Job Title: - Head of Youth Academy

Qualifications: -  UEFA A Licence

Report to: - Chief Executive Officer

Terms: - Full Time Permanent / Fixed Term Contract

Salary: - Dependent on the level of experience of the successful candidate. The role will command an attractive and competitive salary

Job Purpose: - To be responsible for the strategic leadership and operation of the Club’s Academy and to oversee and manage the development, co-ordination, and implementation of the Club’s Academy Programme for all age groups.

Overall objective: - Recruit, develop and retain high quality local talent, through the academy and into the first team but are also capable of regularly and successfully competing at the group stages of UEFA Club competitions for Derry City FC.

Knowledge, Skills and Experience Required: - Experience of working in a fast paced, dynamic environment is preferable. The successful candidate will have an intimate, in-depth knowledge of the football landscape, in particular the Northwest region and ideally will have previous experience of working in a professional football environment.

It is a necessity that the successful candidate possess a can do attitude and has the ability to build strong networks and develop positive relationships across a wide range of sectors. It is also a necessity that the person has strong planning, organisational and communication skills with an understanding of regulatory and compliance requirements from a FIFA, UEFA & FAI perspective.

Main Responsibilities: - The main responsibilities of the Head of the  Academy  shall include (unless otherwise approved by the Board),

• Ensuring that the Academy Philosophy, Vision, and Culture are always upheld, whilst also adhering to LOI Academy Development Programme Rules.


• Guiding the development of the Academy’s Player Development Philosophy, Coaching Philosophy and Coaching Curriculum.


• Drawing up and implementing the Academy Performance Plan.


• Ensuring the Academy meets the performance targets set out in the Academy Performance Plan whilst advising the technical board on any action to be taken to meet those targets.


• Sourcing the best available facilities for the development of our academy players and coaches.


• Create and uphold the optimal learning environment throughout the programme.


• Integrate the use of technology to aide the Player Development process.


• Providing monthly Academy Progress Reports to the CEO & Board.

Strategic

• Talent Identification and Recruitment: The academy manager will develop a strategic approach to identifying and recruiting young players, ensuring that the academy attracts and nurtures the most promising talent from the Northwest region. This includes forming relationships with grassroots clubs, schools, and scouting networks.


• Development Pathways and Progression: The Head of the academy will design a clear progression pathways for academy players, aligning with the first team’s playing philosophy. This includes setting development milestones, planning individual player programs, and ensuring a smooth transition from academy levels to senior football whilst utilising the loan system if required.


• Coach Development and Training Philosophy: The Head of the academy  will set and implements the academy’s coaching philosophy and development programs, ensuring that all age groups follow a consistent training approach. This also involves recruiting and developing a high-quality coaching staff.


• Academy Compliance and Accreditation: Ensuring that the academy meets the standards and requirements set by the Football Association of Ireland, the academy manager will work on maintaining and improving academy standards with the objective of ensuring the highest level of LOI Academy accreditation.


• Stakeholder Engagement and Collaboration: The Head of the academy  will foster relationships with key stakeholders, including the Board, the Chief Executive Officer, senior club management, first-team coaching staff, parents, sponsors, and external partners, to align the academy’s objectives with the overall club strategy and secure long-term support.


• Creation of Departments within the Academy Structure: - The Head of the Academy will devise and implement a multi-disciplinary academy structure that will provide all necessary supports and assistance for the most promising young players in Ireland to fulfil their potential.

Management: -

• Managing, mentoring, and directing all staff members of the Academy in their respective roles.


• Ensure that the Club’s safeguarding policies and procedures are adhered to by all Academy staff, partners, officials, and participants.


• Ensure all staff undertake mandatory CPD (Continuous Professional Development) and have the relevant qualifications for their role.


• Deal directly with issues that arise from parents, and if necessary report to Chief Executive Officer or similar.


• Preparing, monitoring and managing the annual academy budget.


• Liaising with the 1st Team Manager as appropriate.


• Liaising with the respective Underage International Head Coaches to actively promote our most promising young players at international level.

Technical: -

• Ensure the Technical Programme runs in accordance with the Academy Philosophy.


• Monitor sessions and assess the productivity of the work in conjunction with the Academy Philosophy.

• Oversee the creation, maintenance and updating of individual player profiles.


• Monitor the evaluation of players Individual Development Plans against Academy performance targets and ensure the implementation of new individual performance targets every 12 weeks.


• Ensure that the Academy medical and sports science staff devise a comprehensive programme for the screening, recording, and profiling of every individual academy player.

• Maintain and develop an Academy recruitment plan – Scouting/Pre-Academy Development centres/Training Days/Festivals.

• Advise the Board of Directors and make recommendations on professional contract awards.

Miscellaneous : -

• Establish effective links with player’s parents and schools.


• Outline the philosophy, aims and objectives of the Academy to players and parents and ensure that they are fully aware of their responsibilities.

• Establish effective and positive relationships with external partners and stakeholders including grassroots clubs, grassroots leagues, governing bodies and sponsors/partners.


• Liaise with agents of players over the age of 15.5 years of age.


• Actively engage with all stakeholders to ensure that our academy players are afforded the best possible opportunities to progress their careers.


• To oversee the Loan Management function within the club.


• To minute and appropriately disseminate information of all Academy meetings as and when required.

• To be responsible for your own behaviour and act in a manner that avoids and discourages any form of discrimination or harassment; to comply with all Derry City FC policies and procedures.

• In addition to these duties, the job holder is required to carry out such other duties as may be reasonably required.