ROLE DESCRIPTION

Head of Academy Education

Salary: Competitive dependent on qualifications and experience

Contract Type: Permanent, part time (15 hours)

Team: Academy

Reports To: Director of Football Development

Location: Various SCFC sites across Manchester and Salford including Partington Sports Village.


The Purpose:

Our Head of Academy Education plays a critical role at our Academy which focuses on maximising and nurturing the academic potential of our Academy players to prepare them for a lifetime of success. By creating a positive learning environment you’ll make sure that every young person who attends our Academy has an opportunity to thrive and succeed.

The role is responsible for providing leadership and management of the Academy’s education programme. As a senior manager within our Academy, you will work closely alongside the Director of Football Development to implement and deliver a leading-edge educational programme in line with the Club’s football philosophy. Creating a memorable experience for each player through a holistic, player-centred approach to their education and coaching their academic progress is fundamental to the Club’s key values.


The Role:

Lead the delivery of full-time players’ education provision for the Under 18 age group with planned lessons which are engaging, creative and meet our high standards to ensure academic progression.
Organise the education programme across U9s – U16s age groups.
Ensure scholars are appropriately managed to achieve the Sporting Excellence Professional (SEP).
Play an active part in player wellbeing, supporting the transition of players and the delivery of the Lifeskills Programme working closely in collaboration with our Player Experience Manager.
Hold Parent/Player meetings to review education progress to ensure optimal wellbeing and development of all players, reacting to any issues accordingly and reporting any concerns appropriately.
Provide additional learning to support those with additional needs.
Ensure progress reporting of academic achievement in the scholarship programme takes place.
Liaison with education providers across all age groups, including relevant courses to enhance the education programme.
Organise and maintain reviews and correspondence from school for all players in the Academy.
Build and maintain links with education providers and associated partners such as parents, LEAs, educational agencies and schools, including conducting school visits when required.
Work as part of a multidisciplinary team to ensure all communication with schools is updated when players sign/release.
Ensure all documentation and records are up to date, liaising closely with the Academy’s allocated LFE monitor and ensure all 12 weekly reports are completed and put onto electronic systems.
Work closely with the Lead Phase Coaches to devise individual learner/player profiles.
Take a preventative and proactive action in the event that educational targets are not being met.
Undertake benchmarking of the educational progression of each year group against national data and make the result of that benchmarking available to the League.
Ensure Academy Coaches are regularly updated on the personal and educational progress of all players in line with formal reviews, tracking data to spot themes and trends.
Create and monitor individualised education programmes for players on loan as appropriate.
Ensure communication between staff, players and parents to ensure the holistic development of players.
Role model and ensure positive and professional behaviours, ensuring honesty and integrity at all times when working with young players at the Club. This includes being presentable, smart and personable at all times when representing the Club.
Ensure you contribute to providing a safe Academy environment, demonstrating safe working practices and follow safeguarding policies and procedures, reporting concerns when necessary.


The Person:

A strong background in education with experience of developing young people’s academic success.
A great communicator who is personable and approachable. You will be able to build and maintain relationships with players, parents and coaches with a collaborative approach to work.
Extremely organised and methodical, able to work to tight deadlines with a high degree of accuracy and able to adapt to changing circumstances.
Able to ensure the highest standards are met to ensure positive behaviours showing empathy and understanding to nurture our young players.


You will be an integral of the Academy Management Team where your work will positively impact the development of our players. Ideally you will have strong experience within an elite sporting environment, particularly in relation to young athlete education. You will always prioritise their development through the creation of a positive environment that cultivates individual talent in order to successfully transition players as they move through their educational journey. Working seamlessly with others across the Academy will be key to ensure an holistic, player-centred approach.

With a professional and attentive approach you’ll ensure players needs are met, proactively planning for every eventuality. The role will ensure that the Club strictly adheres to its EPPP obligations, ensuring that the Club’s education programme operates with a high degree of integrity and professionalism. The role will be key in taking the Academy to the next level, focussing on creating a first-class player experience and setting high standards across every element of a player’s journey.

We want to develop our Academy players as professional footballers, so it is also of vital importance that this role recognises the significance of maximising player potential on the pitch as well as off it; a consideration of the player’s football programme and welfare is therefore paramount, alongside the successful candidate having the ability to build positive relationships with players, parents, and other internal stakeholders including other coaches, education and welfare staff, and management.

You will be responsible for ensuring the highest standards of behaviour and educational practice are in place. You must adhere to safeguarding policies and procedures to create a positive and proactive safeguarding culture which gives players a safe and exciting experience.

The role requires management of the curriculum and educational activity. You will need flexibility throughout the week to support our players and Academy staff.


The Essentials:

Possess a teaching qualification or further education teaching qualification (i.e. QTS)
Experience delivering high quality education programmes
Has up to date knowledge of Ofsted inspections
Demonstrable experience of working in Secondary or Further Education.
Understands diverse learning techniques and emotional needs of young athletes.
FA EFAiF Certificate.
FA Safeguarding qualification and valid safeguarding certificates
This role will have regular contact with children, and it is therefore required by law to have a DBS. Experience in undertaking health and safety duties and responsibilities appropriate to the post
A full, clean driving licence.

The Club actively encourages Continuous Professional Development and would expect the successful candidate to ensure they are keeping updated with new theory and legislation, attend any necessary FA in-service training, and participate in a program of CPD across the Academy’s technical teams.




Our Values

At Salford City FC we have strong values. We have two mottos which come from the heart of Salford. They represent our Salfordian nature and heritage, and are fundamental to all we do.



INTEGRITY & INDUSTRY

Translated simply into honesty and hard work, this is the core value on which our Club is built. We work hard, we do the right thing, and we have each other’s back. Even when times are hard, we stand by these principles together and we can overcome anything.

WELFARE OF THE PEOPLE IS THE HIGHEST LAW

We do what is right and look after our people. Employees at our Club, our fans, the community in which we reside and any other stakeholders with which we interact – including those of opposition teams. If we’re happy and healthy, we can be the best version of ourselves. Look after yourself, look after those around you and speak up if you or anybody else is struggling.


Equality, Diversity & Inclusion



We aim to create an environment where everyone’s rights, dignity and individual worth are respected, and in particular that they are able to enjoy themselves at the Club without the threat of intimidation, victimisation, harassment, bullying or abuse. We respect what each individual brings to our team and Club, no matter who they are or what their experiences may be.

We are an equal opportunities employer and we welcome applications from anyone suitably qualified. We positively welcome and seek to ensure we achieve diversity in our workforce and that all job applicants and employees receive equal and fair treatment. We encourage applications from all candidates regardless of who they are.

Safeguarding


We are fully committed to safeguarding all children, young people and adults at risk who engage in our activities. We recognise that we have a responsibility to safeguarding the welfare of vulnerable groups and we have policies and procedures in place which all of our staff are trained in and are expected to adhere to as part of their employment.

An offer of employment will be subject to receipt of satisfactory DBS check (depending on the role); satisfactory references; and proof of identity and eligibility to work in the UK.