At a Glance
- Tasks: Ensure a safe environment during matchdays and club events while promoting safeguarding awareness.
- Company: Join West Ham United, a club committed to safety and inclusivity.
- Benefits: Enjoy 25 days annual leave, healthcare benefits, and discounts on club merchandise.
- Other info: Flexible working hours with opportunities for career growth in a dynamic environment.
- Why this job: Make a real difference in safeguarding vulnerable individuals at a renowned football club.
- Qualifications: Experience in safeguarding and strong communication skills are essential.
The predicted salary is between 30000 - 35000 £ per year.
Location: London Stadium, London E20 (with some remote flexibility)
Salary: £30,000–£35,000 per annum
Department: Safeguarding
Start Date: As soon as possible (Notice periods apply)
Working Pattern: Matchday & event‑led role including evenings and weekends
The Role
West Ham United is looking for a Safeguarding Manager to assist the Safeguarding Team in creating a safe environment during matchdays, club events, and wider club activities. Working closely with the Head of Safeguarding – Matchday & Events and the broader safeguarding team, the role will promote safeguarding awareness, address safeguarding concerns, and help the Club meet statutory requirements, Premier League standards, and other regulatory obligations. A key part of the role involves supporting safeguarding arrangements during matchdays and events, ensuring appropriate safeguarding oversight in fast‑paced operational environments. This includes managing incidents or concerns, increasing safeguarding visibility, and working with operational teams during fixtures, tournaments, and other club activities. Furthermore, the role will support broader safeguarding coordination across the Club. This involves assisting the Director of Safeguarding with communicating safeguarding updates, monitoring priorities and actions, contributing to audit preparations and reviews, and organising safeguarding education and awareness activities with colleagues and external partners.
Key Responsibilities
- Support the implementation of safeguarding policies across men’s and women’s fixtures, home and away, and club events.
- Assist with risk assessments and safeguarding guidance for matchday activities such as mascots, ball assistants, young supporters and accessible transport services.
- Help manage safeguarding concerns, investigations and referrals to external regulators or statutory authorities.
- Lead and support the Matchday Safeguarding Officer team, ensuring incidents are appropriately responded to and reported.
- Respond to safeguarding alerts from Event Control and provide safeguarding advice to staff where required.
- Deliver pre‑match meetings and safeguarding briefings to operational teams.
- Oversee safeguarding operations in designated areas of the stadium and provide support within Event Control when required.
- Promote safeguarding awareness through training, workshops and staff engagement.
- Maintain accurate safeguarding records and ensure all information is securely stored and recorded on MyConcern in line with GDPR requirements.
- Work collaboratively with internal departments including Supporter Services, Commercial, Marketing and Events to ensure safe systems of work.
- Support the Director of Safeguarding in coordinating updates, audits, policy reviews, safeguarding education and departmental priorities.
Skills & Experience
We welcome candidates from safeguarding backgrounds outside football.
- Strong safeguarding case management experience and professional judgement.
- Knowledge of children and adult safeguarding legislation, statutory guidance and best practice.
- Experience working in fast‑paced or live environments with dynamic risk assessment.
- Experience in monitoring safeguarding compliance and contributing to the development and delivery of safeguarding‑related training.
- Confidence using safeguarding systems such as MyConcern, CPOMS or similar.
- Ability to advise, guide and challenge staff appropriately on safeguarding matters.
- Strong communication skills, including delivering briefings, updates or training.
- Experience contributing to safeguarding audits, policy development or continuous improvement.
- Excellent organisation and ability to manage competing priorities.
- Flexibility to work evenings and weekends around fixtures and events.
Our Commitment
West Ham United is committed to creating a safe, inclusive and respectful environment for children, young people and adults at risk. Staff must support safeguarding regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation.
Safeguarding Commitment
The successful candidate must demonstrate a commitment to the safety and welfare of children, young people, and adults at risk across all stakeholders. Everyone, including third parties who work with the Club or the West Ham Foundation, is responsible for ensuring the safety and well‑being of vulnerable individuals. Successful candidates must undergo essential background checks before starting their employment, which may include screening of social media. The type of DBS check required will depend on the responsibilities of the position and may be basic, standard, or enhanced. The successful candidate agrees to proactively identify and respond appropriately to any concerns, and follow the Club’s Safeguarding reporting procedures to report allegations of abuse, poor practice, or anything that may impact the welfare of a child, young person, or adult at risk without delay, within 24 hours, or as otherwise directed by the Club’s or the West Ham Foundation Safeguarding Team.
EDI Statement
The successful candidate must demonstrate a strong commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion, aligning with the organisation’s business and tactical approach to eliminating barriers and addressing inequity. You agree to actively contribute to creating a discrimination‑free and inclusive environment, ensuring equitable access to opportunities and benefits, while fostering a culture of dignity and respect that enables everyone to perform and achieve their potential. Candidates must demonstrate their capability and willingness to uphold best practices and procedures, promoting lasting positive change while eliminating biases and barriers to attracting, achieving, and supporting talent from all communities, regardless of background, circumstances, or protected characteristics.
Benefits on Offer
- 25 days annual leave plus your birthday off
- Pension and life insurance
- Healthcare cash scheme
- Travel season ticket loan
- Cycle to work scheme
- Priority access to apply for match tickets
- Discounted season tickets
- Staff discounts in the club store, café and our official partners products and services
- Discounted gym membership and onsite fitness room facilities
- Family friendly leave policies
- Company social events
Applications
To apply, please submit your CV and a supporting statement (up to one page, two if necessary) focusing on your safeguarding experience, judgement and transferable skills via our careers portal: https://www.careers.whufc.com
Deadline: 5pm Monday 23rd March 2026
Applicants are not expected to meet every criterion, and we welcome candidates with strong potential and commitment to safeguarding.
Please note: Due to the high volume of applications expected, only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
Safeguarding Manager employer: West Ham United FC
West Ham United is an exceptional employer, offering a dynamic work environment at the iconic London Stadium, where you can make a meaningful impact on safeguarding practices during matchdays and events. With a strong commitment to employee growth, inclusive culture, and a comprehensive benefits package including generous annual leave, healthcare schemes, and staff discounts, we ensure our team members feel valued and supported in their roles. Join us in fostering a safe and respectful atmosphere for all stakeholders while enjoying the unique experience of working in the heart of London.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Safeguarding Manager
✨Dive into Local Community Groups
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We think you need these skills to ace Safeguarding Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Show Your Passion for Social Work:In your cover letter, let us see your passion for social work shine through! Talk about the experiences that made you want to pursue this career—whether it’s volunteering, personal experiences, or academic projects. We want to know why this field matters to you.
Emphasise Relevant Qualifications:Make sure your CV highlights any relevant qualifications, like degrees in social work or certifications like a DBS check. If you've done any workshops or training, don’t forget to include those as well. We're keen to see your commitment to your professional development!
Detail Your Experience with Clients:Since this is a hands-on field, detailing any direct experience you have with clients is crucial. Whether it's internships, volunteer roles, or previous jobs, highlight those experiences in your CV to show us you've got the practical skills necessary for the job!
Tailor Your Application to West Ham United FC:Before hitting send, make sure to tailor your application specifically to West Ham United FC! Research our mission and values, and refer to them in your cover letter. This shows us that you understand our work and are genuinely interested in being a part of our team!
How to prepare for a job interview at West Ham United FC
✨Understanding the Role of Empathy
In social work, understanding and demonstrating empathy is key. Be prepared to share personal experiences or scenarios where you effectively showed compassion and support. This helps show that you genuinely care about the well-being of others, which is crucial in social work.
✨Demonstrating Knowledge of Frameworks
Familiarise yourself with the frameworks and models used in social work, such as the Strengths-Based Approach or the Ecological Perspective. Be ready to discuss how these frameworks apply to your work, especially if you can tie them into real-world examples or case studies you've encountered.
✨Showcasing Your Multi-Disciplinary Skills
In a full-time social work role, you'll often collaborate with healthcare professionals, educators, and law enforcement. Be prepared to describe your teamwork experiences and how you've effectively communicated with other disciplines to achieve the best outcomes for clients.
✨Preparing for Scenario-Based Questions
Expect questions that put you in hypothetical social work situations, such as dealing with a crisis or managing a complex case. Think through your thought process for these scenarios beforehand, considering how you'd assess the situation and what steps you'd take, as this demonstrates your critical thinking and problem-solving abilities.
