Head of YDP and FP Football

Salary: Please state your expectations within your application

Contract: Full Time, 42 hours a week

Location: The Nigel Doughty Academy, Nottingham, NG2 7SR

Working Arrangements: On site

Closing Date For Applications: 31st January 2025

Nottingham Forest have an incredible history of talent development over many years. An Academy graduate has featured in every first team squad since the 1940’s. Now as a Category One EPPP Academy, and the club having established itself in the Premier League, we aim to reach new heights and create one of the leading learning environments in European Football. There has never been a more exciting time for an innovative, modern and creative coach / coach developer to join our forward thinking team.

The individual will lead on the football methodology & player development across our YDP & FP. Implement an exciting and holistic coach support and development programme while leading on our Talented Player Performance Program across any groups in the YDP and PDP. The role will involve delivery both directly to players and also coaches.

Working closely with and under the guidance of the Head of Coaching and Player Development, align the coaching and playing philosophy to create outstanding, exciting and dynamic players with the potential to thrive when transitioning across the Foundation, Youth Development Phases, and onto the PDP. Always considering the future game and our key player development principles.

The post provides a fantastic opportunity for alternative thinking, challenging the status quo of youth development, ensuring the programme is at the forefront of elite practice across the industry.

The successful candidate will manage and lead our Head of FP and Head of YDP, and coaching staff across both phases from a technical perspective, ensuring all processes are implemented and high standards achieved. In addition to owning and designing the methodology in the YDP and FP, they will support the Head of Coaching & Player Development with all elements of the Academy Methodology, and coach development programmes, across the wider Academy.

The Perks of the Job:

• Opportunity to access tickets for events at The City Ground.
• Employee Assistance Programme.
• Access to high street and gym discounts.
• Discount within our Club shop.
• Free on-site parking.

Key Tasks and Responsibilities:

• Researching current trends of coaching/teaching, player development, and industry best practice to inform practice within the Academy, while auditing our own creative slant.
• Lead the support with the players in our Talented Player Performance Programme (TPPP) from U13s-U16, while supporting the U18’s coaching staff with the delivery of our TPPP where required.
• Manage, lead and inspire the coaching staff in the FP & YDP creating industry leading, age specific, practitioners.
• Lead all players and coaches across the phase ensuring our philosophy and culture is strong and living.
• Conduct a formal programme of observing matches and training, and provide effective feedback ensuring an integrated philosophy and way of working.
• Monitor the coaching process and teaching of our methodology to ensure highest standards and feedback on their coach development.
• Support the Heads of Phase with multi-disciplinary meetings and activity to ensure all aspects are running effectively.
• In conjunction with the Head of Coaching & Player Development build and deliver resources which best support the implementation of the Academy methodology ensuring our thin red line runs from the youngest to the oldest age groups.
• Build effective relations across the multi-disciplinary teams to enhance delivery of the Academy methodology.
• Work in collaboration with the Head of Coaching & Player Development and TPPP Coach / Analyst to create robust data dashboards to feedback on players and coaches performance in line with the Academy methodology.
• Contribute appropriately to the development of teaching and coaching resources, including the delivery of a dynamic and educational series of the theoretical and practical coach CPD.
• To report weekly to the Head of Coaching on overall progress and development within the Academy, through our developed meeting structures, and to represent collective views on the future development and direction of the Academy programme in key forums.
• Challenge Academy leadership and current practice to ensure an ever-evolving curriculum, player profiling and methodology.
• To achieve many of the above tasks the individual will be required to lead by example through the delivery of pitch based sessions to both players and coaches, and therefore should be an expert practitioner, with high energy and creativity, on the grass.

Skills, Experience and Knowledge:

• UEFA A Licence.
• FA Advanced Youth Award (or equivalent).
• DBS/CRB check.
• In-depth Knowledge of how young people learn including a grasp of neurological learning strategies.
• Demonstrable coach development experience.
• Up to date CPD from national governing body.
• Previous experience working with these age groups, preferably in an Academy.
• An upbeat, enthusiastic and high energy individual who has a passion for developing young people and colleagues.
• A positive, can-do attitude, who adds creativity and innovation to our team.

Desirable:

• FA Talent Identification Course (or equivalent).
• Teaching Qualification.
• Degree in relevant discipline.
• Experience of Line Management or being part of an Academy Management Team.
• Strong background in the specialism of young people’s learning.

Our Commitment to Equality, Diversity & Inclusion:

Nottingham Forest Football Club is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified persons, regardless of age, disability, gender, gender reassignment, marital / civil partnership status, pregnancy / maternity leave, race, religion/belief, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected characteristic.

Nottingham Forest Football Club is a signatory of the FA’s Football Leadership Diversity Code. We are committed to developing policies to promote equal opportunities and diversity within our workforce. To monitor our progress against these commitments, we require all applicants to provide accurate diversity data during the application process.

Our Commitment to Safeguarding:

As part of the Club’s commitment to safeguarding, the successful applicant may be required to undergo a Disclosure Barring Service (“DBS”) check or an enhanced DBS check. The results of a DBS check will be considered on an individual basis, and the Club will act in a proportionate manner when deciding whether or not to proceed with the appointment.

An FA Enhanced DBS disclosure is required for all relevant new appointments to the Club. Individuals will be asked to declare any convictions, cautions or reprimands, warnings or bind-overs that may have been incurred. The Club reserves the right to carry out risk assessments where content has been disclosed on a DBS disclosure if it feels that it is relevant to the job requirements. Failure to satisfy the Club and the PL\’s safeguarding requirements may lead to the job offer being withdrawn or, if they have already started employment, summary termination of the employment.

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