Elite Academy Director – Women’s Pathway

We are looking for an Academy Manager to lead the strategic development of the AWFC talent pathway (U8-U21s), ensuring players are prepared to progress into the Women’s First Team while upholding a high-performance culture.

In this role, you will oversee the delivery of a high-quality technical and educational programme, supporting players to reach their potential and ensuring a consistent pipeline of top talent, while developing well-rounded individuals prepared for future careers.

Our Commitment to Safeguarding

We are committed to ensuring that our environments for children, young people and adults at risk remain safe and inclusive. We therefore require successful candidates to complete a DBS check and other essential background checks prior to starting their employment.

Your day-to-day

• Contribute to a world-class academy programme – you will design and oversee the delivery of our AWFC Academy game model, curriculum and technical programme, ensuring consistency and alignment across all age groups.
• Drive long-term strategy – you’ll work closely with our Player Pathway Manager to build and deliver the academy blueprint, creating a progressive development plan across 12, 24 and 48-month timelines.
• Lead a high-performing multidisciplinary team – you will line manage phase leads across the Foundation, Youth Development, and Professional Development phases, ensuring best-in-class player development through technical delivery, reviews, and fixture programmes.
• Oversee player performance and wellbeing – you’ll manage Medical and Performance Leads to ensure all players receive outstanding, individualised medical care and physical development support.
• Ensure operational excellence – you will line manage our Operations Lead to guarantee the smooth running of all Academy and Development Centre activities.
• Identify and develop future talent – you’ll establish and deliver a robust talent acquisition strategy, regularly collaborating with the First Team staff and Player Pathway Manager.
• Maintain governance and high standards – you will oversee compliance with FA, WSL and Premier League regulations, manage audits and budgets, and contribute to Technical Board reviews while embedding a culture of inclusion, diversity, and continuous improvement.
• Foster a high-performance culture – you’ll motivate and develop players and staff, oversee player development programmes, deliver a year-round CPD plan, and create a safe and inclusive environment for players, staff and parents.

What we are looking for

• Background in elite player development – you hold a UEFA A Coaching Licence and FA Licence, alongside a sport-related or education degree or equivalent experience, with a proven track record of developing players at national or elite club level.
• In-depth understanding of the women’s game – you bring a deep knowledge of the FA Women’s and Girls’ player pathway and the standards required to progress players to the highest level.
• Leadership and management capability – you have experience in financial and people planning, with the ability to lead, motivate, and develop multidisciplinary teams within a high performance environment.
• Strategic thinker – you’re well versed in strategic thinking and you can balance long-term vision with practical delivery, driving continuous improvement across programmes.
• Excellent communication skills – you are a confident and effective communicator, able to engage and influence stakeholders at all levels across technical, operational, and education settings.
• Adaptable mindset and change-orientated approach – you are comfortable managing change and embedding new ways of working, demonstrating resilience and flexibility in a fast paced environment.
• Champion for equality, diversity and inclusion – you demonstrate commitment to inclusive pathways and positive experiences for girls and young women from a diverse range of backgrounds.
• Advocate for safeguarding and health and safety – you assist in creating and supporting safe environments for our participants to engage in and take action to share any concerns for them.

Position of Trust – As someone in a position of trust role involving regular, direct contact with children or vulnerable adults you will be expected to uphold high standards of conduct to prevent abuse, including sexual, physical, or emotional harm. This role requires you to keep updated with both Club and FA Safeguarding training and education.

Why choose us

• An exciting reward and recognition scheme.
• Generous holiday allowance which increases with your length of service.
• Great internal learning and development programmes.
• A flexible hybrid working model.
• Priority access to apply for match tickets.
• A competitive health and wellbeing benefits package.
• A leading Employee Assistance Programme.
• Great discounts with some of our Partners.
• An opportunity to play a vital role in delivering our ED&I strategy by joining one of our Employee Networks.

Arsenal for Everyone is our commitment to promoting and embracing equality, diversity and inclusion, so that everyone connected to the club feels like they belong to the same Arsenal family. We believe that diversity of background, skills and experience drives our success on and off the pitch.

We actively welcome and encourage applications from people with disabilities and long-term health conditions. If you need disability-related adjustments to the recruitment process, please indicate this in your application.

If you are likely to meet the definition of being a ‘disabled person’ according to the Equality Act 2010, you may be eligible to apply for an interview via the Disability Confident Scheme – please indicate this in your application form below.

Application Closing Date – Friday 29th May 2026. Please note: we reserve the right to close the position early if application volumes are particularly high. We encourage you to get your application in sooner rather than later.