FA Women's Talent Education Coordinator for Schools (Fixed Term Contract until June 2028)

Impact, on and off the pitch

The Barclays Talent Education Programme is a brand-new initiative designed to build on the incredible success of the Barclays Girls' Football School Partnerships. This innovative programme will strengthen the links between education and football for talented female players.

The programme will bridge the gap between the Barclays Girls' Football School Partnerships and the talent pathway, creating more opportunities for talented girls aged 8-16 in schools to transition into the talent system. Additionally, it will ensure that girls aged 14-16 already within the talent system receive comprehensive support for their football development, academic studies, and lifestyle management.

The FA Women's School Talent Education Coordinator will contribute to the design, development, and delivery of the Barclays Girls' Schools Talent Education Programme. Working within a designated region, the postholder will be responsible for implementing the programme in their regional area.

We will have 6 Talent Education Coordinator roles, based across the UK; North East, North West, Midlands, East, London & South East, and South West. Please select your preferred region on the application form. Please note that you will expected to either live within region or be able to easily and frequently travel to and within the region.

Interviews are scheduled to be held in person on Wednesday 21st May 2025. If invited to interview please be prepared to be available for the full day. Location is to be confirmed.

What will you be doing?

• Drive the implementation of the FA's Girls' Schools Talent Education Programme within a specific region, ensuring alignment with the overarching objectives of the England Talent Pathway.
• Lead the regional execution of a plan across the schools' network to ensure a clear pathway for talented schoolgirls into the talent system. To include an effective development programme for staff within the Barclays Girls' Football School Partnerships (BGFSP) network, around the identification of talented girls.
• Develop and implement a framework that provides bespoke academic support for talented players, including creating literature on dual career pathways.
• Establish and sustain strong relationships with key external stakeholders in the region, including the network of hub schools within BGFSP, the Youth Sport Trust, Women's Professional Game Academies (PGA) and County FA's.
• Work with Women's Professional Game Academies and clubs within the region to ensure that effective dual career support is provided to talented players.
• Work with colleagues across Women's Technical and the wider FA to support female talent development across the region.
• Develop and deliver a comprehensive parent education programme to enhance parents' knowledge and skills in supporting their child through key playing transitions as a talented player.
• Establish and support a network of Education Mentors who support talented girls within education settings, supporting the education, playing and performance well- being needs.
• Collaborate closely with the FA Women's Player Education & Lifestyle team to conduct regular case conferences for high-potential players on dual career pathways.
• Maintain a confidential player database, ensuring it is regularly updated, accurate, and compliant with data protection regulations, while also keeping a secure record of Education Individual Development Plans (EIDPs) collected from clubs.
• Lead the regional delivery of a means-tested hardship fund, providing grants to players and schools to help eliminate barriers to talent.
• Attend departmental meetings and collaborate with internal teams to ensure alignment and consistency in delivery across the FA Women's School Talent Education Team.
• Work collaboratively with the FA Women's Technical Team to support the successful implementation of the Women's Technical Strategy.
• Executes additional tasks as required to meet the FA's changing priorities.
• Comply with all company policies and procedures to ensure the highest standards of health, safety, and wellbeing can be maintained.
• As part of the FA's commitment to ensuring a safe environment for everyone in football, every employee will be required to complete a DBS check. The level of the check required will be based on the activity of the specific job role and in line with legislation and government guidance.

What are we looking for?

Essential for the role:

• Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) or equivalent.
• Thorough understanding of the National Curriculum, public examination syllabuses, and assessment criteria.
• Experience or familiarity with the Barclays Girls' Football School Partnerships (BGFSP) network.
• Experience in supporting talented students and managing academic transitions.
• Excellent communication skills, with a proven ability to collaborate effectively with both internal and external teams.
• Adoption of a modern, progressive approach to teaching and learning.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications.

Beneficial to have:

• Knowledge of talent identification systems in football.
• Proven success in developing and implementing educational programmes within sports.
• Strong understanding of women's football.
• Knowledge of flexible education pathways.
• Knowledge of the English Schools FA (ESFA) and Independent Schools FA (ISFA) network.
• Understanding or experience in club / academy-based sports.
• Committed to personal development and ongoing training, with a willingness to work flexible hours.
• Extensive knowledge and training in safeguarding children.

A full clean driving licence is required, and a full enhanced DBS check will be required if offered the role.

What's in it for you?

We are committed to ensuring everyone can flourish in their roles, to achieve this we have unique office spaces under the arch of the iconic Wembley National Stadium, which is the home of English Football. We are also delighted to offer a world-class, Elite Performance Centre, St. George's Park in Staffordshire which is an exceptional setting to develop and inspire high-performing England teams and leaders.

We pride ourselves in offering a competitive salary as well as great opportunities to develop and grow in your role. But that is not all; we also have a range of exciting benefits, some of which can be found below:

• Access to event day tickets at Wembley Stadium, alongside a host of regular internal events throughout the season, encouraging you to connect and learn with your colleagues and look after your mental health and well-being.
• Free, nutritious lunches at Wembley Stadium and St. George's Park.
• Free private medical cover.
• A contributory pension scheme.
• An additional 'Thank You' days leave, volunteering days as well as 25 days annual leave (based on a full-time, permanent contract.)
• A hybrid working model offering greater flexibility.

For more information on what it is like to work at The FA, please visit our FA Careers page, https://www.thefa.com/about-football-association/careers

We are a diverse workplace, aspiring to represent football across the country. The Football Association actively promotes inclusion and diversity, encouraging you to be the best version of yourself at work.

We welcome applications from everyone and are proud to be an equal opportunities employer. If you have any particular requirements in respect of the recruitment or interview process, please mention this during your application.

As part of the FA's commitment to ensuring a safe environment for everyone in football, every employee will be required to complete a DBS check. The level of the check required will be based on the activity of the specific job role and in line with legislation and government guidance