Community Football Lead in Torquay

Location: Torquay, with travel across Torbay and the surrounding area

Contract: Part-time

Working hours: Approximately 20 to 25 hours per week, with up to 30 hours potentially available

Pay: £12.71 per hour for candidates aged 21 and over. Statutory age- and minimum-wage rates apply where relevant.

Start date: September 2026

dh Recruitment is recruiting on behalf of a community sports charity for an experienced and motivated Community Football Lead.

This is a hands-on position combining football coaching with responsibility for the coordination, development and quality of a wider community football programme.

The successful candidate will help lead school-based football, community sessions, holiday activities, football camps and player-development provision. You will also support coaching staff, maintain programme standards, develop relationships with partner organisations and help increase participation.

This is not solely a sessional coaching position. The role requires someone who can deliver high-quality sessions while also taking ownership of programme planning, administration, staff support and development.

Key responsibilities Community football programmes

• Lead and coordinate community football programmes
• Oversee school-based football and community coaching provision
• Manage holiday programmes, football camps and community-engagement activities
• Support the continued development of player-development provision
• Help create clear and appropriate player-development pathways
• Ensure programmes are properly planned, organised and delivered
• Maintain consistently high standards across all activities

Coaching and delivery

• Deliver engaging, inclusive and high-quality football sessions
• Work with children and young people in schools and community settings
• Plan progressive coaching programmes suitable for different ages and abilities
• Adapt delivery to meet the needs of individual participants and groups
• Promote enjoyment, personal development and continued participation in football
• Provide a positive and professional participant experience

Leadership and staff development

• Lead, support and motivate community football coaches
• Help coaches understand programme expectations and delivery standards
• Identify training and development requirements
• Support coaches through feedback, mentoring and professional-development opportunities
• Promote a positive, supportive and high-performing coaching culture
• Develop new football programmes and participation opportunities
• Build and maintain relationships with schools, community groups and partner organisations
• Identify opportunities to increase participation
• Help develop sustainable and income-generating activities
• Work with senior colleagues to support the growth of community football provision

Quality assurance and reporting

• Monitor the quality of football coaching and participant experience
• Collect feedback from participants, parents, schools and partners
• Use feedback and programme information to support continuous improvement
• Maintain accurate attendance records and programme documentation
• Complete and maintain risk assessments
• Produce operational, evaluation and financial information when required
• Monitor programme performance and agreed outcomes

Funding and compliance

• Maintain accurate evidence and reporting documentation for funding partners
• Support the preparation of monitoring reports, funding bids and grant applications
• Help ensure funded programmes achieve agreed outputs and quality standards
• Ensure activities comply with safeguarding, health and safety and welfare requirements
• Maintain a safe environment for participants, staff and volunteers
• Comply with organisational policies, data-protection requirements and relevant governing-body standards

Essential qualifications and experience

To be considered for this position, you must have:

• An FA UEFA C Licence or an equivalent recognised governing-body qualification
• Significant experience coaching football to children and young people
• Experience leading, supporting or motivating coaching staff
• Strong knowledge of safeguarding requirements
• A good understanding of health and safety within sports delivery
• Strong organisational and administrative skills
• Good communication and interpersonal abilities
• Experience building positive relationships with participants, parents, schools or partner organisations
• The ability to work independently and as part of a wider team
• An awareness of budgets and programme performance
• A full UK driving licence
• An enhanced DBS certificate or a willingness to obtain one

Desirable qualifications and experience

It would be beneficial to have:

• A UEFA B Licence
• Experience mentoring or developing football coaches
• A Level 3 qualification in Physical Education, school sport or education
• FA Safeguarding and FA Emergency First Aid qualifications
• Experience managing football camps, development centres or community-sport programmes
• Experience working with schools
• Experience managing community partnerships
• Experience preparing funding evidence or monitoring reports
• Experience supporting funding or grant applications

Working pattern

The final weekly hours are still being confirmed but are expected to be approximately 20 to 25 hours, with up to 30 hours potentially available.

The working pattern will reflect the delivery requirements of school, community and holiday football programmes. Applicants should therefore consider their availability for:

• School-based sessions
• Community football activities
• Holiday programmes and football camps
• Programme administration, planning and reporting

Further information regarding the anticipated timetable will be discussed during the recruitment process.

The person

You will need to be passionate about helping children and young people enjoy and develop through football.

You should be equally comfortable:

• Delivering a session on the pitch
• Planning a coaching programme
• Supporting another coach
• Communicating with a school or community partner
• Completing registers, risk assessments and programme records
• Monitoring quality and participant feedback
• Helping develop new activities and participation opportunities

The role may suit an experienced:

• Community Football Coordinator
• Football Development Officer
• Lead Community Coach
• School and Community Football Officer
• Football Programme Coordinator
• Sports Development Officer
• Lead Football Coach

Applicants seeking coaching hours alone may not be suitable, as this position includes leadership, administration and programme-management responsibilities.