Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead safeguarding strategy and ensure a safe environment for all at Manchester United.
- Company: Join the iconic Manchester United, where passion for football meets excellence off the pitch.
- Benefits: Enjoy wellness support, exclusive discounts, gym access, and enhanced career development opportunities.
- Why this job: Be part of a diverse team committed to creating inclusive and supportive environments for everyone.
- Qualifications: Experience in safeguarding leadership and a relevant professional qualification are essential.
- Other info: Candidates will undergo background checks; diversity and inclusion are core to our recruitment.
The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 £ per year.
Location: Carrington Training Complex / Old Trafford Stadium
At Manchester United, we believe that excellence on the pitch starts with excellence off the pitch. Our team thrives in a high-performance environment, united by a shared passion for success. We aim to elevate the standard of performance through collaboration and continuous growth, creating a space where everyone can contribute their best to our common goals. We work together at our iconic Manchester United offices, enabling connection and innovation as we look ahead to what we can achieve as a global football club. We are excited to bring in passionate people who share our vision and drive for success.
The Purpose
The Head of Safeguarding will lead the strategic direction, development, and operational delivery of safeguarding and employee wellbeing across the club. This role is pivotal in creating safe, inclusive, and supportive environments that allow all individuals — from elite athletes to staff and visitors — to thrive. The role involves overseeing safeguarding risks, ensuring best practice, and promoting a proactive safeguarding culture across all departments, including the Academy, Foundation, Women’s and Men’s teams, and wider business operations. You will act as the club’s subject matter expert, liaising with statutory agencies, external partners, and internal stakeholders to ensure best-in-class safeguarding standards.
The Role
- Key Responsibilities:
- Strategic Leadership
- Lead and develop the club’s safeguarding and wellbeing strategy in alignment with club values and priorities.
- Influence and embed a culture of safety, inclusion, and accountability across all club functions and levels.
- Serve as the principal advisor to senior leadership on safeguarding, wellbeing, and safe practice matters.
- Provide oversight and accountability for safeguarding policies, case management, reporting frameworks, and audit compliance.
- Ensure safeguarding concerns are managed transparently, swiftly, and appropriately, with a focus on continuous learning and improvement.
- Lead and support the safeguarding team in risk identification, incident response, and service delivery.
- Maintain and evolve safeguarding and wellbeing policies in line with statutory obligations, regulatory requirements, and sector best practices.
- Monitor legislative changes and integrate learning from external reviews, national reports, and internal insights.
- Ensure robust safer recruitment practices, ongoing staff training, and organisational compliance.
- Build and sustain strong working relationships with statutory agencies, governing bodies, law enforcement, and other external partners.
- Collaborate with internal departments — including People, Legal, Football Operations, Academy, and Foundation — to embed safeguarding practices into operational routines.
- Co-lead the design and implementation of the employee wellbeing strategy in collaboration with the People Team.
- Drive initiatives that enhance mental health support, work-life balance, and a culture of care for staff across the club.
- Monitor and evaluate wellbeing programs, ensuring data-informed approaches to employee support and retention.
The Person
- Technical and practical knowledge in safeguarding children, and adults at risk with a relevant professional qualification.
- Demonstrable experience in safeguarding leadership within complex, high-profile environments (e.g., sport, education, health, youth services).
- Strong understanding of statutory safeguarding frameworks, guidance, and regulatory obligations (e.g., KCSIE, Working Together, FA/PL requirements).
- Proven experience managing complex safeguarding cases, audits, and regulatory inspections.
- Skilled in leading multi-disciplinary teams and supporting remote and cross-functional colleagues.
- Track record of implementing change and embedding best practices across diverse communities and operational settings.
- Exceptional interpersonal and influencing skills, with the ability to manage sensitive issues and build trust at all levels.
- Demonstrated success in building external partnerships and managing referral pathways with statutory and voluntary agencies.
- Comfortable using data and insights to drive performance, report on impact, and guide decision-making.
- Personal integrity, resilience, empathy, and a strong commitment to creating inclusive, safe environments for all.
What We Offer
At Manchester United, we recognise that our people are at the heart of our success. That’s why we offer a range of rewards designed to support your professional and personal well-being:
- Annual incentive scheme
- Wellness Support with access to mental health resources, digital health checks, and nutritionists through Aviva Digicare+
- Workplace Exclusive Discounts through our United Rewards platform, giving you access to exclusive deals from the club and partners
- Gym Facilities in our onsite locations and opportunities for regular social events and team-building activities
- Enhanced family Leave Benefits and an opportunity to purchase additional holiday days
- Enhanced Career Development with access to professional learning platforms like LinkedIn Learning, and internal training programs
- A Supportive Work Environment that values diversity, equity and inclusion, and individual growth
Our Commitment to You:
At Manchester United, we believe that a diverse and inclusive environment makes us stronger. We are committed to building a team where everyone feels welcomed, valued, and empowered to contribute their unique perspectives. Diversity, equity and inclusion are at the core of our recruitment strategy, and we welcome applicants from all backgrounds.
Ready to Join Us?
If this sounds like the perfect role for you, please submit your application by Thursday 10th July 2025. Manchester United is committed to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults, and as part of this commitment, all candidates will undergo a Disclosure and Barring Service check and reference checks. If you need any adjustments to help you perform at your best during the recruitment process, please feel free to contact us, and we will be happy to discuss them with you. It is unlawful to employ a person in a UK-based job who does not have permission to live and work in the UK. You should make yourself aware of how immigration laws apply to you before applying for any of our roles.
Head of Safeguarding (Manchester) employer: Manchester United
Contact Detail:
Manchester United Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Head of Safeguarding (Manchester)
✨Tip Number 1
Familiarise yourself with Manchester United's values and culture. Understanding how the club operates and what they stand for will help you align your approach to safeguarding with their mission, making you a more attractive candidate.
✨Tip Number 2
Network with professionals in the safeguarding field, especially those who have experience in sports or high-profile environments. Building connections can provide insights into the role and may even lead to referrals.
✨Tip Number 3
Stay updated on current safeguarding legislation and best practices. Being knowledgeable about recent changes and trends will demonstrate your commitment to continuous improvement and your ability to lead effectively.
✨Tip Number 4
Prepare to discuss specific examples of how you've successfully implemented safeguarding strategies in previous roles. Highlighting your practical experience will showcase your capability to manage complex cases and lead a safeguarding team.
We think you need these skills to ace Head of Safeguarding (Manchester)
Some tips for your application 🫡
Understand the Role: Before you start writing your application, make sure you fully understand the responsibilities and requirements of the Head of Safeguarding position. Tailor your application to highlight how your experience aligns with the key responsibilities outlined in the job description.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter should reflect your passion for safeguarding and employee wellbeing. Use specific examples from your past experiences that demonstrate your leadership skills and ability to implement safeguarding policies effectively.
Highlight Relevant Experience: In your CV, focus on your technical knowledge and practical experience in safeguarding. Include details about your previous roles, particularly those in complex environments, and any relevant qualifications that showcase your expertise.
Showcase Your Interpersonal Skills: Given the collaborative nature of the role, emphasise your interpersonal and influencing skills in both your CV and cover letter. Provide examples of how you've built strong relationships with stakeholders and managed sensitive issues in the past.
How to prepare for a job interview at Manchester United
✨Understand the Role Thoroughly
Before your interview, make sure you have a deep understanding of the Head of Safeguarding role. Familiarise yourself with safeguarding policies, statutory frameworks, and the specific responsibilities outlined in the job description. This will help you articulate how your experience aligns with their needs.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As this role involves strategic leadership, be prepared to discuss your previous experiences in leading safeguarding initiatives. Highlight specific examples where you've influenced a culture of safety and inclusion, and how you've managed multi-disciplinary teams effectively.
✨Prepare for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that assess your problem-solving skills in complex safeguarding situations. Prepare scenarios from your past experiences where you successfully managed safeguarding cases or implemented best practices, demonstrating your ability to handle sensitive issues.
✨Emphasise Collaboration and Partnerships
The role requires building strong relationships with various stakeholders. Be ready to discuss how you've collaborated with external agencies and internal departments in the past. Share examples that illustrate your interpersonal skills and ability to foster partnerships for effective safeguarding.