Safety and Security Observer in London

The Premier League is seeking to recruit Safety and Security Observers (SSOs) to support and develop its ongoing Safety and Security Observer Programme. SSOs are deployed at Premier League stadiums across our 20 clubs for weekday and weekend fixtures. It involves working closely with the respective clubs' Ground Safety Officer (GSO) / Safety Team to produce a collaborative report on the safety and security operation, including identified good practice, areas for development, and a recording, narrative, and expert assessment of all incidents which occurred from a safety and security perspective.

The role will require unsociable hours with regular weekend and evening work. Observers are paid a fixed rate for each matchday observation, inclusive of all necessary planning/debrief meetings and report writing, in addition to any appropriate expenses incurred. This is an exciting opportunity to join a team of Safety and Security experts operating in an innovative space for the Premier League.

SSOs hold the employment status of Worker, meaning that they are contracted as individuals and not via Personal Services Companies. For further information, please read the government Employment Status pages on Workers.

Who We Are

The Premier League is home to some of the most competitive and compelling football in the world. The League and its clubs use the power and popularity of the competition to inspire fans, communities and partners in the UK and across the world. The Premier League brings people together from all backgrounds. It is a competition for everyone, everywhere and is available to watch in 900 million homes in 189 countries.

We have a wide variety of responsibilities. These include organising the competition and its Handbook as well as managing the centralised broadcast and commercial rights. The work we do in conjunction with the clubs also goes far beyond the 90 minutes. We support and provide a framework for youth development, we protect the organisation’s intellectual property, support the wider game and community programmes, undertake international development work and liaise with governing bodies and other leagues.

The Premier League is an equal opportunities employer and strives to create an inclusive culture where talent can flourish. We believe in the potential of everyone and open our doors to those who share those values. All appointments will be made based on merit; however, we particularly encourage applications from women, people from minority ethnic communities, LGBTQ+ people and disabled people.

The Role

• Conduct matchday deployments at fixtures as allocated by the Premier League working collaboratively with the host club and GSO, gathering data, and producing a detailed structured report containing both quantitative and qualitative data against a templated format.
• Attend pre-match planning and post-match debriefs as requested by the GSO.
• Build and maintain positive and open relationships with GSOs, clubs and stakeholders.
• Attend monthly virtual meetings or others as requested with the Premier League and other observers to discuss issues arising from matchday deployments.
• Attend other relevant training and information sharing meetings with fellow observers as may be required from time to time.

Role Requirements

• Experience of working as a Safety Officer within football, sport, or other appropriate sector and/or relevant experience at an operational level in the strategic/tactical command of large-scale events.
• Excellent written and oral communication skills and the ability to interact effectively with people at all levels within clubs and external partners.
• Ability to manage relationships effectively and sensitively.
• Availability to work on matchdays including midweek evening, weekend and bank holiday fixtures including overnight stays where necessary.
• Experience of presenting to, and briefing, senior leaders and/or committees.
• Prior experience of writing high level reports for senior management, in particular the ability to draft clear, succinct and relevant material and to articulate this in an accessible style to an expert and uninitiated audience.
• Experience of engaging and consulting with a range of stakeholders and using different consultation methods.
• Excellent planning and coordination skills, particularly around logistics.
• Self-motivated with an ability to work under pressure to tight deadlines.
• High standard of communication and writing ability.
• Hardworking with a flexible and collaborative working approach.
• High standard of professionalism and integrity.

Safeguarding

Our commitment to safeguarding includes implementing robust safer recruitment procedures to assess the suitability of individuals applying for roles that involve work with children and adults who are or may be at risk of harm. For further information, please see our Safeguarding Policy and Safer Recruitment Guidance.