Player Care Lead

Theriseofwomensfootball; Greater London; On-site; GBP 45,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Chelsea FC is seeking a passionate Player Care Lead for the Women’s Academy at the Cobham Training Ground. You will lead the Football Education Programme, helping players balance football, education and life skills while coordinating welfare and development support across the Academy.

The role focuses on safeguarding, holistic athlete development, and coordinating with families, staff and external providers. An experienced leader with strong communication is essential.

Qualifications

• Experience in women’s football or youth development environments.
• Strong understanding of player care, welfare and holistic athlete development.
• Experience supporting young people and managing education or development programmes.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills with players, parents and staff.
• Strong organisational skills to manage multiple priorities.
• Commitment to safeguarding and welfare of players.
• FA Safeguarding and First Aid qualifications (or willingness to obtain).

Responsibilities

• Design, implement and lead the Women’s Academy Football Education Programme.
• Support players in balancing football and academic commitments.
• Manage relationships within the Academy homestay programme.
• Develop and grow the Academy’s homestay provision and long-term strategy.
• Monitor and report on player welfare, education and development needs.
• Support staff education and CPD programmes.
• Create engaging education initiatives for life as a professional footballer.
• Collaborate with colleagues across the Academy to share best practice.
• Support players and families with practical and welfare-related matters.
• Maintain contact with players on loan and provide ongoing support.
• Maintain a safe and inclusive environment for all players.

Skills

Women’s football

Player welfare

Education programme

Stakeholder management

Communication

Organisation & scheduling

Safeguarding

First Aid

Education

Postgraduate qualification

Job description

Job Description

Job Title: Player Care Lead – Women’s Academy

Location: Cobham Training Ground

Contract Type: Permanent, Full-Time

Closing date: 5th August 2026

Make a Lasting Impact On and Off the Pitch

We’re seeking a passionate and dedicated Women’s Academy Player Care Lead to support the holistic development of our young players. In this pivotal role, you’ll lead the Academy’s Football Education Programme, helping players balance their football ambitions with education, personal growth and life skills. Working closely with players, families and staff, you’ll ensure every player is supported throughout their Academy journey and prepared for success both within and beyond the game.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, implement and lead the Women’s Academy Football Education Programme
• Support players in balancing their football and academic commitments
• Manage relationships and support processes within the Academy homestay programme
• Develop and grow the Academy’s homestay provision and long-term strategy
• Monitor and report on player welfare, education and development needs
• Support the delivery of staff education and CPD programmes
• Create engaging education initiatives focused on life as a professional footballer
• Collaborate with colleagues across the wider Academy to share best practice and resources
• Support players and families with practical and welfare-related matters
• Maintain regular contact with players out on loan and provide ongoing support and feedback
• Contribute to a positive, safe and inclusive environment for all players

What We’re Looking For

• Experience working within women’s football and/or youth development environments
• A strong understanding of player care, welfare and holistic athlete development
• Experience supporting young people, including managing education or development programmes
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills with players, parents and colleagues
• Strong organisational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and schedules
• A proactive and creative approach to developing educational and personal development initiatives
• Experience working with external stakeholders, including educational providers and support services
• Commitment to safeguarding, welfare and player wellbeing
• FA Safeguarding and First Aid qualifications (or willingness to obtain)
• Postgraduate qualification or equivalent experience in a relevant field is desirable

Our Expectations

• To embody the club’s BLUE behaviours (Brave, Lead, Unity, Edge) in the approach to work and interaction with others
• To adhere to the club’s policies and procedures, including Health & Safety, Financial Authorisation, Confidentiality and GDPR.
• To act as an ambassador for diversity, equality, and inclusion, and demonstrate a positive commitment by treating others fairly in line with our Equality, Diversity & Inclusion Policy and reporting any acts of discrimination through appropriate channels
• To create a safe environment and act to protect all young people and vulnerable adults that are either in your care or attending club premises, and report any concerns to the Safeguarding Lead
• To report any misconduct or suspected misconduct to the HR Department

Our commitment to Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

At Chelsea we recognise that the diversity of our people is one of our greatest strengths and we are taking positive action to ensure our existing colleagues and job applicants can fully be themselves and bring their own unique experiences and perspectives to Chelsea FC. This means giving full and fair consideration to all applicants regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership, and pregnancy and maternity.

If you need reasonable adjustments made to the recruitment process, please reach out to your recruiter, who will be able to advise and support you.

Chelsea FC is fully committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of all children, young people and adults at risk (vulnerable groups). We therefore require all successful applicants to complete a DBS Check prior to starting employment. Depending on the role, successful applicants may also be required to undergo other child protection screening where appropriate.

Tagged as: England, Full Time, Leadership & Management, Player Care, women's football