Senior Pathway to Professional & U21s Coach (U16–U21) in Birmingham

Birmingham City Football Club is on the rise. We are part of an exciting period of accelerated growth and modernisation, playing our 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 journey we’re on involves strengthening our structures, elevating our performance environments, growing our teams, and investing heavily in the people, processes, and culture that will define the next chapter of Birmingham City FC.

Application closing date: 29th May 2026 (Due to the urgency of filling this vacancy, suitable candidates will be interviewed as and when they apply and the role will be closed as soon as a suitable candidate has been sourced).

About the Role

Birmingham City FC is seeking an experienced and high-performing Senior Pathway to Professional & U21s Coach (U16–U21) to lead the delivery of our player development programme within the Pathway to Professional phase. This is a pivotal leadership role within the Academy, responsible for leading the Under-21 squad while providing strategic oversight across the U16–U21 programme. Working closely with the Academy Technical Director and Head of Coaching, you will drive the implementation of a high-performance environment that maximises player development, supports progression, and ensures alignment with First Team football.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the Under-21 squad, delivering high-quality coaching in both training and match environments.
• Lead the multi-disciplinary team (MDT) across the U16–U21 phase, ensuring alignment and collaboration.
• Design, deliver, and review coaching sessions in line with the Academy Performance Plan and Club philosophy.
• Drive the implementation and delivery of Individual Learning Plans (ILPs), ensuring they are active, visible, and embedded in daily practice.
• Lead on player succession planning and career development across the U16–U21 pathway.
• Oversee player progression, readiness, and transition into First Team football.
• Manage squad selection and player development across the games programme.
• Monitor Academy players involved in First Team training and match minutes.
• Ensure all player reviews and reporting processes are completed consistently across the season.
• Lead weekly MDT meetings and ensure best practice across all U16–U21 MDT activity.
• Collaborate with First Team staff on player integration, performance, and squad planning.
• Oversee trialists within the pathway, managing evaluation and feedback processes.
• Ensure alignment between Academy and First Team playing principles and methodology.
• Monitor and record training, fixture data, and player engagement through the Football Intelligence Platform.
• Support the achievement of departmental KPIs and critical success factors.
• Maintain a strong focus on player wellbeing, working closely with the Club Safeguarding Team.

What we’re looking for in you

Essential Requirements

• UEFA Pro Licence.
• FA Advanced Youth Award (or working towards).
• FA Youth Award.
• FA Safeguarding Certification.
• Proven experience working within elite Academy and/or First Team football environments.
• Demonstrable experience in developing professional football players.
• Strong leadership and people management skills across multi-disciplinary teams.
• Ability to design and deliver high-quality coaching programmes across development phases.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
• Strong understanding of player development, progression, and transition into professional football.

Desirable Requirements

• Coaching-related degree qualification.
• Qualified Teacher Status (QTS).
• Leadership qualification.
• Extensive experience in professional player development.
• Experience working across youth development and senior football.
• Previous professional playing experience.

Personal Attributes

• Hardworking, honesty, and commitment.
• Player-centred in decision making and approach.
• Passionate about developing both players and coaches.
• Strong leadership presence with the ability to influence and inspire.
• Committed to continuous improvement and high-performance standards.
• Flexible approach to working hours, including evenings and weekends.

Birmingham City FC is proud to be an Equal Opportunities and Disability Confident employer. We welcome applications from all sections of the community and are committed to ensuring a fair and inclusive recruitment process. Candidates are assessed solely on merit, regardless of age, disability, gender identity or expression, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, socioeconomic background, or caring responsibilities. We value diversity and actively encourage applications from individuals of all backgrounds. If you require any adjustments to support you during the recruitment or interview process, please let us know when applying.