Academy Player Care Lead in Portsmouth

Location: Portsmouth FC Training Ground

Hours of work: Full-time, 37.5 hours/week

Department: Academy

Reports to: Head of Education

Salary: £28,000 to £29,000 per annum.

Purpose of the role: We are seeking an outstanding, passionate, and self-motivated individual to take on the role of Academy Player Care Lead within our Academy. This full-time position places the personal and emotional development of our young players at the heart of our programme. The successful candidate will lead the design and delivery of a comprehensive player care and wellbeing programme, supporting players, families, and staff alike.

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Life Skills: Design and deliver an age-specific life skills programme across FDP, YDP, and PDP phases. Create and review alternative career plans and Personal Action Plans for PDP players every 12 weeks, supporting education, employment, and long-term career aspirations. Coordinate meaningful work experience opportunities and external partnerships to broaden players’ personal and professional development.
• Community & Good Citizenship: Lead academy community and charity initiatives, including the planning and delivery of fundraising and engagement events in collaboration with players and external partners. Promote positive behaviours, social responsibility, and community engagement, ensuring players represent the academy’s values on and off the pitch.
• Player Welfare: Act as the lead point of contact for player and parent welfare matters, maintaining consistent communication and providing appropriate support and guidance. Deliver parent education workshops and maintain strong relationships with families to support player development and wellbeing. Logistical management of player travel (including international requirements) and parental liaison. Collaborate with DSO and encourage staff interactions, accurate welfare records and supporting compliance with PGAAC, safeguarding, and EDI requirements. Presence at training, PDRs and games.
• Inductions and Transitions: Lead academy inductions for new players and parents, ensuring a clear understanding of club expectations, culture, and support services. Coordinate transition and exit pathways for departing players, including post-exit support and external progression opportunities. Onboarding for all new signings to contribute to the multi-disciplinary performance support of a player in the academy.
• Player Council: Establish and manage the Academy Players’ Council, ensuring players across all age groups have a structured platform to provide feedback and contribute to academy culture. Facilitate meetings, document outcomes, and communicate key actions to academy leadership to support player voice in decision-making.
• Emotional Wellbeing Support: Work collaboratively within the multidisciplinary wellbeing team to identify, monitor, check-in, and support player wellbeing. Manage and record welfare concerns appropriately using MyConcern, the football intelligence platform and signpost players to relevant support services where required. Promote a safe, inclusive, and supportive academy environment.
• House Parent Management: Oversee the welfare and pastoral care of scholars residing in academy accommodation, ensuring a safe, supportive, and well-managed living environment. Liaise regularly with house parents, players, families, and academy staff regarding welfare, safeguarding, and day-to-day support needs. Onboarding and recruiting house parents to support academy accommodation provision.
• Personal Development: Support the holistic development of academy players through programmes focused on leadership, communication, independence, and career readiness. Coordinate Academy Showcase events and contribute strategically to Academy Management Team meetings. Work collaboratively across departments to ensure a joined-up and multidisciplinary approach to player care and development.
• Additional Responsibilities: Maintain confidentiality and professionalism in all aspects of the role. Uphold and promote the club’s values, safeguarding standards, and code of conduct. Complete all mandatory training and CPD requirements. Undertake any additional duties appropriate to the role as directed by academy leadership. Contribute and be part of the Academy Management Team and wellbeing team. Flexibility in working schedule to meet business operations and ability to work evenings and weekends. Liaise with 1st team player liaison to support player transition and establish best practice.

About The Candidate:

Competencies:

• Essential requirements: Experience working with young people aged 9-18 years and understand the emotional and well-being challenges they face. FA Safeguarding certificate. High levels of Emotional Intelligence. Strong verbal and written skills. UK driving licence and use of own vehicle. Good experience of managing projects with a variety of stakeholders. IT Skills.
• Desirable qualifications: Demonstrate experience of working in a professional sporting academy or educational environment. EFAiF certificate. Mental Health First Aid Certification. Experience of using Football Intelligence Platform and My Concern. Talented Athlete Lifestyle Support Level 3.

About The Club:

We promote an equal, diverse, and inclusive workplace and we are committed to providing the best experience for our colleagues. As a business we aim to be as representative of as many sections of society as possible, and for each colleague to feel respected and able to give of their best every day. We ensure that we treat people the right way, promote respect and believe that making the most of our differences is the key to the success of our business.

We take a robust approach to modern slavery and human trafficking and our organisation is absolutely committed to preventing slavery and human trafficking in our corporate activities, and to ensuring that our supply chains are free from slavery and human trafficking.

Safeguarding: Portsmouth Football Club is committed to the safeguarding and welfare of all children, young people and adults at risk and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We are committed to ensuring that any club related activity will be in a safe environment where children, young people and adults at risk are protected from harm or abuse whilst under our care. We acknowledge that every child, young person, or adult at risk who plays or participates in football should be able to take part in an enjoyable and safe environment and be protected from poor practice and abuse. Portsmouth Football Club recognises that this is the responsibility of every adult involved in our club. We must always respect the dignity and spirit of all people, including children, young people and adults at risk. Treat everyone fairly, encourage a supportive and positive environment to promote healthy competition, skill development, fun and achievement. Avoid contact or conduct that may be interpreted or defined as inappropriate.

Health and Safety Statement: Portsmouth Football Club is committed to ensuring the health, safety, and well-being of all employees, contractors, visitors, and others who may be affected by our operations. As part of this commitment, you are expected to take reasonable care for your own health and safety, as well as that of others. You must comply with the company’s health and safety policies, procedures, and any legal requirements relevant to your role. Together, we aim to maintain a safe and supportive environment that promotes the welfare and security of everyone involved in our activities.

Data Protection: The Club processes all personal data collected during the recruitment process in accordance with the Data Protection Act (2018) and GDPR. Data collected as part of the recruitment process is held securely and accessed by, and disclosed to, individuals only for the purposes of managing the recruitment exercise effectively. All data that is deemed unnecessary will be disposed of at the end of the recruitment process in line with our GDPR procedure.