At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead all football-related activities and drive the club’s long-term sporting vision.
- Company: Join Bristol City Women, a club on the rise in women's football.
- Benefits: Collaborative environment with opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Other info: Be part of an ambitious team dedicated to excellence and innovation.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in women's football and help shape the future of the club.
- Qualifications: Proven leadership in football and a strong understanding of women's sports.
The predicted salary is between 60000 - 80000 £ per year.
Bristol City Women is seeking a Sporting Director to lead all football-related activities and drive the club’s long-term sporting vision. Reporting directly to the CEO, the Sporting Director will be responsible for defining and executing a clear, cohesive football strategy across all areas, including recruitment, squad management, academy development, and performance services. The successful candidate will combine deep expertise in women’s football with strong leadership, strategic thinking, and a commitment to building a high-performance culture. This role will play a critical part in establishing Bristol City Women as a competitive and progressive force in the game. This is a full-time, Bristol-based role with travel as required.
Key Responsibilities
- Sporting Leadership
- Define and deliver the club’s football strategy and overarching playing philosophy across all levels, from academy to first team
- Lead the football management structure, ensuring alignment across all sporting departments
- Establish clear player pathways and succession planning in collaboration with the Academy Manager
- Oversee player trading, recruitment strategy, and squad planning
- Act as the primary liaison between football operations and executive leadership on all sporting matters
- Maintain up-to-date knowledge of trends and best practices in coaching and player development
- Organisational Leadership
- Embed a high-performance culture across all sporting functions, driving accountability and continuous improvement
- Lead, develop, and manage a multidisciplinary team of senior staff
- Build strong relationships with the CEO, Board, ownership group, and key external stakeholders
- Collaborate effectively with internal departments, including commercial and operations teams
- Represent the club at league and competition meetings
- Talent Identification, Recruitment & Retention
- Oversee recruitment strategy and squad development in collaboration with the Head Coach and Head of Recruitment
- Monitor and evaluate recruitment outcomes, ensuring a strong return on investment both on and off the pitch
- Support the development of academy players transitioning into the first team
- Develop and maintain strong relationships with agents and intermediaries
- Build and manage an effective scouting network
- Ensure all recruitment and transfer activities comply with FA, UEFA, and FIFA regulations
- Budget & Risk Management
- Work closely with the CEO and senior leadership to manage the football budget across all sporting areas
- Ensure compliance with financial, legal, and safeguarding responsibilities within football operations
- Identify and mitigate financial and reputational risks in a timely and effective manner
Key Objectives
- Establish a clear and compelling football strategy aligned across all sporting functions
- Achieve promotion to the Women’s Super League (WSL) and secure long-term top-tier status
- Build a sustainable, data-informed model for player recruitment, development, and retention
- Embed data and analytics into decision-making across recruitment, performance, and analysis
- Develop a leading regional academy and player pathway in the southwest of England
- Drive professional standards, structure, and accountability across all football operations
Bristol City Women Expectations
- Results-driven, resilient, and innovative, with strong decision-making capability under pressure
- Deep commitment to the growth and professionalisation of women’s football
- Collaborative and low-ego, with the ability to build trust across all levels of the organisation
- Comfortable operating in a fast-paced, evolving environment
- Curious and committed to continuous learning and development
- Self-aware, reflective, and accountable
Key Requirements
- Experience
- Proven leadership experience in a senior football role (e.g. Sporting Director or equivalent)
- Strong understanding of elite women’s football and high-performance environments
- Demonstrated experience in squad building, recruitment strategy, and talent development
- Experience managing budgets and operating within financial constraints
- Track record of building culture and aligning multidisciplinary teams
- Skills
- Strong leadership and emotional intelligence, with the ability to manage diverse personalities
- High integrity, accountability, and adaptability
- Analytical mindset with the ability to make objective, data-informed decisions
- Excellent communication and influencing skills
- Strong focus on performance, standards, and continuous improvement
- Desirable
- Established network within football (agents, scouts, intermediaries)
- Experience applying data and analytics within a sporting environment
- Multilingual capability
- Experience leading change or performance transformation
- Strong belief in the growth potential of women’s football
About us
Bristol City Women is a football club entering a new era of growth under the stewardship of Mercury13. The club has ambitious plans to establish itself as a high-performing, sustainable organisation both on and off the pitch. Employees benefit from a collaborative, high-performance environment that champions development, innovation, and competitive excellence, alongside the opportunity to contribute meaningfully to elite women’s football.
Safeguarding Statement
Bristol City Women’s is committed to safeguarding the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to endorse this commitment. Note: Due to the nature of the role, any job offer is dependent on a DBS check. All information will be kept by the Safeguarding Officer in strictest confidence.
Equality Statement
The successful candidate must ensure a positive commitment towards equality and diversity by treating others fairly and not committing any form of direct or indirect discrimination, victimisation or harassment of any description and to promote positive working relationships between all internal and external stakeholders.
Sporting Director in Bristol employer: Mercury13
Bristol City Women is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic and collaborative work environment that prioritises the growth and professionalisation of women's football. As a Sporting Director, you will have the unique opportunity to shape the club's long-term vision while benefiting from a culture that values innovation, accountability, and continuous improvement. Located in Bristol, this role not only allows for meaningful contributions to elite women's football but also provides ample opportunities for personal and professional development within a supportive team structure.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Sporting Director in Bristol
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the industry. Attend events, join online forums, and don’t be shy about reaching out to others on LinkedIn. You never know who might have the inside scoop on job openings.
✨Tip Number 2
Show your passion for women’s football! When you get the chance to chat with potential employers, make sure to express your commitment to the sport and your vision for its future. This will help you stand out as a candidate who truly cares.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by researching the club and its culture. Understand their current strategies and challenges, and think about how you can contribute to their goals. Tailor your responses to show you’re the perfect fit for Bristol City Women.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets seen. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining the team and ready to dive into the exciting journey ahead.
We think you need these skills to ace Sporting Director in Bristol
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Women's Football:When writing your application, let your love for women's football shine through! Share your experiences and insights that demonstrate your commitment to the growth and professionalisation of the sport. We want to see how you can contribute to our vision at Bristol City Women.
Be Clear and Concise:Keep your application straightforward and to the point. Highlight your relevant experience in leadership roles and your understanding of elite women’s football. We appreciate clarity, so make sure your key achievements stand out!
Tailor Your Application:Make sure to customise your application to align with our club's values and objectives. Reference specific aspects of the job description, like your experience in squad building or budget management, to show us you're the perfect fit for the role.
Apply Through Our Website:We encourage you to submit your application directly through our website. This helps us keep everything organised and ensures your application gets the attention it deserves. Plus, it’s super easy to do!
How to prepare for a job interview at Mercury13
✨Know Your Football Strategy
Before the interview, make sure you have a solid understanding of Bristol City Women's football strategy and playing philosophy. Be prepared to discuss how your vision aligns with their goals and how you can contribute to establishing a competitive edge in women's football.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
As a Sporting Director, strong leadership is key. Think of examples from your past experiences where you've successfully led teams or projects. Be ready to share how you foster a high-performance culture and build trust among diverse personalities.
✨Demonstrate Your Analytical Mindset
Bristol City Women values data-informed decision-making. Prepare to discuss how you've used analytics in previous roles, particularly in recruitment and player development. Highlight any specific tools or methodologies you've employed to drive performance improvements.
✨Build Relationships and Collaborate
Emphasise your ability to collaborate with various stakeholders, including coaches, management, and external partners. Share examples of how you've built strong relationships in the past and how you plan to engage with the CEO and other departments to align on the club's vision.
