Head of Coach Development, Methodology and Innovation

Nottingham Forest Football Club; Nottingham; On-site; GBP 100,000 - 125,000; Full time

Job summary

A prominent football club in Nottingham seeks a lead for coach development focused on innovative teaching strategies. The ideal candidate will have strong experience in elite coaching, demonstrate creative thinking, and be able to develop personalized growth plans for coaches. This full-time role requires excellent interpersonal and organizational skills within a collaborative environment.

Benefits

Opportunity to access tickets for events

Employee Assistance Programme

High street and gym discounts

Discount in Club shop

Free on-site parking

Qualifications

• Minimum of 3 years’ experience in elite Academy Football or equivalent.
• Positive and high energy outlook with ability to influence.
• Dedicated to self-improvement in a creative way.

Responsibilities

• Lead on coach development, focusing on methodology and innovation.
• Create individual CPD plans for all coaches.
• Implement innovation project groups to drive new ideas.

Skills

Creative thinking

Excellent knowledge of player development

Presentation skills

Interpersonal skills

Organizational skills

Education

Degree in Sports/Teaching related subject

UEFA ‘A’ Licence

UEFA Pro Licence (working Towards)

Tools

High level I.T. skills

Job description

Salary: Please state your expectations within your application

Contract: Full Time, 42 hours a week

Location:The Nigel Doughty Academy, Nottingham, NG2 7SR

Department:Academy

Reporting to:Head of Academy

Closing Date For Applications:31st August 2025

About the Role:

Nottingham Forest have created an exciting approach to talent development creating four clear pillars in our football delivery – 1. Team Coaching, 2. Individual Coaching, 3. Talented Player Performance & 4. Coach Development, Methodology Development and Innovation. This role will lead on pillar 4, driving our coach development, methodology and innovation.

This new position will, in part, replace the existing Head of Coaching role, a post we have decided to divide in two, separating player development and coach development. This will allow clearer focus on the delivery of world-class coach development, looking specifically at ‘how we teach’, as opposed to ‘what we teach’, and creating unique and exciting development plans specific to each coach’s needs.

We firmly believe our existing excellent staff have a fantastic knowledge of football, this post will now deliver a creative and cutting-edge approach to how we impart this knowledge to our players. The post holder will use research, data, and their own experience of modern teaching strategies, to challenge the norms in how a football curriculum and teaching is delivered, challenging our staff at the same time.

The Perks of the Job:

• Opportunity to access tickets for events at The City Ground.
• Employee Assistance Programme.
• Access to high street and gym discounts.
• Discount within our Club shop.
• Free on-site parking.

Key Tasks and Responsibilities:

• Understand modern and cutting-edge coach development, coach education, teaching and learning strategies in elite player development environments. Remain constantly aware of new concepts, ideas and technologies to place Forest ahead of our competitors.
• Create a unique and individual coach specific CPD plan and development plans for all coaches, focussing on teaching strategies and taking cognisance of learning styles and cognitive neuroscience
• In line with our Football Development & Talent Management Centre strategy deliver annual CPD, for all coaches, for phases, for specific groups of coaches and for individual coaches
• All coaches to have clear development plans based on Forest coach DNA and competency framework
• Implement a series of ‘innovation’ project groups across our disciplines, not just football and coaching, on specific topics, to drive ‘alternative thinking’ with an ‘all in’ mindset to trying new ideas and concepts, accepting to succeed, some will fail
• Own all football aspects, and creatively develop, our new full-time schools model and complimentary hybrid school release projects, and any other training pathway models we develop
• Own all football aspects of our ‘Magic Hub’ project, designed to introduce new pedagogy in our pre-Academy space across the Midlands
• Form a key part of our ‘football’ leadership team shaping the strategic direction of our Academy & B Team wide football programme in close collaboration with the Head of Football Development & Talent Management, Head of Academy, Transition Coach & Scout, Player Pathways Manager, Senior Coaches and our Player Development Managers. This is a key leadership and management role.

What are we looking for:

• A creative thinker with an outstanding track record in coach development and, methodology / curriculum development
• Ambitious and driven with a hunger to own and develop an exciting project
• Excellent knowledge of player development processes, coach development processes and modern teaching practice.
• At least 3 years’ experience working in elite Academy Football or equivalent in another sport or teaching environment.
• Focused on individual learning in a team setting
• Creative presentation and delivery skills.
• Excellent interpersonal skills with an adaptability to work with members of staff across departments
• Ability to work under pressure and willing to work unsociable hours
• Dedicated to self-improvement and personal development in a very creative way
• Organised, methodical and logical approach to work but with a creative spark
• High level I.T. and presentation skills
• Positive and high energy outlook with an ability to influence and motivate
• Enhanced DBS Check

Desirable (but not essential) Person Specification

• UEFA ‘A’ Licence
• UEFA Pro Licence (working Towards)
• Advanced Youth Award
• Degree in Sports/Teaching related subject.
• BFAS first aid award (or working towards)

Forest For Everyone

We aim to create a culture which embraces and celebrates our differences, enables individuals to feel comfortable, maximise their potential and eliminate discrimination.

Nottingham Forest Football Club is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified persons, regardless of age, disability, gender, gender reassignment, marital / civil partnership status, pregnancy / maternity leave, race, religion/belief, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected characteristic.

Nottingham Forest Football Club is a signatory of the FA’s Football Leadership Diversity Code. We are committed to developing policies to promote equal opportunities and diversity within our workforce. To monitor our progress against these commitments, we require all applicants to provide accurate diversity data during the application process.

Disability Confident Committed Employer

We are a Disability Confident Committed employer. We encourage applications from people with disabilities and long-term health conditions. If you need disability-related adjustments to the recruitment process, please indicate this in your application.

If you are likely to meet the definition of being a "disabled person" according to theEquality Act 2010, you may be eligible to apply for an interview via theDisability Confident Scheme- please indicate this in your application form below. The information you share with us about your health or disability will not be used in recruitment selections.

Our Commitment to Safeguarding

As part of the Club’s commitment to safeguarding, the successful applicant may be required to undergo a Disclosure Barring Service (“DBS”) check or an enhanced DBS check. The results of a DBS check will be considered on an individual basis, and the Club will act in a proportionate manner when deciding whether or not to proceed with the appointment.

An FA Enhanced DBS disclosure is required for all relevant new appointments to the Club. Individuals will be asked to declare any convictions, cautions or reprimands, warnings or bind-overs that may have been incurred. The Club reserves the right to carry out risk assessments where content has been disclosed on a DBS disclosure if it feels that it is relevant to the job requirements. Failure to satisfy the Club and the PL's safeguarding requirements may lead to the job offer being withdrawn or, if they have already started employment, summary termination of the employment.