Academy Auditor - Coaching

The role

• Using the Academy Standards assessment framework, assess the quality of Coaching provision across talent development pathways
• Accurately and fairly report findings, identifying quality, risk and development areas.
• Manage the end-to-end auditing/quality assurance process, ensuring the operation runs as smoothly as possible for the club and auditing team
• Ensure a consistent assessment is given, no matter the auditor or club.

• Deliver annual Club visits to ensure adherence with Safe to Operate and Compliance guidelines and the Youth Development Rules and FA Criteria
• Support the development of a suitable Academy standards framework and auditing practices
• Using outcomes from Club audits to undertake trend analysis to inform future learnings
• Meet tight deadlines
• Ensure the auditing team maintains an up-to-date knowledge of good practice

Requirements for the role:

• Experience working, coaching and leading development programs with young athletes, especially within an academy system or development squads (male or female pathways)
• Leading or mentoring other coaches, including designing CPD programmes or overseeing coaching frameworks
• Sound knowledge of talent identification and pathways
• Experience in navigating complex and highly pressurised working environments and cultures, establishing effective working relationships across a diverse range of stakeholders (sporting directors, senior decision makers, first team managers/coaches)
• Working within a multidisciplinary environment, collaborating with analysts, sports science, medical, education, player care, safeguarding, etc
• Previous experience in reviewing, assessing and developing recommendations for multidisciplinary development programs at a strategic level
• Prior leadership and management experience
• Experience working with children and adults at risk and/or knowledge and understanding of issues that affect their safety and wellbeing

• High practical and theoretical understanding of coach and talent development demands in elite level sport (age-appropriate coaching principles, long-term player development models, talent ID and progression mapping)
• Understanding and appreciation of context and cultural differences between clubs of different sizes and philosophies
• Understanding and comfort in Quantitative and Qualitative assessment

• Interviewing skills and observational analysis
• Effective relationship builder
• A consultative approach with a range of techniques to gain understanding, connect and build trust
• Analytical ability to identify areas for improvement, perform root-cause analysis and convert findings into required actions
• Ability to make sound judgements based on evidence gathered during audit activity
• Ability to see both the big picture and enabling detail
• Clear and concise verbal communication skills
• Ability to present findings and communicate them to Club staff in a developmental way
• Can defend a point of view in a composed and confident way
• Ability to present written information in a structured and balanced way appropriate to the needs of the reader
• Strong time management and organisational skills
• A team player who understands values and collaboration
• High-level emotional intelligence and interpersonal skills who seek and act on feedback
• Builds trust by showing humility, behaving consistently and putting the needs of others first
• Listens to others’ perspectives and understands why people (individuals/groups) do what they do

Application Information