Department:  Football Division - Women’s Football and Girls Academy Department

Hours of Work: Full time (35 hours per week, including working evenings, weekends and matchdays)

Contract Type:  Permanent

Salary: £35,000 - £40,000 per annum depending on experience

Location: Primarily based at Bodymoor Heath Training Ground (although travel to other Aston Villa premises may be required e.g. Villa Park)

Closing Date: Monday 26 August 2024

1. The Department

The Women's Football Department consists of our Senior First team who compete in the Barclays Women's Super League, the highest league in the country for professional women's football. The Department also consists of a Girls full youth academy structure, ages ranging from U9 through to U21 Academy programme.

In continuing our journey and building for the future, we are focusing our efforts to ensure our Women's Team and Girls Academy have the resources in place to help us deliver our ambitious plans for nurturing, encouraging, and developing talent and striving to become a leading force in Women’s football.

This role will work specifically within our Women’s Football and Girls Academy Department but with a dotted line into our Safeguarding Department.

2. The Role

This role will play an integral part in creating a positive, safe and supportive environment for our Women’s and Girls Academy players. Working as the Safeguarding and Player Welfare Officer, you will be responsible for providing effective safeguarding and welfare leadership for Aston Villa Football Club Women’s First Team and Girls Academy. . This will include managing and reporting any incidents or concerns (supported by the Head of Safeguarding), completing safeguarding risk assessments, developing and implementing a welfare and education programme for young Players and providing a physical presence at Women’s First Team and Girls Academy sessions and games.

You will work closely with the Women’s First Team Management and the Club’s Head of Safeguarding to deliver the Club’s Safeguarding strategy, vision, values, priorities, policies and aims to promote and protect the welfare of children and adults at risk (vulnerable groups).

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

3. The Person

You must be a safeguarding and/or welfare professional with a relevant degree or professional qualification or equivalent experience with a working knowledge of legislation, government guidance and national framework for Safeguarding Children and Adults at Risk.

You will also need to hold an in-date FA Safeguarding Children Certificate or be willing to complete the FA Safeguarding Children workshop within 3 months.

You will need to be able to effectively communicate both verbally and in writing with colleagues, players and parents/carers in a fast-moving environment whilst demonstrating integrity, discretion and maintaining confidentiality. You should have demonstrable experience of dealing with sensitive and confidential personal information and data and be proficient in using Microsoft Office and Safeguarding Systems (such as maintenance of case records using MyConcern).

Due to the nature of this role, you will also need to be available to work flexibly, including working matchdays, evenings and weekends.

For further information and to ask any questions around the role, please contact Ashlee Milliard (Head of Safeguarding) at am89@avfc.co.uk.

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