Academy Head of Player Care

AFCB Sydney Supporters Group; Bear Cross; On-site; GBP 55,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Free onsite parking

Season ticket

Subsidised lunches

Discounts at club store

Health plan access

Employee assistance programme

Eye care contributions

Pension & life assurance

Birthday day off

Job summary

AFC Bournemouth is seeking an Academy Head of Player Care to lead the Player Care department within the Academy Management Team, develop the Academy Performance Plan, and oversee audits and safeguarding in a challenging youth development environment.

You will work across age groups, with a focus on U15-Dev. Squad, ensuring players receive holistic, high-quality support and development opportunities aligned with the club's values.

Qualifications

• Minimum 3–5 years' experience in an Academy Management Team within academy football.
• Ideally 3–5 years' experience managing Player Care staff in an Academy.
• Strong knowledge of PGAAC audits, compliance and Academy standards.
• Proven experience developing and delivering Player Care programmes.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building with players, parents and staff.
• Strong leadership, organisational, and multidisciplinary working skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Player Care department within the Academy Management Team (AMT) and write the Academy Performance Plan.
• Manage the PGAAC audit process within Player Care (Safe to Operate, Compliance and Standards).
• Oversee holistic Player Care programme across age groups, focusing on U15-Dev. Squad.
• Ensure players are supported throughout their Academy journey.
• Develop systems supporting player behaviours.
• Collaborate with Alumni & Transitions Manager during key moments (recruitment, release, injury, scholarships, contracts).
• Work with safeguarding and multidisciplinary staff to prioritise player welfare.

Skills

Player Care Leadership

Audit & Compliance

Staff Management

Multidisciplinary Collaboration

Communication

Job description

Academy Head of Player Care

Application Deadline: 14 October 2026

Department: Academy - Player Care

Employment Type: Permanent - Full Time

Location: AFC Bournemouth Performance Centre, Wimborne

Reporting To: Head of Academy

Description

Adhere to our Player Care purpose of supporting player development by building a positive and supportive environment for our players to develop as people. This individual must have Academy Player Care experience, as well as experience managing PGAAC Audit’s and staff.

The Academy has been driving towards excellence over the years and since achieving Category One, this is a really exciting time to join us, as we move on to the next stage, and continue to support the First Team.

Academy Values:

• Players First: every player valued. Every decision made with care.
• Togetherness: working as part of a wider team and willing to contribute beyond own interests.
• Integrity: carrying out academy and club values in an open and honest manner.
• Accountability: willing to take responsibility for actions, allowing for learning, growth and reflection.

Key Responsibilities

Player Care

• Lead the Player Care department within the Academy Management Team (AMT), including writing the Academy Performance Plan, managing the Player Care KPI’s and leading on the Audit.
• Manage the PGAAC audit process within Player Care (Safe to Operate, Compliance and Standards).
• Lead the Academy’s holistic Player Care programme across all age groups, however, this role will focus on U15-Dev. Squad age groups.
• Ensure players are supported throughout their Academy journey.
• Develop systems that support player our player behaviours.
• Work closely with the Academy Alumni & Transitions Manager to support players during key transition moments, including recruitment, release, injury, scholarships, and professional contracts.
• Work closely with safeguarding and multidisciplinary staff to ensure player welfare remains a priority.

Working with Families

• Build strong relationships with parents and families across the Academy, focusing on U15-Dev. Squad players.
• Deliver parent engagement events, workshops, inductions, and ongoing communication programmes.
• Support families in understanding Academy expectations, player pathways, and personal development opportunities.
• Act as a key point of contact for player and family support matters.

Collaboration & MDT Working

• Work collaboratively with coaching, medical, psychology, operations, recruitment, and safeguarding departments.
• Attend multidisciplinary meetings and contribute to individual player support plans.
• Provide guidance and education to staff around player care, communication, and wellbeing best practice.

Other Duties

• To ensure the club’s mental health & wellbeing objectives are embedded in your department's actions, procedures and dealings and to have a good knowledge of the processes to support staff's mental health & wellbeing.
• To ensure commitment to the club’s safeguarding vision and to actively promote the policies within your department, embedding safeguarding into procedures.
• Obligation to promote and monitor the club’s health and safety policy and procedures within your department
• Responsibility to comply with the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, and all related Company policies, taking reasonable care for their own safety and that of others, reporting hazards or incidents, following safe systems of work, and co-operating with all training and emergency procedures.
• To ensure the club’s equality aims, action plan and policies are in evidence in all departmental actions, procedures and dealings.

The duties and responsibilities described are not a comprehensive list and additional tasks may be assigned to the employee from time to time; or the scope of the job may change as necessitated by business demands.

Skills, Knowledge and Expertise

• Minimum 3–5 years' experience working within an Academy Management Team in Academy football.
• Ideally 3–5 years' experience managing Player Care staff within an Academy.
• Strong knowledge and experience of PGAAC audits, compliance and Academy standards.
• Proven experience of developing and delivering Player Care programmes.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills with players, parents and staff.
• Strong leadership, organisational and multidisciplinary working skills.

Benefits

• Free onsite parking.
• Season ticket and allocation of complimentary/purchased tickets (subject to availability).
• Subsidised lunches and complimentary healthy snacks throughout the day.
• Discounts at the club Superstore.
• Access to Health Cash Plan with Simplyhealth.
• Employee Assistance Programme
• Contribution towards eye tests and glasses.
• Discounts and benefits from partners and local businesses.
• Club pension & Life Assurance Scheme.
• Paid parental leave (bank of five days per year).
• Club events or other social events throughout the year run by our club social team.
• Paid volunteer opportunities (2 days per year).
• Paid day’s leave on your birthday.