Academy Head of Football

LTE Group; Manchester; On-site; GBP 150,000 - 200,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent education group in Manchester is seeking an Academy Head of Football to lead and develop a high-quality football programme in partnership with community organizations. This role entails overseeing player development, building relationships within the football community, and ensuring the well-being of young athletes. The ideal candidate has a UEFA B Licence, coaching experience at high levels, and possesses strong leadership skills. Benefits include 35 days of annual leave and a significant pension contribution.

Benefits

35 days paid annual leave plus 8 bank holidays

3 well-being days per year

Significant pension contribution

Retail discounts

Employee Assistance Program

Cycle to work scheme

Qualifications

• Significant experience in coaching at Premier League level.
• Experience leading or coordinating staff/volunteers.
• Full UK driving licence, ability to drive a minibus.

Responsibilities

• Lead, develop, and deliver a high-quality football programme.
• Build strong relationships with schools and community partners.
• Champion safeguarding and professional standards.

Skills

UEFA B Licence

Experience in youth football programmes

Strong leadership skills

Excellent communication skills

Planning and organization

Ability to motivate young people

Education

Minimum UEFA B Licence, ambition for UEFA A Licence

Job description

Job description
Are you an inspirational football leader with the vision to shape the next generation of talent? We're seeking an Academy Head of Football to lead, develop, and deliver a high-quality football programme in partnership with FC United of Manchester and The Manchester College. You'll act as the public face of the Academy-building strong relationships with schools, grassroots clubs, and community partners-while driving the strategic direction of the programme. As lead coach, you'll deliver elite sessions, oversee player development pathways, and ensure scholars are supported both on and off the pitch. You will champion safeguarding, professional standards, and the DEAL values, while using performance data and analysis tools to track progression. If you're passionate about developing young players and creating clear routes into senior football, we want to hear from you.

We have an exciting opportunity to join our Sport, Public Services and Care Professions Department as Academy Head of Football (with FC United) on a permanent, full- time (35 hours per week) basis.

Who are TMC?

The Manchester College is the Largest Further Education College in the United Kingdom and has the largest provisions for 16-19yrs olds, adults, and higher education in Greater Manchester. We are part of the LTE group that consist of MOL, Total People, UCEN Manchester, Novus, and LTE Group Operations. We currently support more than 25% of Greater Manchester's learning provision and are currently rated "Good" by Ofsted. The Manchester Colleges offering is bolstered by 18 Centres of Excellence across our campuses, ensuring we give our best and strive to achieve an unrivalled learning experience for our students. We have partnerships with over 1000 industry and employer partners nationally to ensure our students secure their place as the leaders of the future.

Proudly, The Manchester College is also 1 of only 57 organisations nationally recognised with the Princess Royal Training Award 2025, demonstrating our commitment to investing in our people and their development.

Benefits

• 35 days paid annual leave plus 8 bank holidays.
• 3 well-being days per year.
• Significant pension contribution.
• Retail discounts.
• Employee Assistance Program.
• Cycle to work scheme.

Role Responsibilities

Please see the attached role profile for an overview of general role responsibilities.

Skills, Qualifications and Experience

To be successful in this role, you will need to:

• Minimum UEFA B Licence, with a willingness and ambition to progress to UEFA A Licence.
• Experience of the professional game as a player or coach at Premier League level
• Safeguarding and First Aid qualifications (or willingness to achieve).
• Significant experience in coaching and managing youth football programmes.
• Previous responsibility for leading or coordinating staff/volunteers.
• Experience of working in partnership with schools, grassroots clubs, and community organisations.
• Strong leadership and relationship-building skills.
• Confident communicator, capable of representing the Academy with professionalism and credibility.
• Excellent planning, organisation, and budget management skills.
• Ability to motivate and inspire young people, while providing honest and constructive feedback.
• Seen as a role model both on and off the pitch.
• Commitment to personal CPD and supporting the professional development of staff.
• Full UK driving licence, with the ability to drive a minibus for transporting players to away fixtures (training will be provided if required).

Safeguarding

The LTE Group is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. All applicants will be required to undergo an appropriate DBS check via the Criminal Records Bureau and may be subject to additional online checks as part of our pre-screening process. Some roles are exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 and would require an Enhanced DBS check.

Equal Opportunities Statement

At The Manchester College, we're committed to providing an environment free from discrimination, bullying, harassment, or victimisation, where all members of our community are treated with respect and dignity. The Manchester College is committed to working in an inclusive way with all the communities where we are geographically located and to developing a workforce and student community that reflects Greater Manchester's and the UK's rich diversity and vibrancy.

Closing date

The closing date for this job advert is 16/12/2025. However, sometimes the job advert may close early if we receive a good response!