Chief Executive, Pompey in the Community
Lead the next chapter of Portsmouth Football Club’s official charity
Pompey in the Community (PitC) is the official charity of Portsmouth Football Club. Harnessing the power of football and the club’s connection with the city, the charity creates opportunities through football and participation, education and employability, and community health and wellbeing. With £3 million invested into the local community each year, PitC plays a vital role in creating lasting, positive change across Portsmouth and beyond.
PitC is now appointing a Chief Executive to lead its next phase. Reporting to the Board of Trustees through the Chair, you will be responsible for the leadership, performance and sustainability of the charity and its people. Your first priority will be to review the current position with staff, trustees and partners, then develop the next three-to-five-year strategy for Board approval.
This is a significant leadership opportunity for someone with sound strategic and financial judgement, who can also develop managers and build credible senior relationships. The Board is genuinely open on background. You don’t need a previous CEO title, a particular qualification or experience in football. What matters is the substance of your leadership and your commitment to the people PitC serves.
The impact you’ll make
- Lead the development of PitC’s three-to-five-year strategy, using evidence to decide where to invest, grow, partner or stop activity.
- Set annual delivery priorities and measures of community outcomes, so the charity can show the difference it makes.
- Build confidence in financial planning and cash management, leading budget and cash planning with the finance function.
- Develop a balanced mix of funding, partnerships and earned income, ensuring commitments are affordable and the charitable work is sustainable.
- Shape the future of the John Jenkins Stadium, aligning its use, commercial development and community access with the strategy.
- Strengthen the management structure and succession pipeline, delegating clearly, setting expectations and addressing performance fairly.
- Build a respectful, inclusive working culture in which managers take real ownership of delivery.
- Represent PitC with Portsmouth FC, funders, public bodies, businesses and community partners, judging which opportunities to pursue.
- Support the Board with timely, accurate information and constructive challenge, maintaining effective risk management, compliance and internal controls.
- Embed safeguarding, welfare and inclusion in the organisation’s decisions and day-to-day practice.
What’s in it for you?
- Real executive authority to lead the organisation and propose changes to its structure and resources, with a Board that will support and constructively challenge you.
- The chance to set direction. You will lead the strategy that defines the charity’s next three to five years.
- A clear purpose with a professional club behind it. PitC is the club’s official charity, with a close working partnership with Portsmouth FC.
- A broad and varied portfolio spanning community coaching, disability provision, school and post-16 education, employability, and health and wellbeing.
- An open door to different career routes. This could be a step up for an experienced senior leader from the charity, public, commercial or sports sectors.
- Realistic objectives, agreed with the Board and reviewed with you.
- Benefits including 28 days’ holiday (including bank holidays), rising to 31 after a year and 33 after five years, a workplace pension, free gym membership at Pompey Health and Fitness and a free ticket for First Team home matches.
Your skills and experience
- Strategic leadership: evidence of shaping priorities and leading organisational change, with sound judgement and delivery.
- Financial and commercial leadership: informed decisions about budgets, resources and income or business development.
- External relationships: building and maintaining influential relationships with local authorities, funding bodies, grant makers, corporate partners and community organisations.
- People leadership: developing managers, delegating responsibility and driving performance with fairness and clarity.
- Influence and accountability: credible senior relationships, experience of working with a Board or equivalent governance body, and handling challenge constructively.
- Purpose and integrity: commitment to community benefit, inclusion and safeguarding, applied in practice.
- The ability to work in partnership with the football club and embody PitC’s values.
Desirable (useful perspectives, not requirements)
- Charity, community, public-service or football experience.
- Income diversification and fundraising.
- Facilities or venue oversight.
- An understanding of Portsmouth and its communities.
The role is full-time and based in Portsmouth. As Chief Executive you’ll spend most of your time with and around the team, with some evening and weekend engagements.
We ask that applicants complete our diversity monitoring form. You are not obliged to answer any of these questions, but the more information you supply, the more effective our monitoring will be.
All information supplied is anonymous and will not be viewed by recruiting managers.
Please complete the diversity monitoring form here:
Diversity Monitoring Form – CEO – Pompey in The Community – Fill out form
Application closing date: 12pm on Thursday 19 November 2026
Please note that due to the high volume of applications received, we are unable to provide specific feedback to unsuccessful applicants.
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