Role Title: Women’s Professional Development Phase Coach
Department: Women’s Football
Location: York College, with travel to associated training and match venues
Contract: Full-time
Reports to: Head of Education Partnerships & Designated Safeguarding Officer
Working Hours: Full-time hours as required by the role, including evenings, weekends and bank holidays in line with training, fixtures, education commitments and programme events

Purpose of the Role

To lead the delivery of the full-time Women’s Professional Development Phase programme based at York College, creating a high-performance learning environment that integrates football development with players’ education. The postholder will support the technical, tactical, physical, psychological and social development of players, planning, delivering and reviewing coaching and match programmes aligned to the programme’s playing philosophy and performance objectives. Working closely with York College and multidisciplinary colleagues, the coach will maximise each player’s progression through individual development planning and prepare players for senior women’s football.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the planning, delivery and review of the coaching programme for players in the Women’s Professional Development Phase.
• Deliver high-quality training sessions and matchday coaching in line with the programme’s game model, coaching methodology and player development priorities.
• Lead the PDP games programme on Wednesdays and take responsibility for either the U18s JPL team on Saturdays or the York City Women’s B team on Sundays, including match preparation, team selection, matchday delivery and post-match review.
• Plan the football programme around the York College timetable, working collaboratively with college staff to support players’ educational progress, attendance and wellbeing.
• Create and maintain Individual Development Plans for players, ensuring targets are clear, measurable and regularly reviewed.
• Monitor player progress through observation, review meetings, performance feedback, video and relevant performance data.
• Work collaboratively with multidisciplinary staff, including sports science, medical, education, and safeguarding colleagues, to provide a genuinely holistic development programme.
• Support players joining and progressing through the programme, contributing to succession planning and transition into senior women’s football, further education or other appropriate pathways.
• Contribute to squad management, player selection, match planning and post-match review processes.
• Maintain accurate and timely programme records, including session plans, player reviews, development updates and required performance or education monitoring systems.
• Attend and contribute to programme meetings, player reviews, continuing professional development and wider football and college discussions.
• Work closely with staff across the women’s pathway to ensure continuity of coaching and effective transition between development stages.
• Contribute to the identification, recruitment and assessment of prospective players and trialists when required.
• Act as a positive role model, maintaining high professional standards and reinforcing the values and behaviours expected within the programme and York College environment.

Key Relationships

The postholder will work closely with the Head of Education Partnerships, Women’s Head Coach, Designated Safeguarding Officer and York College teaching and support staff, multidisciplinary practitioners, education colleagues, and coaches across the wider women’s pathway. The role will also involve regular communication with players, parents/carers, senior-team staff and external partners where appropriate.

Safeguarding, Compliance and Professional Standards

• Promote and uphold the highest standards of safeguarding, player welfare and student wellbeing at all times.
• Comply with all club, York College, competition and governing body policies and procedures, including safeguarding, equality, diversity and inclusion, health and safety, anti-discrimination, confidentiality and data protection.
• Maintain appropriate professional boundaries and behaviours expected when working with young people.
• Ensure all coaching practice is safe, age-appropriate and reflective of current best practice in women’s player development.
• Undertake mandatory training and maintain all qualifications, licences and clearances required for the role.

Essential

• UEFA B Licence or equivalent coaching qualification appropriate to the level of the role.
• Experience of coaching within a high-performance youth, academy, college or women’s football environment, ideally within the Professional Development Phase.
• Strong understanding of player development within the women’s pathway, including individual learning, transition and progression planning.
• Ability to design and deliver high-quality training and match programmes for players in the Professional Development Phase.
• Experience of creating, monitoring and reviewing Individual Development Plans and player feedback processes.
• Ability to work effectively with college staff and within a multidisciplinary team, building strong professional relationships.
• Excellent communication, organisation and planning skills, with the ability to coordinate football and education commitments.
• A clear commitment to safeguarding, welfare and the holistic development of young people.
• FA safeguarding and first aid qualifications, or willingness to obtain and maintain them.
• Enhanced DBS clearance and eligibility to work in the UK.

Desirable

• FA Advanced Youth Award or equivalent youth development qualification.
• Uefa A License
• Experience of working in the women’s and girls’ game, particularly with full-time college-based players or players transitioning towards senior football.
• Experience of supporting dual football and education programmes.
• Experience of using video, data and performance management systems to support player development.
• Knowledge of competition, player registration and performance planning requirements relevant to the women’s game.
• Full UK driving licence.

Core Behaviours

• Player-centred and development focused.
• High standards of professionalism, integrity and accountability.
• Collaborative and respectful in working with colleagues, college staff and stakeholders.
• Reflective, organised and committed to continuous improvement.
• Resilient, adaptable and able to perform effectively in a fast-paced football and education environment.