Coach Inclusion and Diversity Scheme (CIDS)

The successful candidate will divide their time between their West Ham United Football Club employment and their individual development plan which includes enrolment to the Premier League’s Coach Development Programme

Company Description

1. About the club

At the heart and soul of London since 1895 West Ham United is a dynamic, fan-focused football Club constantly moving forward but always with an eye on the past.

Our home at the London Stadium has a capacity of 62,500 making it one of the biggest club Stadia in the country however our tickets are the lowest priced for London based clubs in the Premier League, echoing objectives to create Affordable Family Football.

In 2018, our Women's team gained a professional status for the very first time, jumping 2 divisions and competed in the Women's Super League (WSL), the premier division of women's football in England. After finishing a respectable 7th, the team enjoyed particular success in the FA Cup reaching the final of the competition, eventually being beaten by 2017 winners Manchester City.

In April 2019, we opened our brand-new Academy facility based at Chadwell Heath which will help to bring through some of the very best talents in the area, the recent emergence of First Team Players Declan Rice and Ben Johnson are a testament to the work already being done at the Academy.

On the business side, we are continuing to create a Stadium our supporters can call home, with the renaming of the Billy Bonds Stand and Claret and Blue pitch surrounding amongst the latest developments. Additionally, the Club has achieved the Disability Confident Leader status.

The Club employees a constantly growing workforce of approximately 300 core staff and 500 Foundation and events staff, and is a truly unique place to work. We welcome talented individuals who will thrive in our ambitious organisation.

In October 2023, West Ham United was awarded the Advanced level of the Premier League Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Standard, recognising the Club’s ongoing dedication and commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI). It is the second time West Ham United has received the award, which is the top accolade that can be achieved by Premier League clubs, having first been presented with the Advanced level in 2020.

Position

Contract Type: 23 – month fixed-term employment

Salary: £30,000 per annum

Premier League Coach Development Programme: The successful candidate will divide their time between their West Ham United Football Club employment and their individual development plan which includes enrolment to the Premier League’s Coach Development Programme

Location: Chadwell Heath, Rush Green Rd, Romford, RM7 0LU

1. Background

Professional football must better reflect modern Britain. West Ham United Football Club in partnership with the Premier League, are seeking to improve the diversity of football coaches in the professional game to make this area more representative of society and the playing population. As part of our commitment to improving diversity, we are proud to be able to support the Coach Inclusion and Diversity Scheme, Season 2024/2025, by providing a high-quality fixed-term employment opportunity to develop under-represented groups within the football industry. The scheme is open to coaches who are currently under-represented within English Professional Football – Men coaches from Black, South-Asian and Mixed Heritage backgrounds, and Women coaches from all backgrounds. We believe that having greater diversity helps the whole club to perform better both on and off the pitch.

2. What is the Coach Inclusion and Diversity Scheme?

CIDS provides a 23-month fixed-term employment opportunity and development programme for the successful candidate. The club will act as the ‘base’ of employment and the individual will work across a variety of football functions within the Club to broaden their learning experience.

The fixed-term employment opportunity will include coaching and observation across the Academy, and collaboration with multi-disciplinary teams. Successful applicants will enter the Premier League’s Coach Development Programme which is accredited by Leeds Beckett University. Upon successful completion of the programme, coaches will receive a Diploma in Professional Football Coaching. The development programme includes mentoring, workshops, peer learning, projects, and need-led access to FA/UEFA coaching qualifications.

3. Objectives of the Scheme

· To increase the number of coaches who are from Black, South-Asian and Mixed Heritage backgrounds, including women from all backgrounds in full-time coaching positions in English professional football

· To provide coaches on the scheme with a fixed-term employment contract and development opportunities within a Premier League or EFL Clubs

· To substantially improve long-term employment prospects for coaches who complete the scheme

· To provide each of the coaches with their own development programme to ensure that they are appropriately supported to become successful coaches and visible role models

· To assist in diversifying the workforce at Premier League or EFL Clubs, promoting a culture of equality, diversity and inclusion

4. The role and development opportunity

This is an exciting opportunity to coach across the Foundation Phase players in the Academy. Working under the co-ordination of the Head of Coaching & Lead Phase Coach to deliver weekly team and individual coaching sessions to an elite level and in-line with the Academy’s football philosophy and coaching curriculum across the Foundation Phase, and all age groups. Alongside the role you will also commit to fully engage in the Premier League Coach Development Programme accredited by Leeds Beckett University to develop your expertise.
 

Requirements

Background

This is a positive action scheme aimed at addressing some currently under-represented groups within the English professional game. CIDS is a development opportunity for coaches from Black, South-Asian and Mixed Heritage backgrounds, and Women coaches from all backgrounds. Applications will only be accepted from individuals from those backgrounds

Experience

•Coaches must not have previous experience of holding a full-time coaching role in a Premier League or EFL Club

Nice to have

•Experience of delivering effective and engaging coaching and player development support to children and young people (e.g. in education, grassroots, community coaching, or part-time development centre or Academy setting)

•Experience of coaching a team or group of players on a regular basis

•Experience of holistic youth development activities within, or beyond sport.

Qualifications

Essential

•UEFA B Licence

•Current FA Safeguarding Certificate (Prior to commencing role)

•Enhanced DBS Clearance (Prior to commencing role)

•Emergency First Aid Certificate (Prior to commencing role)

Nice to have

•Teaching assistant qualification or Teaching undergraduate degree

•Advanced Youth Award or UEFA A Licence

Person Specification

•Drive to become a football coach in English professional football and to help individual players, and teams, to successfully develop and perform.

•Passion to create developmentally appropriate learning environments for players.

•Commitment to fulfilling duty of care for children, young people, and adults in healthy, high performing environment.

•Exceptional interpersonal skills, and relationship building expertise.

•Resilience for the everyday rigours of high-performance football environments.

•High potential to be a world-class football coach and visible role model.

Other information

1. How To Apply

To apply for the vacancy please click the ‘apply’ button below. Applications are welcome from coaches who are from Black, South-Asian and Mixed Heritage backgrounds, and Women coaches from all backgrounds. Reasonable adjustments will be made for any applicant with a disability.

West Ham United Football Club and Premier League believe in equal opportunities and all applications will be assessed on merit only. All personal data that the applicant shares on the equality monitoring form will be submitted separately and not form any part of the application process. This information is collected simply to see if our advert is reaching a wide and diverse range of applicants who are applying for this role. The successful candidate will be selected based on merit as measured against the person specification, set out above.

West Ham United Football Club will only consider applications from coaches who are from Black, South-Asian and Mixed Heritage backgrounds, including Women coaches from all backgrounds.

Please follow these guidelines to apply.

1. Please demonstrate in your covering letter of no more than two pages, that you meet each of the criteria for the CIDS.

a. Eligibility for CIDS role & development opportunity

b. Experience

c. Qualifications

d. Person Specification

2. In addition, please include answers to the following questions in your covering letter.

a. Why you are attracted to the CIDS, and your ambitions for this specific role?

b. How does CIDS fit into your career plan, and the personal and professional development you have undertaken to prepare yourself for this role?

c. How would your unique expertise positively impact upon the club, and the players we support?

d. What is your understanding of the local demographic in East London and how would you approach building relationships to engage with local players?

e. Describe what excites you about supporting players in the foundation phase?

3. Please submit your CV alongside your cover letter.

2. Deadline For Applications

Please submit your application by 12 midnight Sunday 19th May.

Please email any queries to Jide Adedoyin careers@westhamunited.co.uk

Multi-stage assessment activities will take place across Wednesday 5 & Thursday 6th June & Monday 10 June.