Football Development Officer

Job Description 

Job Purpose – overview

West Lothian Leisure is a Community Benefit Organisation, a registered Scottish charity.  It is at the heart of the West Lothian community, helping people to improve their wellbeing and make healthy lifestyle choices.  We care passionately about the service we provide to the people who live, work and visit West Lothian. As a valued organisation that understands, cares about and engages with its community, we are the delivery partner of choice for West Lothian organisations responsible for improving people’s lives through sport, health and physical activity.

The purpose of this role is to improve the  infrastructure and increase participation in football across all ages and abilities within West Lothian as well as building  capacity, while supporting club development. Within the role you will promote participation in football at all levels in line with Scottish FA National Strategy linking with local and regional plans. The Football Development Officer will link with all relevant stakeholders in managing the implementation of Grassroots initiatives and to make sure they are fully supported through the provision of appropriate Scottish FA Coach Education.

Core Accountabilities & Responsibilities

• Establish and maintain excellent working relationships with all stakeholders by developing a mutual understanding of needs whilst ensuring performance against agreed standards and objectives.
• Support and develop a structured player pathway for children, youths and adults regardless of age, gender or ability, collaborating with local affiliate national associations.
• Develop, coordinate and deliver opportunities to participate in Primary/Secondary schools. Link with Physical Education staff and Active Schools Co-ordinators in the development of curricular and extra- curricular opportunities to play football.
• Develop and maintain close links with schools and Football clubs in order to increase participation and improve pathways in Football
• Assist with the identification of emerging talent from grassroots programmes, developing pathways for progression to clubs and squads
• Co-ordinate and deliver the Scottish FA Coach Education programme in West Lothian and implement education and training opportunities for staff, volunteers, students and the wider community. Support the development of grassroots coaches through a programme of in-service training sessions and on-field coach mentoring.
• Co-ordinate and develop a qualified team of football coaches.
• Develop and retain volunteers to provide football opportunities in West Lothian.
• Identify appropriate opportunities to promote Football Development in order to raise the profile locally.
• Regularly monitor and evaluate all football activity and ensure regular status reports are produced and submitted for all partners via a quarterly reporting system
• Co-ordinate club development programmes including the Scottish FA Quality Mark Scheme to provide development opportunities for grassroots clubs and volunteers
• Establish and develop internal/external partnerships to ensure effective implementation of national, regional and local football development plans
• Liaise with local football clubs to support the development of the local player pathway
• Work in partnership with other organisations and agencies to tackle the key inequalities and barriers around participation.
• Support partners to ensure that all football coaches are appropriately qualified and trained and deliver to quality standards.
• Assist in the coordination of a comprehensive training and development programme for football coaches across West Lothian, including the delivery of CPD
• Improve the quality of football activities whilst increasing capacity, occupancy and
• Liaise with managers and coaches to identify potential areas for football development.
• Preparing and present reports for on statistical and operational issues to help demonstrate key performance targets are met.
• Apply for external funding to help improve participation, particularly within under-represented groups
• Represent the West Lothian Leisure at external events.

The above list is illustrative, not exhaustive. Accordingly, there may be a requirement to undertake additional duties, consistent with the level of the post, as directed by management.

Essential Qualifications and Experience

• Possess extensive experience of football coaching and development.
• Minimum of UEFA B Licence and the Scottish FA’s Children’s Award OR Scottish FA Advanced Children’s Licence and C Licence
• Educated to HND level or equivalent in a relevant discipline such as Sports Studies
• Extensive experience of coaching football and engaging with children and young people through sport
• Demonstrates excellent core organisational competencies
• Working knowledge of Scottish Football Association programmes and activities
• A track record of working in partnership with others.
• Experience of developing and coordinating an income generating football programme across a number of facilities.
• Experience of engaging and supporting primary, secondary schools
• Practical experience of Coach and Volunteer recruitment and development.
• Hold or willingness to study for the ILM level 3 Coaching certificate within first year of post.
• Commercial awareness
• An ability to speak confidently and fluently, and hold the attention of others
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Excellent budgeting skills
• Excellent project management skills
• Excellent report writing skills
• Excellent planning skills
• Strong influencing and negotiating skills
• Ability to build trust and devolve responsibility and resources to partners/colleagues
• Clear understanding of the benefits that physical activity and sport can bring to all
• Resilient and able to deal confidently with difficult challenges
• Ability to prioritise and work to deadlines
• Highly competent level of skill with Excel, Word, PowerPoint and MRM
• Hold and maintain a current valid driving license [and use of a vehicle].
• Willingness to continuously develop and attend training and development sessions in line with your personal training plan, on occasion out-with your normal hours of work, to ensure the required level of competence.

Desirable Qualifications and Experience

• Scottish FA Coach Education Tutor
• Degree in Sport / Leisure related discipline
• Current Emergency First Aid at Work Certificate
• Experience of and knowledge of strategic sports development planning
• Knowledge of Curriculum for Excellence
• UEFA Youth A Licence
• Working knowledge of local clubs.
• Knowledge of club accreditation schemes
• Experience of event management

Job Dimensions

• Work in close partnership with key stakeholders
• Maintain accurate records.

Core organisational competencies

• Service delivery - Champions the service, focusing on individuals customer's needs and responding with service that surpasses their expectations
• Honesty and integrity - Being truthful, keeping promises and commitments and making ethical decisions.
• Respect for equality and diversity  - Understanding others' behaviours and culture and treating everyone fairly.
• Personal effectiveness - Personal responsibility for making things happen - being accountable for your own actions.

Additional information

• This position is subject to a Protecting Vulnerable Groups (PVG) scheme check.
• Required to work flexibly with some evening and weekend working.
• You will be required to be aware of current Health and Safety Policy and to take responsibility for your own safety and the safety of others who may be affected by your acts or omission at work.