAM  

The Soccer Aid Team is a project team that brings together key specialisms from across the organisation to deliver Soccer Aid for UNICEF. The multi-functional team sits within the Public and Partnerships Engagement directorate and works closely with teams across the organisation and external stakeholders at ITV, Initial and Soccer Aid Productions* to deliver UNICEF UK’s biggest broadcasted fundraising event.  

*UNICEF UK has partnered with Triple S Sports and Entertainment Group to create Soccer Aid Productions Ltd (SAP Ltd) to deliver the commercial elements of the campaign.  

ABOUT SOCCER AID FOR UNICEF  

Soccer Aid for UNICEF brings together two teams of celebrities and football legends from England and the World XI for the biggest celebrity football match in the calendar, broadcast live on ITV. The event started in 2006 taking place every two years and since 2018 has taken place annually. Since its inception, Soccer Aid for UNICEF has raised more than £121 million for UNICEF UK, helping to protect the right to play for every child.

ABOUT THE ROLE

The Head of Soccer Aid is responsible for the operational delivery of the Soccer Aid for UNICEF campaign and manages members of the core team to deliver income generating and brand awareness activations. The postholder brings teams together to ideate, influence and implement opportunities which will have a direct effect on the successful delivery and growth of the campaign.

As Head, you will oversee the full project cycle through planning, delivery and evaluation, using audience insights and past campaign performance to inform outputs. The postholder will play a fundamental role in leading and motivating the team to drive forward ambitious plans, overseeing the delivery of the 2025/6 campaign strategy and enabling the successful delivery of the 2026 campaign, marking the 20th anniversary of Soccer Aid for UNICEF. The postholder will also be responsible for managing multiple partnerships and the project management of identified activations.

WHAT WE WILL EXPECT YOU TO ACHIEVE

•  Demonstrate and model a commitment to our shared values, behaviours and inclusive practices (known as Our Shared Commitment) in all aspects of your work.

• Lead on cross-org collaboration, working with internal teams to broaden the Soccer Aid campaign offering. This will include development of activations such as match fund partner pitches, fundraising, media, events, Parliamentary activations and innovative development of existing concepts.

• Lead on the strategic and operational delivery and development of new income generating concepts such as a celebrity led challenge or other opportunities that arise. Lead on the concept development and managing the Senior Project Manager on the procurement process and implementation of a project plan bringing teams together to develop the scope and scale of project.

• Stakeholder management of key partners including ITV, Soccer Aid Productions, Initial and supporting partners across Foundations, corporate and/ or fundraising teams.

• In-line with the organisation’s overall Talent Strategy, manage the Soccer Aid team and foster an inclusive team culture, focusing on retention and equitable development of talent within teams.

•  Work with internal and external teams to identify and resolve any pain points and critical enablers to ensure teams are set up for success and have the platform to deliver against our strategic goals.

• Input into brand and marketing strategies working with the Senior Content Manager and the Director of Soccer Aid and Head of Marketing at Soccer Aid Productions.

• Robust oversight of all fundraising and budgeting activities ensuring the campaign achieves a positive ROI and processes are implemented to monitor fundraising totals in the lead up and during the live event. This includes knowledge of fundraising and compliance regulations.

BEHAVIOURS, EXPERIENCE AND SKILLS

EFFECTIVE BEHAVIOURS

Leadership

• Promotes a results focused culture, engaging and guiding others to achieve ambitious goals.

• Translates strategic direction into medium- and long-term plans and objectives for own team and department, leading effective change management as required.

Efficiency and effectiveness

• Develop systems and ways of working that enable teams to anticipate and manage high volumes of workflow with competing deadlines while ensuring risks are mitigated and quality is maintained.

Results focussed

• Prioritises and sustains focus on work that will have the greatest impact on agreed aims.

• Reviews results and extracts learning to optimise future performance.

• Anticipates internal/external challenges that could impact UNICEF UK’s work and adapts approach accordingly.

Communication and influence

• Conveys complex ideas using a variety of methods to engage an audience and win understanding and support.

• Presents complex and difficult messages clearly and with impact.

• Anticipates and responds to the needs of an audience, adapting content, style, language and use of channel to deliver maximum clarity.

Resilience

• Remains positive and quickly recovers from setbacks, keeping problems in perspective.

• Takes a solution focused approach to problem solving to succeed in difficult circumstances

RELEVANT EXPERIENCE

• Values-led approach to leadership demonstrable through actions and approach to problem solving.

• Driving a multi-functional team with different disciplines and skill levels. Leading experienced managers responsible for their own teams/ remit and building a positive atmosphere and a committed and collaborative approach to best deliver tangible results.

• Experience in a fundraising environment, ideally within the international development sector.

• Developing innovative fundraising strategies.

• Strong financial management including budgeting and reforecasting income and expenditure.

SPECIFIC SKILLS

• Strong understanding of how to maximise fundraising opportunities across a range of forms.

• Specific knowledge of mass public-facing fundraising appeals or campaigns; both in the broadcast & charity sectors and the opportunities and challenges they present.