Head of Refereeing

Department: Football Operations

Reporting to: Chief Operating Officer

Hours of work: 37.5 hours per week. However, the nature of the post will require a high degree of flexibility involving evenings and weekends as dictated by operational requirements of the business.

Duration of Post: Permanent

Role family: Professional

Salary scale: £30-£51K

PURPOSE OF THE JOB: The Head of Refereeing is to lead all functions of refereeing in Northern Ireland including the development of referees at all levels, the recruitment and retention of referees at grassroots level, development of the Referee Support Team and to manage the day-to-day function of refereeing for the Association. The Head of Refereeing works with the Referees' Committee to progress refereeing matters. The Referees' Committee is responsible for all matters pertaining to referees including, but not limited to, recruitment, training, grading, dealing with complaints concerning the application of the Laws of the Games, instruction, appointment of international referees, other relevant appointments, and assessment.

MAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Manage the development of referees at all levels of the game and co-ordinate development events for elite, grassroots, and regional development groups.
• Drive the recruitment of referees at grassroots level and implement retention strategies for these officials.
• Organise the recruitment and development of the Referee Support Team including observers, mentors, instructors, and coaches.
• Co-ordinate the appointment of referees to Association competitions, internal referee appointments and the allocation of referees at Intermediate level.
• Manage all budgets associated with refereeing including UEFA Convention, Referee Budget, and International Officials budget.
• Design and implement training programmes and performance evaluations for referees at all levels of the game.
• Complete all allocated actions from the Referees Committee, liaising closely with them regarding the implementation of the Referees Strategy and providing reports and recommendations regarding the performance of officials.
• Co-ordinate fitness tests and welfare needs training ensuring officials are meeting the required standards.
• Proactively participate in training and development opportunities, staff performance appraisals and reviews as required.
• Comply with Data Protection Policy regarding safeguarding sensitive information.
• Perform the job in accordance with the company's policies and procedures, especially the Equal Opportunities and Harassment Policy and Procedure.
• Adhere to and actively support all other company policies, procedures, processes and working practices, including adhering to best practice.
• Perform any other duties as may reasonably be required from time-to-time.

Note: In the interest of the efficient management of the Association, the duties described in the above job description will be reviewed periodically and may be subject to modification or amendment after consultation with the postholder.

PERSONNEL SPECIFICATION - HEAD OF REFEREEING

Criteria Essential:

• Education & qualification: 5 GCSEs (Grade C or above) including Mathematics and English Language, or equivalent.
• Experience: Can demonstrate at least 5 years' experience refereeing at a national elite level. Possess at least three years' relevant work experience in managing and developing people preferably in the field of sport working with match officials.
• Skills, knowledge & competencies: Experience and demonstrated knowledge of working with Microsoft Excel, Word and PowerPoint. Able to foster collaborative relationships with various stakeholders both internally and externally to facilitate cooperation and information exchanges that improve outcomes. Strong communication skills both oral and written.
• Personal disposition: Self-motivated with ability to organise and prioritise work effectively with a high degree of self-motivation and enthusiasm with the ability to work under pressure and balance conflicting demands and deadlines. Flexible and adaptable approach and ability to work outside of normal hours of work and across the entire Association with minimal boundaries.
• Other requirements: Proof of eligibility to work in the UK. Have a valid passport allowing unrestricted international travel. Have a clean driving licence and access to a car for business use. Completion of a medical questionnaire demonstrating the ability to fulfil the Occupational Health requirements for the post and flag any reasonable adjustment required. Two satisfactory employment references, one of whom should ideally be the current/most recent employer.

Desirable:

• A relevant third level qualification, for example in Sport, Business or Development.
• Experience of working in a sports development setting and experience of developing football match officials.
• Experience of implementing methods of recruitment and retention.
• A good knowledge of Northern Ireland football.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• Closing date: The closing date for completed applications is 3 June 2026. Applications received after the closing date and time will not be considered.
• Shortlisting: Only those applications which clearly demonstrate the requirements set out in the personnel specification will be shortlisted. Please note that the Association reserves the right to implement all or some of the desirable criteria in addition to the essential criteria for shortlisting purposes.
• Offer of employment: Any offer of employment is subject to the receipt of two satisfactory employment references, proof of eligibility to work in the UK, and proof of any required qualifications.
• Reserve list: A reserve list of suitable candidates may be maintained for the purpose of any similar vacancies (temporary or permanent) that may arise within twelve months of the completion of the recruitment exercise.
• Vetting & Safeguarding: The Irish FA is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and employees to share this commitment. This role involves work with young people and is subject to Enhanced AccessNI checks, including barred list checks. Clearance through this system is required.
• Criminal Records & Ex-Offenders: Having a criminal record will not necessarily bar an applicant from being considered for this role. The Irish FA has a formal policy on recruiting ex-offenders, and applicants will be assessed fairly in line with this policy. Convictions will only be taken into account where relevant to the requirements of the position.
• Disclosure Information Handling: The Irish FA operates a written policy on the secure handling, use, storage, and retention of disclosure information. All personal information obtained through AccessNI/DBS checks will be handled confidentially and in compliance with data protection legislation.
• Equal Opportunities: The Irish Football Association is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community. However, as women are currently under-represented in our workforce, we would particularly welcome applications from women. All appointments will be made on the basis of merit.