Senior Lead - Performance Education

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Sector: Sport, Leisure and Fitness
Role: Specialist
Contract Type: Permanent
Hours: Full Time

We have a great opportunity within our FA Education team for a Senior Lead Performance Education

The Senior Lead Performance Education will be responsible for the strategic design and delivery of all learning and development activities that drive the education of support staff situated within the technical departments of professional football. The role plays a pivotal part in building and sustaining a culture of excellence within the professional game by ensuring that technical performance staff and key professional game stakeholders have access to cutting-edge education, resources, and support that enhance their ability to deliver elite football performance.

What will you be doing?

• Lead the development and execution of education and development programmes for technical departments within male and female professional football, with a focus on talent identification, physical performance and holistic player development.
• Collaborate closely with technical directors, sports scientists, and performance teams to ensure that educational programs are aligned with current best practices in football and contribute to the long-term success of teams and individuals within the performance pathway.
• Collaborate with technical and coaching teams to identify educational needs and deliver tailored programs that align with the FA's performance philosophy.
• Deliver a talent identification and development education strategy for the male and female game.
• Design and deliver the FA Education strategy for the UEFA Fitness for Football framework.
• Design and implement continuous professional development (CPD) frameworks within each specific domain to ensure that staff remain at the forefront of football performance trends, methodologies, and innovations.
• Ensure the consistent integration of the latest trends, technologies, and methodologies into performance education, enhancing the opportunity for a competitive edge.
• Build a workforce that can deliver sector-leading learning programmes across talent identification and development, UEFA Fitness for Football, and other technical department domains.
• Collaborate with FA Technical Departments Head of Performance to ensure education remains applied and relevant.
• Deliver a systemic approach to diversifying the workforce across performance domains by leading and implementing equality, diversity and inclusion initiatives within the field.
• Track and evaluate the effectiveness of all activity through a strategic approach to research and insight, using data to inform continuous improvement and adjust activity as needed.
• Regularly report on progress, identifying key outcomes and areas for further development to ensure the continuous enhancement of coach development programmes.
• Manage the budget for coach development programmes, ensuring resources are effectively allocated to support key initiatives.
• Execute additional tasks as required in order to meet FA Group's changing priorities.
• Comply with all company policies and procedures to ensure the highest standards of health, safety and well-being can be maintained.
• Complete a DBS check as part of The FA's commitment to ensuring a safe environment for everyone in football.

What are we looking for?

Essential for the role:

• Undergraduate/postgraduate degree in sports science or related area.
• Deep understanding of football performance principles, including player development, tactical strategies, sports science, and the physical, technical, and psychological demands of elite-level football.
• Proven experience in designing, implementing, and managing educational programs or curriculums within high-performance environments, particularly in sports.
• Strong leadership skills with the ability to inspire and guide teams.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills to engage with a wide range of stakeholders.
• Familiarity with adult learning theories, instructional design, and modern educational delivery methods.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal, with the ability to engage and influence stakeholders at all levels.
• A forward-thinking approach, with the ability to innovate, adapt, and integrate the latest research, methodologies, and technologies into performance education.
• Ability to think critically and solve problems effectively, making informed decisions to enhance performance structures.
• Experience in managing budgets, resources, and timelines for large-scale programs or initiatives.

Beneficial to have:

• Hold a UEFA coaching qualification (or equivalent).
• Previous experience working in a high-performance or elite football environment.
• Experience in mentoring and developing future leaders within football.
• Understanding of sports science, including biomechanics, physiology, psychology, nutrition, and recovery processes.
• Proficiency in using performance analysis software and tools.
• Familiarity with football governing bodies, competition rules, and policies related to coaching and performance standards.
• Experience in managing organisational or cultural change, particularly in advancing gender equality within sport.

What's in it for you?

We are committed to ensuring everyone can flourish in their roles, with unique office spaces under the arch of the iconic Wembley National Stadium. We offer a competitive salary as well as great opportunities to develop and grow in your role. Benefits include:

• Access to event day tickets at Wembley Stadium.
• Free, nutritious lunches at Wembley Stadium and St. George's Park.
• Free private medical cover.
• A contributory pension scheme.
• Additional Thank You days leave, volunteering days, and 25 days annual leave.
• A hybrid working model which offers greater flexibility.

For more information on what it is like to work at The FA, please visit our FA Careers page.

We are a diverse workplace, aspiring to represent football across the country. The Football Association actively promotes inclusion and diversity.

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.