Managing Director - Women's Team

Lead the next chapter of a WSL club: build a sharper, more sustainable and more distinctive women’s programme within a joined-up “one club” model.

West Ham United is appointing a Managing Director to lead West Ham United Women, the club’s Women’s Super League side. The role brings together strategic leadership of the women’s programme with responsibility for football operations, reporting to a newly formed Women’s Board made up of executive-level leaders from across the club.

West Ham United sees women’s football as a long-term part of the club. The next phase is about running the programme as an efficient, well-governed business. That means staying competitive in the WSL while bringing tighter financial control, clearer processes and decision-making, and a stronger identity for the team. The first priority will be helping to shape the new strategy and putting it into action ahead of next season.

This is an operational and business leadership role, not a talent identification one. The club wants a leader who gets into the detail every day, from budgets and compliance to travel, matchdays and the experience of players and staff. The successful candidate will also need to balance ambition with commercial reality.

The impact you’ll make

• Shape and deliver the strategy: work with the Women’s Board to shape the new strategy for women’s football, then turn it into operating plans, KPIs and milestones the programme can be measured against.
• Own the women’s budget: lead budgeting, forecasting and cost control, including salary cap compliance, so resources go where they make the biggest difference.
• Lead football operations and compliance: lead player contract negotiations alongside the Head of Recruitment, and oversee registrations, transfers, contracts and loans with the Club Secretary and General Counsel, ensuring compliance with FA, FIFA, UEFA, WSL and UK Home Office requirements.
• Raise the standard of daily delivery: take charge of the operational side of training, matchdays, travel, kit and logistics, and improve the experience for players and staff.
• Lead and develop the team: lead a team including the Women’s First Team Head Coach, Head of Recruitment, Operations Manager, Player Care Manager and Kit & Equipment Manager, shaping a structure that fits the strategy with clear roles and accountability.
• Strengthen the “one club” approach: work closely with Finance, HR, Legal, Commercial, Marketing, Football Operations and the Academy to align processes and support a clear pathway from Academy to first team.
• Represent the club: act as the main operational contact with the WSL and the FA, and represent the club at competition meetings, regulatory reviews and audits.
• Support commercial and fan growth: work with the club’s commercial, marketing and communications teams to grow sponsorship, supporter engagement and revenue for the women’s team.
• Uphold governance and safeguarding: make sure the programme meets licensing standards and has a safe, inclusive, high-performance culture built on safer recruitment and sound risk management.

What’s in it for you?

• A dedicated top job in the WSL: full focus on the women’s programme, not split with other responsibilities.
• Influence from the start: you’ll join while the new strategy is being shaped and help decide how it’s delivered.
• Senior backing: you’ll report to a Women’s Board of executive-level leaders, so the women’s team gets real attention from across the club.
• A joined-up club behind you: shared expertise and services from across West Ham United, within a “one club” approach applied the same way across the women’s, men’s and Academy set-ups.
• A distinctive identity to build: the chance to help define what West Ham United Women stands for and how it competes.
• A London-based WSL platform: lead a well-known club in one of the most competitive leagues in women’s sport.
• A strong benefits package: private medical insurance, a salary sacrifice pension scheme, an electric vehicle car scheme, 25 days’ annual leave plus your birthday off, a cycle to work scheme, an employee assistance programme, free on-site parking, and lunch when at Chadwell Heath.

Your skills and experience

Essential

• At least five years’ experience in football or elite sport operations management, with a track record of delivering complex operational programmes.
• A hands-on approach to senior operational leadership, including large-scale logistics, fixtures, travel and events.
• Proven budget ownership, financial planning, forecasting and cost control.
• Strong working knowledge of FA, FIFA and WSL regulations, competition structures and player registration, including transfers, contracts and related documentation.
• An understanding of UK Home Office requirements for international recruitment, visas and eligibility to work.
• Experience turning strategy into operational plans and measurable results.
• Experience leading multidisciplinary teams and working well across departments, with credibility among boards, leagues, governing bodies and external partners.
• Knowledge of safeguarding, safer recruitment, player welfare, health and safety, and equality, diversity and inclusion.

Desirable

• Women’s football experience, ideally in the WSL (strongly preferred).
• Commercial awareness, including partnerships, supporter engagement or funding proposals in sport.
• Experience leading through change, growth or a new operating model.
• A relevant qualification in sports management, business management, football administration or a related discipline.

The role is full-time and based at the club’s Chadwell Heath training ground, with four days a week on site at the training ground or London Stadium. As you’d expect in football, it involves evenings, weekends, matchdays and some travel.

We’re keen to speak with operationally strong leaders who want to build something lasting in the women’s game. If that sounds like you, please click Apply.

The Executives in Sport Group are retained on behalf of West Ham United to appoint a Managing Director of Women’s Football. All direct applications and CVs will be forwarded to The Executives in Sport Group.

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Please note that due to the high volume of applications received, we are unable to provide specific feedback to unsuccessful applicants.