Find a job 
Featured Companies 
Featured Universities 
For Companies At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead football development for the Women's Super League, enhancing player pathways and coaching systems.
- Company: Join the Women's Super League, a leader in women's football development.
- Benefits: Be part of a dynamic team with a passion for elevating women's football.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on the future of women's football and inspire the next generation.
- Qualifications: Experience in elite football development and strong knowledge of women's football.
- Other info: Work in a vibrant environment in Central London with opportunities for growth.
The predicted salary is between 43200 - 72000 ÂŁ per year.
The Women's Super League is looking for a Head of Football Development to lead the delivery of the WSL's football development priorities at ground level – ensuring consistent, high‑quality execution across clubs, player pathways, coaching systems, and technical standards. This role will act as the central connector between strategy and on‑the‑ground football delivery, supporting the growth of a world‑class, aligned, insight‑led technical ecosystem across the league, whilst being an advocate and guardian of the women's game.
What will you be doing? Below is a summary of key responsibilities.
- Technical Delivery
- Develop and implement the football strategy to ensure both the league and clubs continuously raise standards and innovate, furthering the professionalisation of the game.
- Provide technical input into club football development plans, audits, and capability reviews – driving continuous improvement across environments.
- Lead a research and insight‑led strategy for football policy including Governing Body Endorsement and Home‑Grown Player Rules as well as working with the NGB on English Qualified players within the domestic game, connecting club and country success.
- Ensure the game is developed with high levels of consideration to the demands of the female athlete performance.
- Continue to develop and evolve a competition format through a football and player development lens.
- Pathway & Player Development Delivery
- Lead and inspire the development needs of players of today and the future to achieve their potential and build and evolve high‑performance club environments where they can excel.
- Co‑create and drive implementation of the WSL’s player development framework from academy to first team, including minimum standards, licensing and funding models.
- Manage league‑wide systems for talent tracking, progression, and benchmarking across clubs.
- Identify and share best practice on transition management, holistic player development, and readiness for senior football.
- Coaching & Workforce Ecosystem
- Support the delivery of the league's coaching development strategy, including consideration to league‑wide CPD, succession planning, and diversity targets.
- Build relationships with clubs' coaching staff to ensure alignment of technical philosophy and progression pathways.
- Standards, Benchmarking & Monitoring
- Monitor the implementation of football standards across clubs, ensuring accountability and improvement.
- Lead regular reviews of club technical and development progress, feeding into league performance dashboards.
- Support delivery of assessments and audits to drive consistency and excellence in technical practice.
What are we looking for?
- Essential for the role:
- Proven experience in elite football development (club, league, or national level).
- Strong knowledge of player pathways, coaching systems, and high‑performance environments.
- Experience working directly with technical and coaching teams in a leadership or advisory capacity and integrating coaching process and core performance services (i.e., sport science and sports medicine, performance analysis, psychology).
- Strong understanding of the women's football landscape and the unique needs of the female athlete and player pathway.
- Beneficial to have:
- Practical and delivery‑focused, with strong communication and interpersonal skills.
- Technically credible and confident working with club technical leaders, coaching staff and practitioners.
- Able to translate strategic vision into operational delivery.
- Proactive, collaborative, and committed to continuous improvement.
- Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple relationships and projects simultaneously.
Living the values through our behaviours:
- FOR THE LOVE OF THE WOMEN'S GAME – Every decision we make drives the growth, quality, and impact of women's football for future generations.
- GREATNESS NEVER SETTLES – We have the relentless drive to keep the women's game growing, and reaching for more. We have the courage to push boundaries, innovate boldly and continuously rewrite the playbook.
- FIND A WAY TO WIN, TOGETHER – We move as one – lifting each other up and having each other's backs. Together, we unite players, clubs, fans, and communities to achieve greatness.
- CHAMPION THE FEMALE ATHLETE, ON AND OFF THE PITCH – We celebrate and support female athletes, empowering them to shine in their football careers and beyond.
- PUT FANS IN THE FRONT ROW – Fans are the VIPs at the heart of our game. We must thrill, inspire, and connect with them to build lifelong loyalty.
Please note that the Women's Super League Football office is based in Farringdon in Central London. To find out more details about the organisation, please visit the Women's Super League Football website. Women's Super League Football welcomes applications from everyone. If you have any particular requirements in respect of the recruitment or interview process, please mention this during your application. As part of the Women's Super League Football'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.
WSL - Head of Football Development employer: The FA
Contact Detail:
The FA Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land WSL - Head of Football Development
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Get out there and connect with people in the football industry. Attend events, join online forums, and don’t be shy about reaching out to current or former WSL staff 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 growth of the game. Share your ideas on how to elevate the women's game and demonstrate that you’re not just looking for a job, but a mission.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by researching the league and its clubs. Know their recent developments, challenges, and successes. This will help you tailor your responses and show that you’re genuinely interested in contributing to their vision and goals.
✨Tip Number 4
Don’t forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, it shows you’re serious about joining the team and are willing to take that extra step to stand out from the crowd.
We think you need these skills to ace WSL - Head of Football Development
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV is tailored to the role of Head of Football Development. Highlight your experience in elite football development and any specific achievements that align with the WSL's goals. We want to see how you can contribute to raising standards and innovating in women's football.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to express your passion for women's football and how your vision aligns with the WSL's mission. Be sure to mention your understanding of player pathways and coaching systems, as these are key to the role.
Showcase Your Leadership Skills: In both your CV and cover letter, emphasise your leadership experience and ability to inspire others. The WSL is looking for someone who can connect strategy with on-the-ground delivery, so share examples of how you've successfully led teams or projects in the past.
Apply Through Our Website: Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets the attention it deserves. Plus, we love seeing candidates who take the initiative to engage with us directly.
How to prepare for a job interview at The FA
✨Know Your Football Development Inside Out
Make sure you’re well-versed in the latest trends and strategies in football development, especially within women's football. Familiarise yourself with the WSL's current initiatives and be ready to discuss how you can contribute to raising standards and innovating in this space.
✨Showcase Your Leadership Skills
Prepare examples of how you've successfully led teams or projects in the past. Highlight your experience working with technical and coaching staff, and be ready to discuss how you can inspire and drive the development needs of players and clubs alike.
✨Emphasise Your Understanding of Female Athletes
Demonstrate your knowledge of the unique needs of female athletes and player pathways. Be prepared to discuss how you would advocate for their development and ensure that their performance demands are met at all levels.
✨Connect Strategy to Delivery
Be ready to explain how you can translate strategic visions into operational realities. Discuss your approach to implementing football standards and monitoring progress across clubs, showcasing your organisational skills and ability to manage multiple relationships effectively.
