Job purpose:

To develop and deliver a holistic Player Care programme that is in line with the Academy Performance Plan. This should support the personal, professional, and emotional development of Academy players from U9-U18. This role aims to enhance player experiences on and off the pitch, build strong relationships with families, and prepare players for future opportunities both within and outside football.

Based at: Stockport County Training Centre, Stockport Sports Village, Cheadle Hulme School (Matchdays)

Reports to: Head of Academy Education

Responsible for:
• All Academy players (U9-U18) and their holistic development, wellbeing, and transitions.
● Managing relationships with parents, ensuring open communication and support.
● Driving equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) initiatives across the Academy.
● Collaborating with the Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT).
● Coordinating with external stakeholders such as the LFE, PFA, Premier League, EFL, education providers, mental health professionals, and community organisations.
● Supervising interns or work placement students contributing to Player Care activities.

Key relationships
● All academy players
● Academy Management Team
● U9-18 Coaching Staff
● Academy parents

Key responsibilities
● Planning, organising, and delivering a high-quality life-skills programme to aid personal development
● Assist with the planning and delivery of SEP (Sporting Excellence Performance)
● To support the mental and emotional wellbeing of all academy players
● Deliver creative and engaging in-house workshops
● To ensure the Academy player care provision meets audit requirements.
● Inducting and exiting players in a caring and organised manner
● Manage host family relationships effectively, ensuring compliance with safeguarding and welfare standards
● Coordinate external workshops and opportunities with key stakeholders such as The LFE, PFA and The FA.
● Supporting with the planning and coordination of trips, tours, and tournaments across the Academy
● Alumni engagement and post-football pathways for exiting players.
● Ensure cohesion, conflict resolution and support management of individual players
● Compliance with club policies
● Compliance with the club’s health and safety procedures
● Compliance with the club’s safeguarding policies
● Undertake such other duties as may be reasonably expected
● Maintain professional conduct at all times

Knowledge & Skills required
• Strong understanding of safeguarding and welfare
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, with an ability to use a variety of communication tools (verbal, written, digital)
● Strong organisational and administrative skills
● IT skills, including the ability to use Microsoft Office and platforms such as Google Drive.
● Innovative and creative
Desirable
● Higher Education qualification in a suitable area of study (e.g. Psychology)
● Qualification in player care
● Mental health first aider
● Experience in social and/or pastoral care
● Understanding of the EPPP (Elite Player Performance Plan) and its requirements

Personal attributes
● Dedication and commitment to developing young people
● Caring and compassionate
● Empathetic
● Ability to work under pressure and to tight deadlines
● A genuine team player
● Displays a high level of discretion and maintains strict confidentiality
● Personable with an ability to build individual relationships
● Strategic thinker
● Ability to adapt to changing circumstances
● Loyal and committed

Club Values
● Courage and Faith (Animo Et Fide)
● Be Courageous
● Be Brave
● Be Inclusive and Fair
● Have Resilience
● Trust in Each Other
● Dream Big

DBS check required: Yes