Head Football Coach

The Student Enrichment Directorate is striving to play a pivotal role in developing, delivering and transforming a Wider Student Experience that is as impactful as anything in the world. We remain steadfast in our core commitment to accelerating the growth of far-reaching and market leading programmes across performance, participation and community outreach and engagement, whilst fostering a culture that safeguards academic excellence.

Durham University is one of Europe's leading sport universities and has been ranked in the top three for BUCS performance since 2013. In 2019 the University completed the construction of a £32m Sports & Wellbeing Park, making it the leading sporting facility in the north of England. The University was awarded the Times and Sunday Times Sports University of the Year for 2023.

Primarily the Head Coach will lead and develop the men's and women's football programme at Durham University. The post holder will be responsible for:

- The development and implementation of a strategy for football partnership development with National and County Football Associations, professional club foundations and local schools
- Lead on recruiting the best men's and women's footballers
- Develop a support structure and coaching network around the performance programme of both football and futsal
- Technical training, team development, competition strategy
- Promoting academic excellence

Service Delivery/Development:
- Show a commitment to equality, diversity and inclusion and the University's values
- Manage the delivery of the men's and women's football programme to a high standard
- Provide the best possible service by continually reviewing what is required from student athletes and the wider coaching and performance sport team and contribute to ideas and service improvements
- Work with your team to look for ways to improve processes and results across all programmes
- Contribute to the delivery of activities that generate external income
- Support activities which enhance the wider student experience

Planning and Organisation:
- Manage the delivery of operational activities carried out by the coaching team
- Continually seek to enhance the services provided to student athletes and plan and implement any required improvements
- Seek feedback from student athletes, staff and other key stakeholders so that the football programme is being adapted to meet expectations and to plan future requirements
- Manage and monitor the performance of the football programme and make recommendations to Team Durham senior management on how it can be improved
- Review data on the level of service provided by your team to recommend areas for future improvement
- Manage budgets and expenditure including buying (and returning) goods and services

Team Development:
- Ensure that your team can deliver the required services by devolving and delegating responsibilities to appropriate team members
- Carry out regular performance reviews to provide feedback on team and individual objectives and expectations and identify any development needs
- Ensure that your team continues to develop by coaching and mentoring team members and delivering any training needs
- Support the welfare and wellbeing of your team referring more complex issues to specialist services

Communication/Liaison:
- Use your operational expertise to participate in business meetings, working groups and sub-committees
- Keep stakeholders updated by sharing key service information about the football programme
- Use the best media and method to communicate with internal and external stakeholders
- Create positive working relationships, including internal and external networks
- Use your expertise to participate in and monitor communities of practice and partnership working, both internally and externally

Essential Criteria:
- Educated to degree level (or equivalent experience)
- UEFA B licence, working towards or relevant experience
- Experience of implementing policies and procedures and supporting change and service improvements
- Experience of providing specialist advice and guidance to a range of customers and colleagues, including more senior colleagues
- Experience of participating in internal or external networks to share and discuss good practice and develop strong and productive working relationships
- Experience of managing and developing a team or teams in a high-performance environment
- Possession of a full driving licence with no endorsements
- Excellent spoken and written communication skills including the ability to develop effective working relationships, both internally and externally
- Strong digital competence across a range of digital devices and apps including digital communication tools and Microsoft 365 applications
- Committed to continuing professional development to maintain professional recognition
- Knowledge and experience of ensuring compliance with regulatory and organisational policy and guidelines
- Ability to solve problems and decide on and plan appropriate solutions
- Ability to contribute to planning at an operational level

Desirable Criteria:
- Experience of football at performance levels
- Experience of partnership development
- An understanding of BUCS and the HE sporting landscape
- An understanding of the needs of students competing at a high level in performance sport

Benefits:
- 30 days annual leave per year in addition to 8 public holidays and 4 customary days per year – a total of 42 days per year
- Parking across campus, cycle to work scheme, and discount with local bus and train companies
- Discounted membership for state of the art sport and gym facilities and access to a 24-7 Employee Assistance Programme
- On site nursery and access to holiday camps for children aged 5-16
- Generous family friendly policies including maternity and adoption leave
- Comprehensive range of development courses, apprenticeships and access to qualifications
- Staff volunteering opportunities
- Discounts via benefits portal including supermarkets, high street retailers, IT products, cinema and days out
- Generous pension schemes