Unite the Game and Inspire the Nation through Winning England Teams.
The Football Association [The FA] is the not-for-profit governing body of football in England. It is responsible for promoting and developing every level of the game, from grassroots through to the professional game, and generates significant revenue to support investment into English football each year.
The FA oversees England international teams across men’s, women’s, youth and disability football, as well as running the National League System and FA Competitions including the Emirates FA Cup, Barclays FA Women’s Super League, FA Women’s Championship, and Vitality Women’s FA Cup, and the world-class facilities of Wembley Stadium and St. George’s Park, all with a purpose to Unite the Game and Inspire the Nation.
To deliver against our goal we have reallocated resources and invested heavily in developing a team of exceptional people capable of creating winning England teams at our world-class training facilities at our National Football Centre, St. George’s Park.
This is a unique and exciting time to join The FA and the Technical Team will be integral to the organisation achieving its goals.
The Football Association is seeking to recruit a ‘Player Care Lead’ for the women’s professional game. This strategic leadership role will be responsible for ensuring that athlete health and welfare is at the centre of concern in all aspects of training and competition. They will work with internal stakeholders, and club staff to maximise the development of ‘the whole’ person, to allow them to thrive as footballers and people.
Proactively lead the development of Player Care within the women’s domestic game. Working closely with FA staff, The Performance Lead for England Teams and club staff responsible for their players’ psycho-social support (Medicine & Clinical Psychology, Sport Psychology, Performance Lifestyle & Wellbeing, Education, Safeguarding and Welfare).
Leadership & Strategy:
- Develop through consultation and collaboration, the professional games ‘Player Care Strategy’ and contribute to that of the wider game.
- Work in partnership with internal and external stakeholders (Clubs, leagues, FA staff) to champion, develop and support sustainable cultures that deliver performance, and responsibly care for people.
- Influence and collaborate with club leadership and staff to drive alignment (and involvement) of Player Care interventions.
- Provide up to date feedback to the League & Performance Development Department and internal FA leadership, on operational delivery in clubs and how they are developing in the area of Player Care, and the impact this is having on the ‘Key Drivers’ which aim to impact positively:
- On England Winning Teams: This role is aligned to the England Teams Performance Lifestyle strategy. With a view to ensuring that many of the psycho-social challenges faced by players are being address all year round.
Club Development:
- To work with the club’s inter-disciplinary team of practitioners that provide holistic, integrated support and access to services that promotes the individuals career aspirations, well-being and welfare enabling them to thrive as people and perform optimally as football players.
- To work with clubs to continually review standards of Player Care and raise the quality of delivery to players through health checks and action planning.
- To provide guidance, support and direction to clubs across all elements of Player Care when required.
- To connect subject matter experts to real world performance problem-solving at the point of need.
- Development of discipline specific CPD strategies. Whilst coordinating and utilising the use of external expertise. With increased investment there will be an additional need for specialist support.
- Create and engage a community of practice to maximise the potential of a limited but evolving resource.
Activity in support of Player Care Steering Group + England Teams collaboration:
- Engage with the FA disciplines to maximise the use of internal resources.
- Leverage FA Learning tools to provide ongoing support and training.
- Developing the infrastructure & systems:
- Workforce & Policy Strategy.
- Systems to effectively lead and manage.
- Resources to develop an effective approach to player care.
- Engage with the wider Player Care community and collaborate in the research and development being undertaken in this space.
- Executes additional tasks as required in order to meet FA Group changing priorities.
- Comply with all company policies and procedures to ensure the highest standards of health, safety and wellbeing can be maintained.
- As part of The FA’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. This role will include an enhanced DBS, should you be successful.
Essential
Personal Characteristics
• Engages with others and has the ability to build effective working relationships.
• An active listener who takes the time to understand the problem from a range of perspectives.
• Has the ability to bring clarity to complex issues and work with others to create effective outcomes.
• Is resilient, and can cope with ambiguity, can manage conflict and can manage the route to a collective solution.
• Skilled communicator.
Knowledge
• Degree level (or equivalent) in sports management, sports science, education or a discipline related to ‘player care’ (as previously defined); Or significant experience of elite sporting systems from an athlete or coaching perspective.
• Demonstrable knowledge of Transitions Management, Personal & Professional Development, Supporting Well-Being.
Experience
• Proven track record of strategic planning and implementation.
• Extensive experience of service development strategy writing & review, with proven ability to review and refine priorities.
• Proven track record of mentoring practitioners or managing teams of practitioners and external service providers.
• Working through others to deliver operational outcomes.
• Extensive experience of working with high performance athletes and understanding the issues they face.
• Having the experience and credibility to support and develop those practitioners who will facilitate the solutions that impact on player wellbeing and their performance.
• Extensive experience of supporting personal development of clients through coaching and mentoring.
• Extensive experience of working closely with and directly advising senior stakeholders within a National Governing Body (i.e., programme managers, head coach, Technical Director, General Manager etc).
• Experience of developing and managing stakeholder/ external partnership relationships.
• Understanding and knowledge of operational people management (e.g., line management, recruitment) and business systems (e.g. finance, HR).
• Outstanding academic and applied knowledge of contemporary practice in related areas.
• Track record of successfully integrating into established and developing coaching & management teams.
Desirable
Knowledge
-
- Higher degree level (or equivalent) in sports management, sports science, education or a discipline related to ‘player care’ (as previously defined).
- Professional coaching and mentoring qualification (level 7 equivalent) and/or individual accreditation (i.e., EMCC or ICF).
- An exciting and challenging role within a changing, dynamic and world-renowned sports organisation.
- Attractive benefits and a competitive salary.
Should you wish to discuss the role in more detail and have an informal conversation, then please reach out to Andy Hudson via email, andy.hudson2@thefa.com
Please be aware that unless you are contractually homebased, your contract with The FA will specify a fixed location of either Wembley Stadium, St. George’s Park or our Processing Centre.
We currently work within a hybrid working model whereby the expectation is to work from your contractual location for part of the week, and as and when required by the team. The remaining days can be worked remotely. We will continue to monitor this model and it may be adjusted in future if deemed necessary.
The Football Association Group promotes inclusion and diversity, and welcomes applications from everyone. If you have any particular requirements in respect of the recruitment or interview process please mention this in your application.
Click here to apply.
