Department: Football Division – Boys Academy Administration and Education Team 

Hours of Work: Full Time (flexibility to work evenings and weekends is required for this post) 

Contract Type: Permanent

Salary: Attractive Remuneration Package depending upon experience

Location: Bodymoor Health Training Ground

Closing Date: Sunday 18 August 2024

1. The Department

Our Boys Academy Department has been awarded the prestigious category one status accolade, demonstrating that we provide the highest level of quality coaching, education, training and facilities for our youth football provision.

In order to deliver our ambitious plans for nurturing, encouraging and developing talent at this level, we have an exciting opportunity for a self-motivated and proactive individual to join our Player Care Team.

You will have the opportunity to support a programme that ensures that our off-field support is structured and co-ordinated leading to creating the best possible experience and environment for our Players.

2. The Role

In this role, you will lead on Safeguarding, Care and Accommodation Providers along with wider Player Care team objectives and working collaboratively with other departments across the Club. This will include:

Safeguarding – You will be the Designated Safeguarding Officer for the Boys Academy. This will involve being the first point of contact for any Safeguarding concerns, working closely with the Club’s Head of Safeguarding and providing Safeguarding support to colleagues, players and parents/carers (including maintaining online databases). You will also lead on providing Matchday Safeguarding support for Academy fixtures (and any First Team support as required).

Care and Accommodation Providers (Host Families) – You will be the first point of contact for players and host families ensuring that our host family offer is robust, flexible and meets the needs of those involved. You will manage the recruitment process and ensure that necessary checks have been undertaken.

Player Care - Supporting with Player Care programmes and projects (such as: player and parent voice) and liaising with the multi-disciplinary team (MDT). 

For further information about the Role, please see the Role Profile.

3. The Person

We are looking for a personable and approachable individual who has the ability to form positive and proactive relationships at all levels in particular with parents and players.

You must have worked within a high-performance sporting or education environment with young people with demonstrable experience of Safeguarding, escalating concerns when necessary and using reporting software (such as My Concern)

The successful postholder must have operational and administration experience as well as the ability to support the implementation and co-ordination of strategies, projects and programmes such as Mental Heath and Wellbeing and PREVENT.

Demonstrable experience of working at a Category 1 Academy within Player Care, Safeguarding, Education or Welfare is desirable.

Due to the nature of this role, you will need to hold a Full, UK Driving Licence with access to your own vehicle. You will also need to be available to work flexibly, including working matchdays, evenings and weekends.  

As part of your application, please ensure you upload your CV and Cover Letter.

Right to Close Vacancy Posting Early  

The Club reserves the right to close any advertised vacancies earlier than the advertised closing date if sufficient applications have been received.  

Equality Statement

Aston Villa Football Club celebrates the diversity of its Club and embrace equal opportunities for all. We are proud to be a Disability Confident employer and fully support The FAs Football Leadership Diversity Code. We welcome applications from all candidates regardless of age, race, disability, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership, sex and religion or belief.

Safeguarding Statement

Aston Villa Football Club is fully committed to safeguarding children and adults at risk across our Club. As such, we adhere to Safer Recruitment processes and for some roles a satisfactory enhanced disclosure via the Disclosure & Barring Service may be required prior to starting in a role at the Club. For more information, please see Aston Villa Football Club | The official club website | AVFC - Safeguarding