Academy Performance Lifestyle and Player Support Manager

City Football Group; Manchester; On-site; GBP 30,000 - 45,000; Full time

Job summary

Join City Football Group as a Performance Lifestyle and Wellbeing Practitioner to deliver holistic support for academy players aged 8-19 at MCWFC. This role involves developing welfare curricula, managing host family arrangements, and ensuring effective transitions for young athletes. Ideal candidates have a degree in relevant fields or significant experience in elite sports, with strong safeguarding knowledge and communication skills. Join us in shaping the future of aspiring football players.

Benefits

26 days annual leave plus an additional day for birthday

Private healthcare

Discretionary annual bonus

Partnership and lifestyle discounts

Qualifications

• Degree or significant experience in elite sporting environments.
• Good knowledge of safeguarding practices.
• Experience in delivering support interventions.

Responsibilities

• Develop and deliver the Performance Lifestyle and Wellbeing curriculum.
• Manage the host families for academy players.
• Provide transition support for players entering and exiting the academy.

Skills

Safeguarding and child protection practices

Presentation skills

Support interventions design

Engagement with athletes

Diversity and inclusivity awareness

Education

Degree in Sports Management or Sport Science/Studies

Higher degree in relevant areas

Tools

Mental Health First Aid qualification

Professional Coaching & Mentoring qualification

Level 3 Certificate in Athlete Personal Development

Job description

Performance Lifestyle and Wellbeing Practitioner MCWFC Academy

Manchester City Women is an English football club initially founded by City in the Community in 1988. Relaunched by a formal partnership with Manchester City FC, MCWFC entered the FA Women’s Super League and professionalised in 2014. Success has followed in not only the FAWSL but also the Women’s FA Cup and Continental Tyres League Cup, while the team has regularly competed in the UEFA Women’s Champions League.

The team plays its home fixtures at Joie Stadium, a 7,000 capacity arena. The stadium sits on the wider Etihad Campus, which also encompasses the City Football Academy, a state-of-the-art training and development facility that houses its women’s, men’s and academy teams.

As part of our dynamic Performances Services team, the Performance Lifestyle and Wellbeing Practitioner will provide and lead the delivery and development of Performance Lifestyle and Wellbeing support to MCWFC Academy players (8-19 years). Within this role you will provide holistic support and development of the MCWFC Academy players in career, wellbeing, lifestyle and education, aligned to the MCWFC Performance Lifestyle and Wellbeing strategy.

Your Impact

You would play a vital and integral role in shaping and executing MCWFC Performance Lifestyle (PL) and Wellbeing provision by carrying out the tasks below.

1. Performance Lifestyles and Wellbeing Curriculum

• Develop and document an age/stage appropriate PL and wellbeing curriculum for MCWFC academy.
• Deliver and coordinate one-to-one and group-based player development, to support their journey as a football player and independent young person, e.g. time management, finance, social media.
• Support in the development of MCWFC Academy Performance Lifestyle and Wellbeing curriculum, to include parent/guardian education.
• Continual review and yearly assessment of the impact of the curriculum at each age group.
• Collaboration with MCWFC education department to ensure ongoing educational needs are met.
• Work with education to build external networks/links with education pro vide rs.

2. Support in the management of Host Families recruited for MCWFC academy players

• Lead in the recruitment of host families.
• Complete ongoing monitoring and supervision with host families.
• Complete administration tasks associated with host family process, including coordination of payments and safety certificates.
• Be the primary MCWFC contact for MCWFC Host Families

3. Provide proactive transition support as players transition onto, through and from for the MCWFC Academy.

• Collaborate across a multi-disciplinary team to ensure the highest possible standards and smooth transition process for every player.
• Build relationships and communicate with relevant stakeholders, including parents and guardians.
• Work with First Team Performance Lifestyle and Wellbeing Coach to assist in the transition of academy players into the First Team.
• Provide individualised transition co-ordination and support to players exiting the academy

4. Proactive member of MDT meetings and psychosocial wellbeing forums.

• Collaborate as part of an internal psychosocial group to facilitate mental health and wellbeing support to players.
• Co-ordinate, lead and case manage academy wellbeing forums.
• Monitor wellbeing action plans and external referrals.

5. To complete necessary administrative tasks to ensure successful service delivery, including the development of resources, notetaking and diary management.

Ensure that MCWFC Academy is compliant with the PGAAC regulations;

A) All documentation is up to date for the season.

B) Document is shared, signed and stored as appropriate

C) Preparation and delivery at the for the annual PGAAC audit.

6. To undertake any other reasonable duties as determined by Director of Performance Services and Performance Lifestyle & Wellbeing coach

• Build relationships with key stakeholders.

What we are looking for

• This is an opportunity for an individual who is at Degree level or equivalent in Sports Management, Sport Science/Studies or a discipline relevant to the support and development of high performing individuals. Or significant experience of elite sporting systems and environments from an athlete or coaching perspective.
• Good working knowledge of best practice safeguarding and child protection practices
• Experience of designing, developing, delivering and evaluating holistic support interventions across the areas identified in the MCWFC strategy and aligned to the PGAAC audit
• Experience of engaging Under 16yrs and Under 18yrs athletes or other high performing individuals on a group or 1:1 basis (if applicable)
• Able to create and deliver engaging presentations and workshops to a variety of stakeholders
• It would be advantageous to hold a Higher degree level or equivalent – in areas as above.
• Having a Level 3 Certificate in Athlete Personal Development & Lifestyle (TASS)
• Mental Health First Aid (MHFA)
• Professional Coaching & Mentoring qualification (any level) and/or individual accreditation (i.e. EMCC, ICF)
• Strong understanding of UK educational requirements with the skills to facilitate bespoke solutions that support both personal and performance ambitions
• Excellent prioritisation skills with the ability to proactively manage a large and diverse athlete caseload
• Understanding of and experience working with diversity and inclusivity awareness (cultures, languages, ethnicity, LGBTQ, religion, etc.)

This is Your City

As part of our team, you will be entitled to 26 days annual leave plus an additional day off for your birthday, private healthcare and a simply health cash plan, an annual discretionary bonus, plus a range of partnership and lifestyle discounts.

City Football Group promotes equal opportunities in employment and we positively welcome applications from all candidates regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation.

We will screen all applicants and select candidates whose skills and experience seem to meet our needs. We will carefully consider your application during the initial screening and will contact you only if you are selected for an interview.

Employment is subject to the provision of proof of eligibility to work in the UK.

Due to our safeguarding promise, all UK based CFG roles will be subject to a DBS check upon commencing employment with us. This will be either a basic, standard or enhanced check depending on the job role and responsibilities.

About the company

City Football Group Limited is a holding company that administers association football clubs.

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