Cricket Development Officer (Yorkshire Cricket Foundation) x 5

The Yorkshire Cricket Foundation (YCF) is the home of community and recreational cricket, putting cricket at the heart of Yorkshire and inspiring people of all ages, abilities and backgrounds to connect with the game.

From the iconic Headingley Stadium to communities across Yorkshire, the YCF creates opportunities, experiences, and a positive impact that supports participation, wellbeing, and social connection.

As part of the Yorkshire Cricket network, the YCF delivers programmes, events, and initiatives that bring people together, strengthen communities, and support the development of clubs and leagues. Working in partnership with schools, clubs, local authorities, faith groups, and other organisations, the YCF aims to grow participation, foster inclusive environments, and ensure cricket is accessible, welcoming, and sustainable across Yorkshire.

We currently have 5 CDO vacancies across the Yorkshire region, with specific focus on the areas of Wakefield (x2), Sheffield (x1), Huddersfield/Halifax (x1) and Harrogate/York (x1) at present.

You will be responsible for coordinating and delivering high-quality, inclusive cricket programmes in line with the area delivery plan set by the Development Manager, across schools, clubs, leagues, and community settings within a defined area of Yorkshire — connecting community participation with club engagement and contributing to the long-term growth and sustainability of cricket across the county.

The Cricket Development Officer will:

• Deliver safe and inclusive cricket activity locally, that grows and strengthens participation across all programmes, from traditional recreational activity to targeted community initiatives

• Support the Development Manager with planning and evaluation, ensuring activity reflects community needs and strategic priorities

• Support clubs, leagues, and community partners to develop, collaborate and thrive as part of a joined-up Yorkshire Cricket network

• Champion local delivery excellence, ensuring activity reflects community needs and aligns with county-wide strategic priorities

• Provide local insight, data and feedback to inform programme development, funding reports and continuous improvement

• Embed and advocate equality, diversity, inclusion and safeguarding across all aspects of planning, delivery and partnership working 

• Organise and deliver a broad range of high-quality, inclusive cricket programmes across clubs, leagues, schools and community settings in line with local delivery plans
• Deliver community initiatives (such as ACE, Wicketz, Walking Cricket and others) that use cricket to promote wellbeing, inclusion and social impact
• Embed a strong inclusion ethos across all delivery, ensuring women & girls, disability cricket and underrepresented communities are supported and visible within every programme
• Coordinate and deliver school holiday activities, festivals and competitions ensuring they are safe and inclusive
• Provide local insight and feedback to the Development Manager, Head of Clubs & Leagues and Head of Community Programmes to inform planning, impact reporting and continuous improvement 
• Support the Development Manager by working proactively with clubs and leagues to support sustainability, participation growth, and inclusion
• Support clubs to develop activity for young people, women & girls and disabled participants, ensuring inclusive participation opportunities are embedded within club planning rather than treated as standalone projects
• Promote and support adoption of governance, safeguarding and EDI best practice
• Liaise with the Facilities Manager and Development Manager to highlight opportunities or challenges with facilities, and provide feedback on facility suitability, access, and any issues impacting local delivery
• Build effective working relationships with clubs, leagues and local authorities to ensure joined-up delivery
• Develop and maintain connections between schools, community programmes and clubs
• Actively promote and support the Yorkshire Cricket Foundation affiliation benefit, ensuring clubs understand and can access the full range of benefits and services 
• Build relationships with schools, faith groups, community organisations, local authorities and charities to widen access to cricket
• Work with the Development Manager to design, then deliver targeted engagement projects that address local needs and remove barriers to participation, ensuring women & girls, disability cricket and underrepresented groups are fully included across all activity
• Use cricket as a platform to promote health, wellbeing, belonging and community cohesion, aligning delivery with local priorities and funder requirements
• Ensure that community participation provides clear and accessible connections into local clubs and further opportunities
• Collect data, case studies and feedback accurately, and provide this to the Development Manager for area-level reporting and evaluation 
• Work with the Development Manager to mentor and support activators, club & league volunteers, and coaches to improve capability, and quality and consistency of delivery
• Share good practice and provide ongoing feedback to improve delivery quality and consistency 

Development Manager & Specialists

Head of Clubs & Leagues

Head of Community Programmes

Local clubs, leagues and their volunteers

Schools, community organisations, local authorities and faith groups

England & Wales Cricket Board (ECB)

Partners, e.g. Chance to Shine and Lords Taverners

Enablement Team

Yorkshire County Cricket Club and the Yorkshire Cricket Foundation teams

ECB Foundation / Core Coach (minimum Level 1) qualification

Minimum 1 year’s demonstrable experience delivering cricket or sport programmes in clubs, schools or community settings

Experience of club & league or community sport development with measurable outcomes

Ability to engage, inspire and retain participants from a wide range of backgrounds, ages and abilities

Strong organisation, planning and communication skills, with the ability to build positive relationships with partners, clubs and communities

Experience of monitoring and reporting against KPIs, funding or participation targets

Understanding of safeguarding, inclusion and health & safety in sport, with the ability to identify and report concerns appropriately

Understanding of EDI best practice and its application in sport and community development

Competent in the use of Microsoft Office and systems (e.g. CRM, or reporting systems)

Experience supporting or mentoring volunteers or casual deliverers

Experience with data capture for the purpose of impact reporting to funders or partners