Player Support Associate (Brain Health) in Manchester

PURPOSE AND SCOPE

Position Type: Full-time

Location: The PFA has facilities and offices in Manchester and London. We are especially looking for applicants in the North and East of England (applicants able to work in the North preferred). This role will involve significant travel responsibilities, requiring regular travel to clubs.

Salary: Competitive remuneration package plus generous benefits

Closing Date: 23:59, Tuesday 7 July 2026.

We are excited to be recruiting for a Player Support Associate, who as part of the Brain Health department will work with our members and their families to provide personalised practical and emotional support associated with brain health, dementia and neurodegenerative conditions. This person will work closely with the Director of Brain Health to ensure that our members receive the support and education they need to enhance their quality of life associated with brain health.

The successful candidate will manage a caseload of members who are living with dementia or other neurodegenerative conditions. They will be their single point of contact for accessing assistance, ensuring they are well supported by the PFA. They will provide direct personalised practical and emotional support, assist them in navigating the challenges associated with neurodegenerative conditions, aid in problem-solving, and signpost to appropriate sources of information and support. In addition, the post-holder will assist in the scheduling, delivery, and review of the brain health education programme.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Education: Schedule, deliver and review player-centred brain health and concussion education to professional footballers, members and their families. Organise, facilitate and/or support the delivery of memories initiatives both virtually and face to face. Research, create and/or develop resources to support members and their families on brain health.
• Player Support: Act as a first and ongoing point of contact for members and their families with the PFA on issues related to brain health. Triage and assess member and family needs on issues associated with brain health and develop appropriate action plans of support. Offer members and their families information, advice and guidance on issues associated with brain health, including dementia and neurodegenerative disease. Support members and their families with non-clinical emotional and practical support on issues of brain health, including dementia and neurodegenerative diseases. Signpost and refer members and their families to additional services (both internally and externally) to support them with their individual needs. Undertake face to face visits with members and their families.
• General: Collaborate with internal and external partners to develop the services and offer of the brain health department for our members and their families. Support the delivery of Brain Health events, such as the Annual Research Symposium and the Families Retreat. Contribute and lead programmes within the Brain Health strategy. Maintain excellent contemporaneous records and data of all activities delivered within brain health on the PFA systems. Ensure you are current with your knowledge and practice on issues and services associated with brain health at the PFA. Maintain professional practice particularly on issues of Consent, Safeguarding, Confidentiality, and GDPR in line with legal, moral and organisational responsibilities. Report issues or concerns to line-managers and/or the Director of Brain Health in a timely manner. Undertake reasonable activities as necessary for the PFA as directed by the Director of Brain Health. Represent the PFA and the Brain Health department in a responsible and positive manner.

SKILLS AND REQUIREMENTS

• Essential: Experience of dementia and neurodegenerative disease in personal or professional life. Must be able to demonstrate a strong understanding and knowledge of concussion, brain health and dementia in sport and society. Ability to demonstrate clear, concise and practical written and oral communication that is audience-centred. Able to cope with pressurised situations and tight timeframes whilst maintaining a professional approach. High emotional intelligence. Approachable and low-ego personality. Strong organisational and interpersonal skills. High level of integrity and confidentiality.
• Desirable: Experience of working or participation in football. Educated to degree level or equivalent in a relevant field (i.e. Sports Science). Teaching, coaching or educating experience, including a range of teaching approaches including face to face, remote, group delivery.

The PFA is an equal opportunities employer. Our employment policies for recruitment ensure that no job applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of age, disability, gender re-assignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation. Satisfactory documentary evidence of your eligibility to work in the UK in accordance with current legislative requirements will be requested. As part of our commitment to ensuring a safe environment, you will need to complete an enhanced DBS check for this role.