Football Development Officer

Southampton Football Club; England; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 42,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

2 free match tickets per home game

Staff health & wellbeing initiatives

Discount Southampton FC merchandise

26 days’ holiday plus birthday

Job summary

Southampton Football Club is seeking a Football Development Officer to oversee and coordinate high-quality coaching programmes within the UK & International Football Programmes Department. The role aims to increase player participation while meeting budgetary targets.

You will manage the school football programme, generate income to support the department, and ensure top-quality delivery. You will supervise staff, monitor observations, and collaborate with the Head of Football Programmes to

Qualifications

• Experience in line management of staff and coaches.
• Proven track record of implementing football and multisport programmes to generate income.
• Understanding of best-in-class football, PE & School Sport delivery.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate and manage the department's school football programme and delivery.
• Ensure coaching provisions generate income to support department operations.
• Monitor coaches and recording observations; plan staff schedules.
• Recruit and supervise staff; allocate tasks and monitor performance.
• Develop all delivery provision with growth, profit and quality targets in mind.

Skills

People management

Income generation

Football delivery expertise

Industry experience

UEFA B Licence (Desirable)

PE & School Sport knowledge (Desirable

Job description

Be part of our journey… Location: StMary’s Stadium, Southampton Hours: FullTime Contract Type: Permanent Criminal Record Check: DBS Enhanced with Child's Barred List

What is the role?

We are look for a Football Development Officer to oversee, manage and coordinate the planning, delivery and monitoring of high quality coaching programmes within the UK & International Football Programmes Department aiming to increase player participation, ensuring that all delivery is ‘best in class’, whilst achieving budgetary targets.

What will you be doing?

You will coordinate and manage the department's school football programme, ensuring all coaching and provisions generate the relevant income to support the smooth running of the department as well as high-quality programme delivery, ensuring everyone receives the best possible experience. Providing support, training and guidance to all staff, you will ensure consistency of services and equip them to deliver the curriculum as per the requirements of the partner, club or centre. This will involve the monitoring of coaches and taking responsibility for the recording and tracking of observations as well as the planning and execution of the coaching staff schedule. You will work with the wider team to recruit and supervise other members of staff working within the department to ensure the tasks are allocated, standards of performance are clearly set and any concerns are appropriately reported and actioned. Alongside the Head of Football Programmes, you will develop all delivery provision within the relevant service line, ensuring growth, profit and quality assurance targets are met.

Is this you?

You are committed to the role and available to deliver across the UK & international football development programme where need be, as well as deliver at least 1 x international trip per year overseas and understanding of evening and weekend requirements. You have knowledge of commercial football delivery, in both professional clubs and private companies and experience of quality assurance procedures relevant to the industry.

Essential Skills and Experience:

• Experience in line management of staff and coaches.
• Proven track record of implementing football and multisport programmes to generate income.
• Have a good understanding of the components needed to ensure the SFC is the ‘Best in practice’ for football, PE & School Sport delivery.
• Minimum of 3 years industry experience
• Hold minimum of a UEFA C Licence/FA Level Two UEFA B License (Desirable)
• afPE 1st4sport Level 3 Certificate in Physical Education and School Sport (Desirable)

How this benefits you…

• Access to x2 free match tickets for every home league game.
• Access to our staff Health & Wellbeing initiatives (Mental & Physical Health).
• Discounted Southampton Football Club merchandise.
• 26 days’ holiday per year excluding bank holidays plus your birthday off each year.
• Contributory Pension Scheme.
• Worldwide Travel Insurance for you and your family.
• Learning & Development opportunities - supporting you to develop your potential and achieve in your career.
• Free onsite parking.
• Cycle to Work Scheme.
• Collaborative & inclusive working culture.

The closing date for applications is 30 September 2026. We reserve the right to close this vacancy early, if a high volume of applicants are received.

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk and we expect everyone to share this commitment. You will be required to adhere to all relevant policies and uphold the Club’s commitment to safeguarding children, young people and adults at risk and to ensure that Southampton Football Club is free from discrimination and harassment. The post holder will demonstrate a strong commitment to equality, diversity, and inclusion, supporting the organisation’s strategic aims to remove barriers and address inequality. You will play an active role in promoting an inclusive, discrimination‑free environment that ensures fair access to opportunities and resources. This includes fostering a culture of dignity, respect, and belonging where everyone is empowered to contribute, perform, and reach their full potential.

About Us POTENTIAL INTO EXCELLENCE

Southampton FootballClub is part of St.Mary’s Football Group, which also includes the affiliated registered charity – the Saints Foundation. We look for people with integrity, compassion and support for those around them; people who take pride in what they do with an honest approach, who embrace a challenge while also being accountable for their decisions; people who have the energy and passion to bring an innovative approach to their role and strive to be different from the rest; people with the aspiration to lead the way and become an example to others. Within the walls of St.Mary’s Stadium, Staplewood Campus, the Bath Academy and our other sites and development centres across the South of England, you’ll be given the platform to work in a vibrant, intelligent and challenging environment with the potential to develop and become the best at what you do. We don’t stand still, we are constantly moving forward. Be part of it… Southampton Football Club 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 have the Disability Confident Award, which we pride ourselves on with regard to the commitment to employing disabled people and judging people on their abilities alone. 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. We make a commitment to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for a job vacancy and to consider them on their abilities. Southampton Football Club is an Equal Opportunities Employer Employment is subject to the provision of proof of eligibility to work in the UK. Southampton Football Club recognises that the safety and protection of those children and young people in day to day contact with the Club is paramount. We are committed to creating a safe culture for all. As such, you may be subject to a satisfactory enhanced disclosure via the Disclosure & Barring Service and prior to taking up any role. Southampton Football Club is committed to protecting the privacy and security of every applicant’s personal information. Please see our Recruitment Privacy Notice and Group Privacy & Data Protection Policy on our main careers page for further information.