Safeguarding Manager – PGA & Girls Academy in Birmingham

Birmingham City Football Club is on the rise. With an incredible history dating back to 1875, Birmingham City Football Club is part of an exciting period of accelerated growth and modernisation, playing its part in a once-in-a-generation opportunity to support the transformation of England’s second city as part of the Sports Quarter project. With significant investment across our football, commercial, and community operations, we are rebuilding the Club for long-term success — on and off the pitch.

The Safeguarding Team leads the Club’s safeguarding approach across Birmingham City Women’s Team, Academy and Foundation, ensuring the highest standards of welfare, protection and care for children, young people and adults at risk. As part of the Strategy & Innovation Department, the team works across football and community programmes to embed a strong safeguarding culture through clear policies, training and support for staff and volunteers.

About the Role

As safeguarding manager you will lead and manage safeguarding across the PGA & Girls Academy, ensuring the highest standards of player welfare, compliance, and culture. The role is accountable for safeguarding strategy, case management, and embedding a proactive safeguarding culture aligned with FA standards.

Key Accountabilities

• Safeguarding Leadership & Governance: Lead safeguarding provision across the PGA & Girls Academy, ensuring full compliance with FA and statutory requirements. Act as the primary safeguarding lead for audits and inspections (FA, external bodies). Own and maintain safeguarding policies, procedures, and the Single Central Record (SCR). Provide expert advice and challenge to PGA and Girls Academy staff on safeguarding risk and decision-making. Identify, assess, and mitigate safeguarding risks through structured risk assessment processes. Monitor safeguarding data and trends, implementing targeted improvements.
• Case Management & Risk Oversight: Take full responsibility for safeguarding case management within the PGA & Girls Academy. Oversee all concerns logged on Speak Out Safe, ensuring timely, proportionate, and defensible decision-making. Lead on complex and high-risk cases, including referrals to statutory agencies. Ensure accurate, confidential, and audit-compliant record keeping. Escalate risk appropriately to the Senior Safeguarding Manager and external partners. Maintain clear, accessible, and trusted reporting pathways for staff, players, and parents.
• Safeguarding Culture, Training & Education: Design and deliver a comprehensive safeguarding training programme for staff, players, and parents. Lead safeguarding inductions and ongoing CPD across the PGA and Academy pathway. Drive a visible safeguarding culture, promoting accountability, professional curiosity, and reporting confidence. Provide ongoing advice, challenge, and support to staff on safeguarding matters.
• Player Welfare, Inclusion & SEND: Lead on safeguarding aspects of player welfare and wellbeing, working closely with Player Care and medical teams. Champion inclusive practice, ensuring safeguarding approaches reflect SEND, neurodiversity, and individual needs. Lead the implementation of the Club’s SEND Strategy, ensuring appropriate support plans are in place. Ensure a person-centred approach to safeguarding, with clear pathways for support and intervention.
• Stakeholder & Multi-Agency Working: Build and maintain effective relationships with internal departments, external agencies, and safeguarding partners. Represent the Club at multi-agency meetings, contributing to safeguarding planning and decision-making. Work collaboratively with PGA and Academy leadership to embed safeguarding into all operational activity.
• Continuous Improvement & Compliance: Lead safeguarding audits, action planning, and continuous improvement activity. Keep up to date with legislative and sector developments, ensuring best practice is embedded. Contribute to emergency planning and incident response frameworks. Support the wider safeguarding strategy across the Club where required.

About you

Essential: Significant experience in a safeguarding role within sport, enforcement, education, or a comparable setting. Strong working knowledge of safeguarding legislation, statutory guidance, and best practice. Proven experience managing complex safeguarding cases and risk. Experience leading safeguarding audits, compliance, and policy development. Confident in challenging practice and influencing senior stakeholders. Excellent communication, decision-making, and organisational skills. Ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced, high-profile environment. Demonstrable commitment to safeguarding, inclusion, and player welfare.

Desirable: Experience within a professional football or elite sporting environment. Knowledge of FA safeguarding frameworks. Relevant safeguarding, child protection, or social care qualification.

Personal Attributes: Resilient, confident, and able to make defensible decisions under pressure. High levels of integrity, professionalism, and discretion. Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to build trust and credibility. Proactive, solution-focused, and committed to continuous improvement.

The Benefits of Being Blues: At Birmingham City FC, we put people at the heart of everything we do. When you join the Club, you become part of the Blues family — and that comes with a range of benefits designed to support you both inside and outside of work. Matchday Tickets, Blues Store Discount, Life Assurance, Volunteering Day, Pension Scheme, Eye Care Voucher, Cycle to Work Scheme, 24/7 access to GP appointments, wellbeing services and mental health support.

Safeguarding: Birmingham City FC is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people. The safety and well-being of our players is our top priority, and we expect all staff to share this commitment. All successful applicants will be required to undergo a thorough background check and training in safeguarding as part of the recruitment process.

EDI: Birmingham City FC is an equal opportunities and Disability Confident employer. We welcome applications from all sectors of the community and assess candidates solely on merit, regardless of gender, race, age, nationality, disability, sexual orientation, political or religious belief, background, or family circumstances. We promote a diverse and inclusive environment and encourage all individuals to apply. If you need any adjustments to our recruitment or interview process, please inform us when applying.