Academy Manager

Academy Manager

Salary: £ Competitive depending on skills and experience

Hours: Full time, 40 hours

Contract Type: Permanent

Location: Partington Sports Village with travel to all SCFC sites across Manchester and Salford.

Reports To: Director of Football

The Purpose:

Our Academy Manager will oversee our Category 3 Academy to ensure the development of our upcoming talent from U9s all the way through to U18. We are very successful in the development of young talent, with many Academy players receiving pro contracts and progressing to the First Team. We are looking for our next Academy Manager to build upon this success and take it to the next level.

The role will provide strong leadership, acting as the main point of communication between the Director of Football, CEO and Board for our youth development function. It will oversee, motivate and challenge our footballing teams through the Club’s philosophy and high-performance approach. 

This role sets the direction, tone and vision of the Academy. The key focus will be:

• Ensuring a first-class Academy experience where our players can thrive in a positive environment.
• Establishing a culture of excellence by driving standards and behaviours to the highest level.
• Creating opportunities for personal and career development for the future.
• Ensuring the wellbeing of players and staff remains the ultimate priority.
• Ensuring player education is fully supported throughout the Academy journey.

About You:

Our Academy Manager will be an inspirational and organised individual who will ensure that we continue to develop our players so that we deliver first-class football and produce the best talent. As an established leader with an impressive record of success within the football industry, you will deliver results in a fast-paced environment.

We are looking for a strategic planner, organiser and co-ordinator, with the ability to motivate others to achieve set objectives. By taking ownership and accountability in this key position, you will add value to both the Club’s on-field and wider objectives. The successful candidate will possess experience of working within a professional football environment. You will be very familiar with EPPP regulations and audit requirements.

As a strong believer in a one team culture and a passion for developing young talent, you will have a natural ability to empower and support others to achieve their objectives and drive standards. Credibility within the game will be fundamental.

You'll shape our elite coaching programme to harness talent and maximise opportunities for our young players. We also strive to ensure our players feel physically and psychologically safe to learn, train and play at their best. This role will be integral in helping players feel supported, able to achieve their full potential and enjoy success. You will act in a manner that supports the club’s values of industry, integrity, and welfare.

A calm and professional approach and the ability to work collaboratively is a must. You will be able to build strong partnerships through a positive and proactive approach so that we successfully navigate challenges, influence outcomes and build links with our local networks.

The Role:

Strategic leadership

• Oversee and lead the Academy to embed a strong ‘One Club’ Salford City Footballing Philosophy, Coaching Philosophy and Coaching Curriculum which aligns all players and playing staff to the overall footballing strategy.
• Act as a senior representative for all Academy footballing matters, evaluating performance, KPI’s and objectives to ensure targets are met, advising the Director of Football, CEO and Board where appropriate.
• Create a strong connection between all Academy football teams and promote a ‘golden thread’ throughout team structures.
• Create, implement, deliver and measure the Academy Performance Plan.
• Design, implement and manage the Academy’s Coaching Curriculum.
• Ensure Academy staff implement the Club’s values and standards.
• Line management of the Head of Education, Head of Coaching and Head of Recruitment and key performance staff.
• Ensure that departments are compliant with statutory and football regulations, ensuring all regulatory aspects of the EFL’s EPPP framework are met, whilst providing a safe and enjoyable environment for the staff and players to develop within.
• Lead on the EPPP audit process and co-ordinate departments to ensure everything is in place and uploaded to meet tight deadlines in order to meet rules and regulations.
• Champion the existence of an emerging talent pipeline to ensure there is an ongoing succession plan to ensure consistency and continuity through the creation of succession plans.
• Support recruitment for the Academy in conjunction with the Head of Academy Recruitment.
• Implement clear and robust processes across the Academy.
• Ensure excellent value for money, working with the Finance Team to ensure the Academy is ran efficiently and effectively.

   

  Welfare and Wellbeing

• Deliver an outstanding Academy experience to players and their families through the delivery of high educational and welfare standards.
• Ensure that the welfare of players and staff is a number one priority so that our youth players have the best experience possible whilst at the Club.
• Line management of Academy medical staff to ensure high standards and clear processes are in place.
• Achieve a high level of educational standards for all players and support extra-curricular development.
• Ensure the transition strategy is embedded at the Academy, especially for players who leave the club.
• Support the Head of Safeguarding with embedding a positive safeguarding culture and ensure best practice.
• Act as an Academy DSO and compete the necessary training to meet safeguarding standards,
• Ensure that all Academy staff undertake Continued Professional Development and have completed mandatory training.

   

  Communication and collaboration

• Encourage collaboration and links between the professional footballing departments and the rest of the Club to help drive wider Club ambitions.
• Contribute to the Technical Board to shape the club’s vision, philosophy, objectives, strategies, pathways etc and academy performance as part of the overall football strategy.
• Implement an excellent communication process with players and parents, ensuring all players receive regular, structured feedback on their individual development.
• Ensure there is integration with performance and medical staff to achieve optimal results and provide support to overcome any barriers.
• Ensure data is captured and recorded on Kit Man Labs, ensuring clear communication across the Academy.
• Act as an ambassador across the Club, enabling clear, concise and early communication channels across all football teams, departments and the Salford City FC Executive Team.
• Chair AMT meetings and lead regular multi-disciplinary meetings ensuring collaboration across all departments.
• Innovatively enhance Salford City’s reputation through interactions, networking and collaboration with other Football Clubs, parents, schools, grassroots clubs, colleges and universities.