Academy Player Care Lead (U13 to U18) & Age Group Lead Coach

This is an exciting opportunity to join the Club as Academy Player Care Lead (U13 to U18) & Age Group Lead Coach on a full-time seasonal contract (18 hours per week) for 2025/26 season, commencing 23^rd June 2025.

The successful candidate will proactively take forward the ‘Next Generation Plan’ incorporating the specific needs of all age group players and their holistic development. As Academy Player Care Lead (U13 to U18) & Age Group Lead Coach you will provide evaluative reports on Player Care provision, making recommendations for future improvements and be responsible for the development and management of the Player Care programme and provision from U13 to U18.

You will also be responsible for the delivery of relevant, innovative & enjoyable coaching practice and for supporting all relevant Heads of Department with the transition, integration and personal development of our players.

Other duties will include:

• Ensure player welfare is always the primary consideration in all Academy activities.
• Ensure all Player Care & Wellbeing EPPP requirements are met and reviewed quarterly, including Safe to Operate, Compliance & Standards sections.
• Work with the HoE to design and implement the Club’s Personal Development and Life Skills plan for U13-U18 Academy players, supporting the delivery when required.
• Work with the HoE to maintain the Mental Health and Emotional Wellbeing strategy.
• Take a lead on the Academy Induction, Transition & Exit strategy for U13-U18 players.
• Support the transition of players into the Full-Time training Model at Scholarship.
• Support the PDP Multi-Disciplinary Staff with the transition of players out and back in from loans, supporting with site visits and review meetings, to ensure all relevant Safeguarding and welfare measures are in place.
• Liaise with the Recruitment Department regarding trialists & signings with a focus on accommodation, transport & safeguarding.
• Initiate and manage an Alumni programme at the Club, ensuring contact with ex Academy players.
• Assist HoE with the school release programme working, closely with the YDP Coaches, ensuring parents, players & schools are informed of all the relevant information.
• Implement and contribute to the review of the Host Family programme within the Academy, as well as overall management of the Host Family programme.
• Work with welfare & safeguarding staff to ensure all players staying with Host Families are in safe and secure accommodation in line with DBS requirements and internal screening processes, with regular suitability reviews on living accommodation.
• Deliver an annual support programme for Host Family and scholar family members.
• Assist with the organisation of Academy tours for U13 to U18 age groups.
• Lead and coach an individual age group within the U11-U12 Cell.
• Develop & progress adaptable young players who aspire to play high quality possession-based football for ECFC.
• Produce & communicate individual player development plans (IDP’s) for designated age group, with a key focus on each player’s ‘Star Quality’.
• Watch and clip footage of designated age group, providing IDP related feedback to players and team-based feedback to the group on a weekly basis.
• In line with the Academy Review Schedule, complete 6-weekly written reports for one designated age group and lead on 12-weekly review meetings.
• Work from an aligned & periodised coaching curriculum that is constantly reviewed.
• Assist with the planning and delivery of coaching sessions twice a week with a second schoolboy Academy age group.
• Commit to on-going process of continuous personal & professional improvement, maintaining personal professional qualifications to on-going required standards.

Qualities

• Capable planner & innovative programme creator & writer (essential).
• Effective communicator (verbal & written) & relationship builder (essential).
• Capable of working collaboratively with players, staff & others (essential).
• Personable, approachable & friendly manner (essential).
• Committed learner & willing educator (essential).
• Willingness and enthusiasm to cooperate & take responsibility when necessary (essential).
• Resilience to deal with difficult situations (essential).
• Good computer and numeracy skills (essential).

• Academy football experience (desirable).
• Experience of working in a sporting environment to provide Player Care support (desirable).
• Coaching young & youth team age players in a professional Club/Academy (essential).
•  Knowledge & understanding of the Designated Safeguarding Officer role (desirable).

• High degree of personal drive & motivation (essential).
• Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) enhanced certification (essential).
• Upkeep & update all professional & industry qualifications through related external CPD (essential).
•  Undertake Continued Professional Development organised by Exeter City Football Club including: Safeguarding, Equality, Diversity & Inclusion.

Who are we?

Exeter City Football Club is a special club with over 20 years of Supporters’ Trust ownership something we are very proud of. Our ownership model places our supporters and community engagement at the forefront of everything we do and we are proud to have a special place in the heart of the community. Trust ownership is reflected in our commitment to balancing on-field success with long-term sustainability and we have a remarkable track record of nurturing talent through our Academy, promoting players to the first team, and maximising their performance.

Culture

We recognise the advantages of having a diverse workforce with a broad range of skills, diversity of experiences and perspectives and we embrace the creativity and innovation this brings. We pride ourselves on having an inclusive culture and a workplace that brings opportunity, development and growth. We embrace a culture of accountability where we set clear expectations and goals, open lines of communication and strong leadership.