Contract: Full-time 
Hours: 42 hours per week 
Salary: £65,000 per annum (£5,417 per month) 
Reports to: CEO & COO 

Purpose of the Role

The Elite Football Programme Manager will oversee and integrate Academia & Football’s Elite Football Programme within the school environment, ensuring local, national, and international recognition. This role is crucial in promoting football as a unique selling point (USP) for the school, attracting top talent, and embedding football within the school’s culture while maintaining academic excellence. 

Key Responsibilities 

Strategic Leadership & Development

• Develop and execute a long-term strategy for the school’s Elite Football Programme to achieve local, national, and international recognition.

• Ensure seamless integration of the football programme into the school’s academic and extracurricular environment. 

• Work closely with the Headmaster to align football with the school’s marketing strategy, branding, and student recruitment efforts.

• Manage and oversee the football budget, ensuring high-quality infrastructure and resources. 

Player Recruitment & Talent Development

• Identify and develop new and existing markets to recruit top football talent across various age groups. 

• Lead the football scholarship programme, ensuring the recruitment of high-quality student-athletes. 

• Build relationships with professional and semi-professional clubs to create pathways for player development. 

Operational Management

• Oversee pitch hire operations where applicable. 

• Recruit, manage, and support coaching staff, ensuring high standards of training and development. 

• Achieve agreed pupil recruitment targets in line with Academia & Football and Alpha Group objectives. 

• Ensure pupils’ academic progress is prioritised alongside their football development. 

Fixture & Tour Management

• Team management during fixtures, including midweek day, evening, and weekend matches.

• Organise and lead domestic and international tours to enhance player experience and programme visibility. 

• Ensure clear communication with parents and staff regarding fixtures, tours, and training schedules. 

Coaching & Training Excellence

• Lead coaching sessions, training, and team selection for competitive fixtures. 

• Promote a whole-school culture of excellence, emphasising academia, morality, and work ethic as key components of football success. 

• Set high standards of behaviour, discipline, and teamwork among coaches and players. 

Community & Partnership Building

• Develop long-term partnerships with schools, clubs, agents, and football organisations.

• Build positive links with local and international clubs, fostering opportunities for player development and exposure. 

• Represent Academia & Football at Open Days to promote the football programme to prospective pupils and parents. 

General Responsibilities

• Ensure the safeguarding and well-being of children by adhering to the School’s Safeguarding and Child Protection Policy.

• Maintain accurate records of training, absences, and leave requests.

• Display appropriate staff identification while on-site. 

• Attend training and staff INSET sessions as required. 

• Carry out any other duties as requested by the Head of Coaching and Director of Football.

Person Specification

Essential Qualifications & Experience

• UEFA ‘A’ Licence (Essential) 

• FA First Aid Qualification (Essential) 

• FA Safeguarding Certificate (Essential) 

• Experience in a professional senior or academy football environment (Essential) 

• Experience coaching at a high level across multiple age groups (Essential) 

• Strong knowledge of modern coaching methods and player development (Essential) 

Desirable Qualifications & Experience

• Degree in Sport or a related field (Desirable) 

• FA Youth Awards (Desirable) 

Knowledge & Skills

• Passion for football, with the ability to inspire and motivate players.

• Expertise in innovative coaching strategies that promote skill development and fitness. 

• Strong ICT skills, including proficiency in Microsoft Office and digital coaching tools.

• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills to foster collaboration with pupils, parents, staff, and external partners. 

• Ability to create a stimulating learning environment that encourages effort and commitment. 

• Strong strategic and analytical thinking, with the ability to make data-driven decisions. 

• Understanding of child protection and safeguarding responsibilities.

Personal Attributes

• Positive and approachable, with a can-do attitude. 

• Highly organised, able to manage multiple projects and priorities effectively. 

• Resilient and adaptable, capable of working under pressure in a fast-paced football environment. 
  Strong leadership skills, able to motivate staff and players to achieve their best. 

• Committed to the ethos and vision of Academia & Football, aligning football with education and personal development.