Head of Junior Academy Coaching

Derby County are seeking to recruit a Head of Junior Academy Coaching to join the Academy Coaching department at our Category One Academy based at Moor Farm Training Centre.

Working for Derby County Football Club offers a unique opportunity to be part of one of England’s most historic and passionately supported clubs. With a proud legacy, a dedicated fan base, and an exciting vision for the future, Derby County offers a dynamic and rewarding work environment both on and off the pitch. Whether you're joining the team in coaching, administration, marketing, or operations, you'll be contributing to a culture rooted in ambition, community, and progress. Employees benefit from a collaborative work environment and opportunities for professional development.

An exciting opportunity to lead and shape an elite coaching programme across our Junior Academy (U6-U14). Reporting to the Head of Academy Coaching, you will drive a world-class, player-centred development environment, ensuring coaching, curriculum and matchday delivery consistently reflect the Academy Game Model and best practice.

You will provide day-to-day leadership, quality assurance and oversight of coaching practice, supporting coaches to create exceptional learning experiences that maximise the development and potential of every player.

Key Role Responsibilities:

• Lead the delivery of a high-quality, age-appropriate coaching curriculum for U6-U14, aligned to the Academy Game Model.
• Ensure individual player development is at the heart of all coaching activity, with effective Individual Development Plans (IDPs) guiding training and matchday decisions.
• Drive consistently high standards of session design and delivery, with a focus on technical excellence, decision-making, creativity and player engagement.
• Oversee a development-led matchday programme, ensuring fixtures complement the training curriculum and individual development objectives.
• Lead, manage and develop Junior Academy coaches, providing regular observation, feedback, mentoring and CPD opportunities.
• Establish clear coaching standards and quality assurance processes, using observation, data, video and player outcomes to monitor effectiveness and drive continuous improvement.
• Work collaboratively with multidisciplinary teams to provide a holistic approach to each player's development.
• Ensure accurate planning, monitoring and tracking of player development, including effective use of Kitman Labs and other Academy systems.
• Support the Head of Academy Coaching in delivering the Academy Performance Plan and wider coaching strategy.
• Ensure compliance with EPPP, safeguarding, welfare and Academy standards, maintaining an elite and professional environment.
• Contribute positively to the wider Academy culture, strategy and continuous improvement.

Essential Personal characteristics and experience:

• Experience of coaching within a Category 1 academy in the FDP & YDP
• Experience of leading a Phase within an Academy Programme
• Experience of using Kitman Labs
• Experience working as part of a Multi-Disciplinary Team
• Ability to manage and motivate a team
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to communicate effectively across all levels
• Ability to organise, schedule and adapt work tasks to meet conflicting deadlines and respond to changing situations
• Knowledge of the football recruitment process
• Confidence and assertiveness
• Team player
• Committed to creating and upholding high standards
• Strong leadership skills to create a high challenge - high support culture

Essential Qualifications:

• UEFA A License
• FA Youth Award
• FA Advanced Youth Award
• FA Level 2 Emergency Aid in Football
• FA Safeguarding Children Certificate

Salary is competitive, dependent on experience.

This is a full-time role, and due to the demands of professional football, there is a requirement for weekend and evening work, as well as national travel.

Who are Derby County…

Derby County Football Club, established in 1884, is one of the founder members of the English Football League and has a rich and varied history, including two First Division titles in 1972 and 1975 and an FA Cup success in 1946. The club are currently playing in the Sky Bet Championship, the second tier of English Football following their promotion from League One in the 2023/24 season and is under the management of Head Coach John Eustace. The club also boasts a successful and respected Category One Academy, a status which has been held since 2014, and a Women’s side competing in the FA Women’s National League Northern Premier Division. Derby County recently embarked on an exciting new era following the change in ownership to Clowes Developments (UK) Limited, in the summer of 2022. Our track record of producing talent is outstanding, and we intend to protect that proud legacy, investing in key roles within the club to build on the foundations in place for success.

Everything we do as a Club is built around the three pillars of stability, integrity and progress.

Our core values are:

• We are proud of who we are and what we do
• We are positive, inspired and passionate
• We are ambitious and driven
• We are prepared, honest and humble
• We are the heartbeat of our community
• We are the club of opportunity

Derby County employee benefits include:

• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• Two complimentary staff season tickets
• Two complimentary staff away memberships, subject to availability
• 20% discount at DCFC Megastore
• Company Pension with Aviva
• Discounts with select Club partners and sponsors
• Healthshield Cash Health Plan to support employee health and well-being and Perks for great deals and discounts
• Participating in our employee forum, 'The Herd' and Staff Events!
• Training and development opportunities
• Access to programmes and volunteering opportunities with Derby County Community Trust

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