Department: Aston Villa Foundation and Community Partnerships – Villa Vision Team

Hours of Work: Full Time, 35 hours per week (including evening and weekends)

Contract Type: Specific purpose contract until 30 November 2026

Salary: Up to £32,000 per annum dependent on experience

Location: Villa Park (requirements to travel to and from schools and community sessions)

Closing Date: Tuesday 15 October 2024

1. The Department

The Aston Villa Foundation is the official Charity of Aston Villa Football Club and prides itself on being innovative in its approach in serving the community and helping to use the club as a ‘Force for Good’.

The award-winning Villa Vision programme is a unique eye health initiative, led by the Foundation and supported by the Premier League and Professional Footballers Association, Aston University, EssilorLuxottica OneSight, and the Wesleyan Foundation. The project’s intervention plays a vital role in reaching children, young people, and adults by inspiring, addressing and improving eye health needs of those within Birmingham and its surrounding areas.

2. The Role

You will form an integral part of the Villa Vision team, helping the Villa Vision Project Manager and Optometrist to plan, support and lead delivery of the work of the project, aligned to the strategic objectives of the Aston Villa Foundation.

Based at Villa Park and across school and community venues in the city, you will be responsible for not only leading on the dispensing needs of the project, but also play a key role in engaging and inspiring children and young people in the classroom. The project’s motivational workshops will educate participants on the importance of eye health, helping to address local health inequalities as well as Foundation priorities.

Project development and quality assurance of Villa Vision’s eye care provision will be core requirements and an expectation for the Villa Vision Dispensing Optician. You will support the Project Manager to ensure that KPI objectives are met, and regular performance analysis is strategically reviewed.

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

3. The Person

The Aston Villa Foundation is seeking a competent and driven Dispensing Optician, with excellent communication and active listening skills, along with the ability to show empathy and motivate others.

You will be key in facilitating the development and delivery of the project and work closely with the Project Manager in exploring growth opportunities to increase the range of programmes the project offers. Therefore, you must be able to demonstrate a sound knowledge of the eye health sector and the ability to build relationships with others.

As an experienced Dispensing Optician, you will have a proven track record in successful career progression and an appetite to apply your skills in a unique way. In addition to this, it will be important to have experience in working with a range of people, implementing monitoring and evaluation methods, and achieving outcomes and targets.

For further information and to ask any questions about the role, please contact Nikhil Sonpal by emailing ns09@avfc.co.uk@avfc.co.uk.

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

Right to Close Vacancy Posting Early

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

Equality Statement

Aston Villa Foundation celebrates diversity and embraces 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 Foundation is fully committed to safeguarding children and adults at risk across our Foundation. 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 Foundation. For more information, please see Aston Villa Football Club | The official club website | AVFC - Safeguarding