At a Glance
- Tasks: Lead a high-profile football programme while supporting student-athletes' academic journeys.
- Company: Join The Kemnal Academies Trust, a leading multi-academy trust dedicated to excellence.
- Benefits: Enjoy generous pension contributions, wellbeing support, and tailored professional development.
- Other info: Flexible working options and a commitment to equity, inclusion, and diversity.
- Why this job: Make a real impact on young athletes' lives in a supportive school environment.
- Qualifications: Proven leadership in coaching and curriculum design, with strong communication skills.
The predicted salary is between 45000 - 60000 £ per year.
The Role of the Football Academy Director:
As our Academy Director, you will lead a unique, high-profile program that integrates elite football development directly into the fabric of a mainstream secondary school environment. In this dynamic role, you will be responsible for designing and delivering a professional-tier football curriculum while ensuring it harmoniously supports our student-athletes' academic journeys. You will lead a dedicated coaching team, manage state-of-the-art facilities, and foster a culture of discipline, resilience, and ambition that translates from the pitch to the classroom.
About The Kemnal Academies Trust:
The Kemnal Academies Trust (TKAT) is one of the largest and most established multi-academy trusts in the country. As part of The Kemnal Academies Trust, colleagues benefit from access to a wide network of professional support, collaboration, and development opportunities across a family of schools committed to excellence in education. The Trust is dedicated to investing in its people, providing high-quality training, career progression opportunities, and a strong culture of teamwork and innovation.
About Thomas Bennett Community College:
Thomas Bennett Community College is a welcoming and ambitious 11–18 secondary school at the heart of the Crawley community, serving families across the town and the wider West Sussex area. As part of The Kemnal Academies Trust, the school combines a strong community ethos with the advantages of a wider network of collaboration and support. With more than 1,200 students, including a thriving sixth form, it provides an inclusive and supportive environment where young people are encouraged to achieve their full potential.
Key Duties and Responsibilities of the Academy Director:
- Oversee and deliver the academy’s football curriculum, integrating training sessions smoothly into the school timetable.
- Manage and mentor the academy’s coaching and support staff.
- Collaborate with teachers to track players' academic progress, behaviour, and attendance, ensuring football never compromises education.
- Coordinate match schedules, league entries, transport, kit, and facility hire.
- Build and maintain active relationships with professional clubs, county FAs, and scouts to create player opportunities.
- Act as the primary lead for player well-being, ensuring strict adherence to school safeguarding and health & safety protocols.
- Manage the academy’s annual budget, equipment inventory, and operational resources.
What We’re Looking For:
- Proven leadership experience managing coaching staff and designing cohesive technical curricula.
- Strong communication skills to collaborate effectively with school leadership, parents, and external professional clubs or scouts.
- Up-to-date safeguarding credentials (including a valid DBS check) within both educational and sporting environments.
- Excellent organizational skills to handle budgets, fixtures, facility scheduling, and day-to-day operations.
As part of Kemnal Academies Trust, our colleagues enjoy:
- Access to a wide range of resources, training, and best practice across the Trust.
- Supportive, forward-thinking leadership with a focus on continuous improvement.
- Generous Pension Scheme: Significant employer contributions to support your long-term financial wellbeing.
- Wellbeing Support: Access to a wellbeing app and an expert-led Eight-Week Mindfulness Programme.
- Family Friendly Leave: Policies designed to support work-life balance and caring responsibilities.
- Tailored CPD: Ongoing professional development to support your teaching practice and career progression.
Our Commitment:
We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and expect all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. Offers of employment will be subject to the full safer recruitment process, including an enhanced disclosure and barring service check.
Flexible working:
We recognise the value of enabling our employees to develop their career and balance this with their commitments and interests outside of work. We promote flexible working practices and opportunities to promote a positive work-life balance.
Our Commitment - Equity, Inclusion, Diversity and Belonging:
At Kemnal, we are committed to Equity, Inclusion, Diversity, and Belonging. We embrace and celebrate differences, value individual experiences, aspirations, and achievements, and continuously learn how to grow better together. We actively encourage applications from candidates of all backgrounds, as we believe diversity strengthens our community and drives us forward.
Access to interview:
Be Who You Are at Kemnal - should you be selected and invited to interview please let us know if you require us to adapt the recruitment process to enable you to participate as your authentic self. We want applicants to be able to engage with us in ways that support who they are and we are committed to making adjustments within the recruitment process and within the workplace.
Football Academy Director in Crawley employer: The Kemnal Academies Trust
At our school, we pride ourselves on being an excellent employer, offering a supportive and inclusive work environment for our SEND Keyworker role. With a commitment to professional development, you will have access to extensive training opportunities and career progression within the school and Trust. Our positive culture, competitive salary, and focus on work-life balance make us an attractive choice for those looking to make a meaningful impact in education.
Contact Details:
The Kemnal Academies Trust Recruitment Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Football Academy Director in Crawley
✨Get Involved in Local Sports Communities
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We think you need these skills to ace Football Academy Director in Crawley
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 Kemnal Academies Trust 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 Kemnal Academies Trust
✨Highlight Your Passion for Sports
When chatting with The Kemnal Academies Trust, 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.
