The Football Association - Independent Non-Executive Director (INED)

Our Organisation

The Football Association (The FA) is the not-for-profit governing body of football in England. It promotes and develops every level of the game, from grassroots to the professional network, generating significant revenue each year to support investment into English football. The FA oversees England international teams across men's, women's, youth and disability football, runs the National League System and FA Competitions including the Emirates FA Cup, the Women's FA Cup, and manages world-class facilities at Wembley Stadium and St. George's Park. The board comprises ten members: an independent chair, four independent non-executive directors, stakeholder representatives from the Premier League, EFL, and the national game, and the FA CEO. In October 2026 one of our current INEDs will conclude their full term; we are therefore seeking a successor.

The Role

The INED will bring objectivity to board discussions and an independent point of view on matters such as strategy, performance, ways to manage and connect with different stakeholders, ensuring good governance.

The INED will:

• Be curious and provide both challenge and support to other Board Directors and the Executive team.
• Ensure that the Board acts with integrity and takes all stakeholder interests into account when making decisions. This includes supporting the Chair to manage trade-offs and ensure decisions are taken in the best long‑term interests of the game.
• Be an ambassador for English football and The FA, building strong relationships at all levels across the game.

The person will:

• Be an experienced Executive‑level leader familiar with operating at Board‑level, ideally having held a CEO/Managing Director/Functional Director leadership role.
• Bring experience relevant to Board Committees, specifically any of the Audit, Remuneration, and Commercial Committees.
• Have current or recent experience working in regulated sectors.
• Demonstrate the intellect and natural curiosity to contribute widely to discussion, drawing on experience that will be credible to a variety of stakeholders.
• Be a progressive thinker who will use their skill, experience, and values to nurture the existing culture and contribute to complex debate.
• Have well‑developed stakeholder management skills combined with determination and resilience.
• Be keen and willing to travel to attend fixtures and events, in addition to attending Board meetings.
• Have a passion for football and the vital contribution it makes to society at large.

Term

INEDs are given an initial term of three years and can serve for a maximum of three terms of three years.

Time Commitment

Commit to up to 25 days per annum to attend FA Board and Board Committee meetings and to attend fixtures and events.

Definition of Independence

A person who is generally considered to be free from any close connection to The FA and a close connection shall be deemed to include, without limitation, the following:

1. The person is, or has been within the last four years, actively involved in our affairs or held any position or role within The FA.
2. The person holds, or has held within the last six months, a position or role with any Football Stakeholder (e.g. a league, club, County FA).
3. The person has, or has had within the last six months, a Material Business Relationship with The FA.
4. The person has close family ties with any directors, senior employees or committee members.

* The Board has discretion to reduce this to six months in certain circumstances.

Applications

Applications for the role of INED at The FA will be managed externally by Andy Hayward at Sam Allen Associates. To apply, please email your CV and cover letter to andrew@samallen.co.uk by 12th November 2025.

The Football Association promotes equality, diversity and inclusion, and welcomes applications from everyone who meets the criteria. If you have any particular requirements and/or reasonable adjustments in respect of the recruitment or interview process, please detail this in your application and covering letter.