Step 5 & 6 Referee Support (Consultancy)

Develop and inspire the next generation... 

Our Refereeing team are excited to be searching for three consultants who will provide operational, developmental, and practical support to Step 5 & 6 referees within a defined region of the National League System, enhancing referee performance, education and retention in line with The FA Refereeing Strategy. To deliver these support services, there will be three (3) roles to ensure we can maintain a high level of service for the Step 5 & 6 competitions.

Role 1: South & West

• Covering: Hellenic League, SW Pool, Midland Pool, Wessex League
• Ideal base: South, Southwest, or Midland's regions

Role 2: South & East

• Covering: Eastern Counties League (ECL), Spartan South Midlands, SCEFL, South Combination, Essex Senior League, Combined Counties League (CCL)
• Ideal base: Southeast, London, Essex, Kent, East Anglia

Role 3: North & Midlands

• Covering: Northeast Pool, North Midlands Pool, Yorkshire Pool, United Counties League (UCL)
• Ideal base: Yorkshire, East Midlands, Northeast or surrounding areas

What You'll Do?

• Act as the primary point of contact for approximately 400 referees within the assigned region.
• Plan and deliver training, education, and development programmes aligned to The FA's frameworks.
• Conduct match day coaching and provide timely, constructive feedback to referees.
• Identify referees with promotion potential and support their progress.
• Deliver regular monthly updates and communications to referees to sustain engagement.
• Provide bespoke support to referees requiring performance improvement.
• Assist in the delivery of seasonal events, including assessments, inductions, and regional support sessions.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of referee interactions, feedback, and development activity.
• Collaborate with the National Referee Manager to ensure consistent delivery of national objectives across all regions.
• 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 You'll Need?

Essential for the role:

• Experience as a referee, observer, developer, or mentor within the National League System.
• Passion for referee development and a strong understanding of The FA Refereeing Strategy.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
• Ability to work independently and manage your own schedule.
• Willingness and ability to travel within the assigned region and nationally when required.
• Technological competence (e.g., Zoom, MS Teams, MOAS)

Beneficial to have:

• Previous involvement in referee education or talent identification.
• Experience in delivering CPD or development content.
• Familiarity with Step 5 & 6 leagues within the relevant region.

What's in it for you?

We pride ourselves in offering a competitive rate of pay as well as great opportunities to develop and grow in your role.

We are committed to ensuring everyone can flourish in their roles, and by doing this, we offer top-of-the-range facilities across two core business locations. 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 have 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 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.