Director of FA Learning

The Football Association have an exciting opportunity for a Director FA Learning.

The role will be responsible for the strategic development and delivery of a world-class learning offer for English football across coaching, medical, talent identification and safeguarding. The role will drive continuous improvement by increasing our offering to learners in the grassroots game, developing successful home-grown coaches in the elite game, cultivating a diverse coaching workforce, and implementing enhanced qualifications for all levels of the game.

We have partnered with Elevate Talent to support us on this role.

In order to apply, please send a cover letter and CV by an email

What will you be doing?

Strategic Leadership & Vision:

• Lead the delivery of the 2024-2028 FA Learning strategy, focusing on enhancing the quality, reach and impact of our learners' experiences.
• Ensure FA Learning programs are designed to develop elite coaches, a diverse coaching workforce and professionals with expertise in talent identification, medical education and safeguarding.
• Work with the Executive team / colleagues to ensure that the learner offer is integrated within the FA's broader mission and goals.

Delivery of a World-Class Learner Experience:

• Oversee the design and delivery of a personalised, inclusive and innovative learner experience that supports individuals at all levels, from grassroots to elite professionals, using best practice approaches and recognising industry trends.
• Champion the use of a digital ecosystem to provide tailored, data-driven learning journeys and ensure coaches and professionals can access on-demand resources, feedback and progress tracking.
• Support the development of innovative qualifications that contribute to the FA's reputation as a global leader in sports education.

Leadership & Team Management:

• Lead and inspire the team, ensuring alignment with the strategic vision and delivery of key priorities.
• Deliver a high-performance culture, recognising the need to embed shared values and behaviours that promote accountability, inclusivity and continuous improvement.
• Set clear objectives for the team to ensure high-quality program delivery and alignment with both educational and financial goals.
• Work with the Technical Directors and the Director of Women's Football to strengthen St George's Park culture and reputation as an outstanding home for England Teams and Coach Education.

Commercial Performance:

• Develop and manage annual budgets, ensuring that the delivery of educational programs meets profitability targets and contributes to the wider FA's financial objectives.
• Identify opportunities for new revenue streams, including sponsorships, partnerships and premium learning products that enhance the coaching offer and generate financial returns.

Stakeholder Engagement & Collaboration:

• Build and maintain strong relationships with key stakeholders, including national governing bodies, external educational institutions, sponsors and industry experts to ensure FA Learning's programs are aligned with industry standards and remain at the forefront of global football education.
• Act as an ambassador for FA Learning, representing the FA in national and international forums, including UEFA and working to secure partnerships that enhance the learner offer and drive organisational growth.

Safeguarding & Compliance:

• Ensure that all learning programs comply with the FA's safeguarding policies and promote a safe and inclusive learning environment.
• Develop and integrate comprehensive safeguarding training as a core element of the learner experience, ensuring all coaches and professionals are equipped to uphold the highest standards of player welfare.
• Executes additional tasks as required in order to meet FA Group 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:

• A proven track record of building high performing teams and developing a healthy and inclusive culture - can role model FA values.
• Experienced educator, who understands the power of learning principles and their application within a sports setting.
• Operates successfully in a matrix organisation where managing and influencing internal stakeholders is the norm.
• Has a naturally collaborative style that inspires others.
• Commercial acumen. Ensures effective use of resources whilst maintaining delivery quality.
• A skilled communicator who has the gravitas and confidence to engage, manage and negotiate with key stakeholders.

Beneficial to have:

• Experience in an educational / professional development setting.
• Background in football.
• Awareness of emerging trends in coaching, sport science and educational practices to ensure that delivery remains cutting edge.

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 wellbeing.
• 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.
• 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

Our Organisation

The Football Association [The FA] is the not-for-profit governing body of football in England. It is responsible for promoting and developing every level of the game, from grassroots through to the professional game, and generates significant revenue to support investment into English football each year.

The FA oversees England international teams across men's, women's, youth and disability football, as well as running the National League System and FA Competitions including the Emirates FA Cup, and Women's Adobe FA Cup, and the world-class facilities of Wembley Stadium and St. George's Park, all with a purpose to inspire positive change through football.

We currently work within a hybrid working model whereby the expectation is to work from your contractual location for part of the week, and as and when required by the team. The remaining days can be worked remotely. We will continue to monitor this model and it may be adjusted in future if deemed necessary.

Your contract with The FA will specify a fixed location of Wembley Stadium or St. George's Park unless the role is advertised as a home-based contract. The contractual location of this role can be found at the top of this advert on our FA vacancy page.

EDI Strategy

Our equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) strategy forms an integral part of our long-term commitment to using our influence across English football to create a game free from discrimination.

Our 2024 - 2028 strategy outlines three fundamental pillars for delivering a game free from discrimination - Boosting Representation, Driving Inclusion and Tackling Discrimination. These pillars ensure that our work uniting communities, improving lives, and inspiring positive change on and off the pitch will remain a core priority for English football for years to come. We are a diverse workplace, aspiring to represent football across the country. The FA 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.

Location: Staffordshire, GB

Posted Date: 11/25/2024