Academy Player Care OfficerTottenham Hotspur

Who We Are

Founded in 1882, Tottenham Hotspur is an iconic English football club, playing in the Premier League and Women’s Super League. From North London to the world, our fanbase spans continents, cultures, and generations. Spurs is a club that’s always dared to push boundaries, breaking new ground and rewriting history.

We are at our brightest when we’re all together. Our club, our teams, our community. We are entering a new era at Tottenham with a new club strategy, new leadership, and a focus on putting our fans at the heart of everything we do as we continue to strengthen our connection with our DNA, our home, and each other.

We’re at our brightest when we’re all together. Our Club, our teams, our community.

The Role

• To provide high-quality, proactive and individualised Player Care support to Academy players across the U13–U17 age groups, supporting their personal development, wellbeing and progression through key stages of the Academy journey
• A key component of this role is supporting players through the transition from schoolboy to scholar, ensuring they are fully supported and prepared for the increased demands of full-time football. The postholder will work collaboratively with players, parents and the wider MDT to provide tailored pastoral support
• The role will focus on developing strong relationships with players, parents and staff, ensuring that players receive appropriate guidance, education and pastoral support to succeed on and off the pitch
• Working closely with the Academy Player Care Manager, the U9–U12 Player Care Officer and the wider MDT, the successful candidate will take responsibility for the planning, coordination and delivery of phase-specific Player Care provision

Key Responsibilities

Player Care & Pastoral Support

• Act as the primary Player Care point of contact for players and parents across the U13–U17 age groups, building positive, professional and trusting relationships
• Deliver regular individual player check-ins, identifying personal development needs, challenges and opportunities for additional support
• Identify emerging wellbeing or welfare concerns and work collaboratively with relevant MDT colleagues to ensure appropriate support and intervention
• Actively contribute to the Academy Pastoral Welfare Group, providing regular updates on players within the designated phase
• Attend and contribute to relevant player and parent meetings, including player reviews, providing a Player Care perspective on individual development, wellbeing and additional support needs
• Provide Player Care support during relevant Academy training, fixtures, tournaments and tours, both in the UK and overseas, as required

Personal Development & Life Skills

• Take ownership of the coordination and delivery of the Academy Personal Development programme for U13–U17 players
• This includes players on our Full-Time Training Model
• Take ownership of the coordination and delivery of the Academy Mentoring Programme
• Work alongside internal and external mentors to ensure activities and sessions support the development of identified personal attributes and behaviours
• Monitor player engagement, gather feedback from mentors and players, and use this feedback to review the programme
• Together with the U9–U12 Player Care Officer, plan and deliver Academy Enrichment Days for the U9–U14 age groups
• Work collaboratively with the MDT to embed Personal Development within the wider Academy journey
• Support the development and delivery of individual personal development objectives and plans, and track progression

Player Transitions & Progression

• Provide structured support to players navigating key transitions, including progression between age groups, entry into the Full-Time Training Model and the scholarship programme
• Provide bespoke support to players and their families who will exit the academy programme during the Youth Development Phase
• Contribute to transition planning with the MDT to ensure players receive consistent and joined up support
• Develop and coordinate a structured transition programme for incoming scholars, covering personal development, wellbeing, independence, professional behaviours and adjustment to full-time football
• Collaborate with the Academy Player Care Manager to review and improve the effectiveness of the Academy’s transition processes and ensure consistency across the player pathway
• Support the induction of trialists and newly signed players within the designated phase
• Coordinate with relevant MDT staff and internal stakeholders to deliver the new scholar induction

Parent Engagement & Education

• Establish and maintain positive relationships with parents and guardians, acting as a key point of contact for Player Care matters relating to U13–U17 players
• Take ownership of the planning and delivery of Parent Education Programmes, including Parent Conferences, ensuring content is relevant to the needs and experiences of parents at this stage of the Academy journey
• With the support of the MDT, provide appropriate guidance and resources to parents navigating key stages of their child’s development and Academy journey
• Together with the U9–U12 Player Care Officer, deliver the Parent Voice programme, ensuring parents feel listened to and receive feedback
• Oversee the Parent Voice programme for U17 parents, ensuring their views are heard and feedback is provided

Undertake any additional responsibilities and duties as reasonably requested by the Academy Player Care Manager, in line with the requirements and scope of the role.

Person Specification

Specific Experience

• Previous experience within an elite football or high-performance sporting environment
• Strong understanding of player development journeys in Academy football
• Experience providing pastoral support, personal development or welfare provision to young people
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills
• Strong organisational and planning ability
• Strong understanding of adolescent behaviour and development journeys
• Ability to build trusted relationships with young people, parents and other internal and external stakeholders
• Experience of working collaboratively across footballing, education, performance and pastoral environments

Desirable Experience

• Relevant qualification in education, youth work, life coaching, mentoring, wellbeing or a related discipline
• Previous experience in Player Care or Athlete Support in professional sport
• Experience as a key staff member on overseas tours
• Understanding of youth development rules and football governing bodies
• Experience of the EPPP and the Academy audit process

Skills & Knowledge

• Maintains high professional and personal standards
• Highly organised with the ability to manage multiple priorities effectively
• Strong communication skills with the ability to liaise with a wide range of stakeholders
• Proactive and detail-oriented approach to administration and operations
• Ability to work independently and as part of a wider team
• Competent in using digital systems, including SharePoint and athlete management systems
• Strong record-keeping and documentation skills
• Flexible approach to working hours, including evenings and weekends

Safeguarding & Recruitment Statement

Safeguarding is fundamental to the success in all that we do. The Club follows a Safer Recruitment process for all roles. Successful candidates are to be reminded they would be subject to proportionate background, DBS and reference checks as required for this role.

We welcome applications from anyone regardless of age, disability, gender, race, or ethnic and national origins, religion or belief, or sexual orientation.

Reasonable Adjustments

We are committed to providing an inclusive and accessible recruitment process and will make reasonable adjustments at any stage of the application or interview process to support candidates with disabilities or specific needs. Please let us know if you require any adjustments so that we can ensure you have a fair and positive experience.

Please note that we reserve the right to close this vacancy early should we receive a high volume of applications or due to business needs, so early applications are encouraged.