At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead the evolution of women's coach development and inspire excellence in football.
- Company: Join the FA, a leader in promoting women's football and coaching.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, free lunches, private medical cover, and flexible working.
- Other info: Work at iconic Wembley Stadium and enjoy unique office spaces.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on women's football and empower future coaches.
- Qualifications: UEFA A License and experience in coach development required.
The predicted salary is between 50000 - 65000 £ per year.
Are you passionate about developing world‑class coaches and driving meaningful change in the women's game?
This is a unique opportunity to lead the strategic evolution of coach development across women's and girls' football, creating clear pathways, inspiring excellence, and building a thriving coaching workforce for the future.
As Senior Lead – Women's Coach Development, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the quality, diversity, and sustainability of coaching across the female game.
Working at the forefront of football development, you'll champion innovative learning opportunities, foster a high-performance coaching culture, and help empower the next generation of coaches to succeed at every level of the game.
The role will have three direct reports: Women's Professional Game Lead Coach Developer, Women's Talent Game Lead Coach Developer and Women's Pathway Lead Coach Developer.
What will you be doing?
- Lead the strategic planning and execution of all coach development activities tailored to the female game.
- Lead and inspire a high-quality coach development workforce that not only delivers strategy but also models excellence in practice.
- Provide clear direction, set performance expectations, and foster a positive, inclusive team culture focused on collaboration, innovation, and achieving strategic goals.
- Increase the number of English or homegrown coaches in the professional game.
- Support the Senior Lead Workforce Development (Coaching) to embed the principles of professional coach development practice across all the workforce within the female game.
- Collaborate effectively with the Senior Lead Coaching Qualifications & Standards and the Learning and Innovation team to ensure that all coach development activity is fit for purpose for the female game.
- Ensure there is a growth in the number of qualified female coaches at all levels of the game.
- Collaborate with the equality, diversity and inclusion team to promote diversity and inclusion within the coaching pathway, ensuring equitable access to all training and development opportunities.
- Work closely with the Women's Technical Division SLT to align coaching strategies with the broader objectives of developing top female players and increasing participation in the women's game.
- Ensure that coach development pathways are clear and designed to progress women into higher‑level coaching roles, including elite football.
- Collaborate with key stakeholders, including the League Managers Association, Professional Footballers Association, Women's Professional Leagues Limited, clubs and educational institutions, to promote coach development within the women's game.
- Track and evaluate the effectiveness of all activities through a strategic approach to research and insight, using data to inform continuous improvement and adjust activities as needed.
- Regularly report on progress, identifying key outcomes and areas for further development to ensure the continuous enhancement of coach development programmes.
- Manage the budget for coach development programmes, ensuring resources are effectively allocated to support key initiatives.
- Executes additional tasks as required to meet the FA's changing priorities.
- Comply with all company policies and procedures to ensure that the highest standards of health, safety, and well‑being can be maintained.
- As part of the FA's commitment to ensuring a safe environment for everyone in football, every employee will be required to complete a DBS check.
The level of the check required will be based on the activity of the specific job role and in line with legislation and government guidance.
What are we looking for?
Essential for the role
- UEFA A License qualification.
- Significant experience in coach and player development in professional football.
- Strong leadership skills, with the ability to lead, motivate, and manage a team, driving performance while fostering a collaborative and inclusive team environment.
- Proven experience in designing, delivering, and managing modern coach development programmes, including the ability to mentor, support, and develop coaches at various levels.
- Undergraduate or postgraduate degree in coaching/management/sports science or a related field.
- Ability to develop and implement long-term strategies for coach development.
- Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to engage and influence stakeholders at all levels.
- Ability to think critically and solve problems effectively, making informed decisions to enhance coaching structures and address challenges.
- Experience in managing budgets, resources, and timelines for large-scale programs or initiatives, ensuring efficient use of resources.
- Ability to create presentations and present to a wide range of key stakeholders.
- Strong understanding of assessment, moderation and quality assurance processes within coach development.
- Proficient in analysing coach development, workforce and programme data to evaluate impact and inform decision-making.
Beneficial to have
- Extensive experience in high‑performance environments as a member of staff.
- Previous experience specifically working in the development of coaches within the women's and girls' game, with an understanding of its unique challenges and opportunities.
- Experience in mentoring and providing feedback to coaches, with strong facilitation skills.
- Ability to use data to track program performance, identify areas for improvement, and adjust strategies to ensure continuous development and success.
- Comfortable advocating for female coaches and the women's game in public forums, with the ability to speak at events, conferences, or meetings to raise the profile of coach development.
- Experience in managing organisational or cultural change, particularly in advancing gender equality within sport.
- Basic Project Management skills.
What's in it for you?
We are committed to ensuring everyone can flourish in their roles.
To achieve this, we have unique office spaces under the arch of the iconic Wembley National Stadium, which is the home of English Football.
We are also delighted to offer a world‑class, Elite Performance Centre, St.
George's Park in Staffordshire, which is an exceptional setting to develop and inspire high‑performing England teams and leaders.
We pride ourselves on offering a competitive salary as well as great opportunities to develop and grow in your role.
But that is not all; we also have a range of exciting benefits, some of which can be found below:
- Access to event day tickets at Wembley Stadium, alongside a host of regular internal events throughout the season, encourages you to connect and learn with your colleagues and look after your mental health and well‑being.
- Free, nutritious lunches at Wembley Stadium and St. George's Park.
- Free private medical cover.
- A contributory pension scheme.
- An additional 'Thank You' day's leave, volunteering days, as well as 25 days of annual leave (based on a full‑time, permanent contract)
- A hybrid working model which offers greater flexibility.
- #J-18808-Ljbffr
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Senior Lead - Women's Coach Development
✨Get Involved in Local Sports Communities
Dive into your local sports scene! Attend community games, coaching sessions, and meet-ups. Building relationships with coaches and team managers can help you uncover job opportunities before they even hit the job boards.
✨Leverage Internships and Volunteering
Even though you’re after a full-time role, don’t underestimate internships or volunteering in sports organisations. These positions not only give you hands-on experience but can also lead to permanent openings. Plus, it’s a fantastic way to make your face known in the industry!
✨Visit Sports Job Fairs
Keep an eye out for sports job fairs and career expos specific to the recreation management field. These events are goldmines for meeting hiring managers from organisations like The FA. Bring your A-game and be ready to chat about how you can contribute to their team!
✨Apply Through Our Website
Don't forget to check out openings on our site! Our listings will often include positions at excellent organisations in sports recreation management, including The FA. Applying directly through our platform increases your chances of getting noticed by recruiters. Let's get you that dream job!
We think you need these skills to ace Senior Lead - Women's Coach Development
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Off Your Passion for Sports:In your cover letter, let your enthusiasm for sports and recreation shine through! We want to see your genuine interest in the industry and how it's shaped your career choices. Sharing specific experiences, like managing a team or organising an event, can really make you stand out.
Highlight Relevant Experience:When crafting your CV, focus on any relevant internships, volunteer work, or part-time jobs related to sports and recreation management. Make sure to quantify your achievements – did you increase team participation by a certain percentage or successfully lead a project? Numbers speak volumes!
Tailor Your CV for Sports Management:Use a CV format that emphasises your skills in leadership, teamwork, and event coordination. Don’t forget to include specific training or certifications that relate to sports management, as these can set you apart from other applicants. We love seeing candidates with relevant qualifications!
Express Your Long-Term Goals:In your application, we want to see your career aspirations in sports management. Don’t hesitate to include how you envision your future in this industry and how joining The FA aligns with those goals. We’re looking for candidates who are not just a perfect fit for the role but are also excited about growing with us!
How to prepare for a job interview at The FA
✨Highlight Your Passion for Sports
When chatting with The FA, make sure to express your genuine love for sports and recreation. Share experiences that showcase your passion, whether it's managing a local sports team, organising events, or simply being an active participant in various activities. This helps them see you're not just a fit on paper, but also someone who truly cares about the field.
✨Showcase Your Management Skills
This role is all about managing resources and people, so be ready to discuss your leadership and organisational skills. Prepare some examples from your past experiences where you've successfully led a team or managed a project, particularly in a sports or recreation setting. Use the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) technique to make your answers concise and impactful.
✨Be Prepared for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect case studies or scenario-based questions that assess your problem-solving and decision-making skills. You might be asked how you would handle a tricky situation, such as resolving a conflict between team members or managing a crisis during a major event. Think through these scenarios and practice how you’d articulate your thought process and solutions.
✨Demonstrate Enthusiasm for Team Collaboration
In the sports and recreation management field, teamwork is essential. During the interview, be prepared to discuss how you work within a team and foster a collaborative environment. Share success stories where teamwork led to a positive outcome, emphasising how you built relationships and encouraged participation among team members to achieve a common goal.
