Women's Professional Game Lead Coach Developer

Set the bar for greatness...

The FA are excited to be searching for a Women's Professional Game Lead Coach Developer who will play a pivotal role in our drive to support England winning teams. The role will be integral to the work of elevating coaching standards across the Women's Super League (WSL) and Championship. The role focuses on the development of coaches working within the professional game and those aspiring toward the national teams and professional club environments. Through bespoke development programmes and targeted initiatives to grow female coaching talent, this role will contribute directly to preparing the next generation of elite coaches in the women's game.

What will you be doing?

Elite Coach Development:

• Serve as Team Lead, with designated responsibility for line managing colleagues within the coach development team and supporting the coordination of day-to-day activity.
• Provide bespoke support for coaches working in or progressing toward the UEFA Pro Licence and UEFA A Licence qualification, aligned to the demands of the women's professional game.
• Develop and manage individual coach learning plans for identified high-potential coaches working in the WSL, Championship clubs and coaches identified as high-potential throughout the pathway.
• Deliver high-quality in-situ support, including observations, feedback, and reflective conversations, to raise standards and deepen coaching expertise.

Support the Professional Game Coaching Landscape:

• Work closely with WSL and Championship clubs to improve coaching practices across technical staff.
• Drive a culture of continuous learning within clubs by facilitating CPD, peer networks, and communities of practice.

Targeted Talent Programmes for Female Coaches:

• Lead and contribute to the delivery of targeted development programmes for female coaches, with a focus on preparing them for roles in the professional game.
• Act as a mentor and advocate, helping to build confidence and capability in underrepresented coaches.
• Support the wider FA strategy to improve diversity within the senior coaching workforce.

Support and Manage Placement Programmes:

• Design, implement, and oversee placement opportunities within professional clubs for aspiring coaches.
• Ensure that placements offer meaningful, structured learning experiences aligned with each coach's development goals.
• Track coach progress and placement outcomes, contributing to succession planning within the women's game.

Other:

• Executes additional tasks as required to meet the FA's changing priorities.
• Comply with all company policies and procedures to ensure that the highest standards of health, safety, and well-being 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.

What are we looking for?

Essential for the role:

• Hold a UEFA A Licence.
• Strong experience in elite women's football environments (WSL, Championship, WNL).
• Proven ability and experience in developing coaches through in-situ support, observation, and feedback.
• Experience supporting or delivering high-level coaching qualifications and CPD.
• Strong understanding of club environments, performance demands, and coach progression pathways.
• Passion for supporting underrepresented groups and promoting inclusive development practices.
• Ability to influence and persuade individuals and groups internally and externally with clear, well-researched views consistent with the FA's strategy on player and coach development.
• Ability to work within a multi-disciplinary team and to build effective/collaborative internal relationships across the men's and women's coach development teams.
• Commitment to continuous learning and development.
• Flexible approach to working hours.
• Proficient skills in Microsoft Office and IT.
• Leadership experience.

Beneficial to have:

• Experience working within or closely alongside professional clubs in the women's game.
• Proven track record of mentoring coaches, particularly within the A or Pro Licence pathways.
• Knowledge of the FA and club structures across the women's football pyramid.
• Skilled in creating reflective and experiential learning environments for adult learners.

Direct reports - Women's Professional Game Coach Developers.

Please note, we are also searching for a Women's Professional Game Coach Developer, which can be found on our FA Careers page.

What's in it for you?

We are committed to ensuring everyone can flourish in their roles, to achieve this we have unique office spaces under the arch of the iconic Wembley National Stadium, which is the home of English Football. We are also delighted to offer a world-class, Elite Performance Centre, St. George's Park in Staffordshire, which is an exceptional setting to develop and inspire high-performing England teams and leaders.

We pride ourselves in offering a competitive salary as well as great opportunities to develop and grow in your role. But that is not all; we also have a range of exciting benefits, some of which can be found below:

• Access to event day tickets at Wembley Stadium, alongside a host of regular internal events throughout the season, encouraging you to connect and learn with your colleagues and look after your mental health and well-being.
• Free, nutritious lunches at Wembley Stadium and St. George's Park.
• Free private medical cover.
• A contributory pension scheme.
• An additional 'Thank You' days leave, volunteering days as well as 25 days annual leave (based on a full-time, permanent contract.)
• A hybrid working model which offers greater flexibility.

For more information on what it is like to work at The FA, please visit our FA Careers page, https://www.thefa.com/about-football-association/careers

We are a diverse workplace, aspiring to represent football across the country. The Football Association actively promotes inclusion and diversity, encouraging you to be the best version of yourself at work.

We welcome applications from everyone and are proud to be an equal opportunities employer. If you have any particular requirements in respect of the recruitment or interview process, please mention this during your application.

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