Director of Football Academy

Buckswood School is seeking an ambitious and experienced Director of Football Academy to lead its Football Academy programme . This is a senior leadership role within an international boarding school environment, responsible for developing a high-performance football pathway that attracts and develops talent from both the UK and overseas. The successful candidate will play a key role in building the global profile of the Academy, supporting student recruitment, showcasing player progression, and developing opportunities for students to progress into professional football, university sport, or international pathways. __________________________________________________ Key Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the Football Academy programme across all age groups.
• Deliver and oversee high-quality coaching and extra-curricular football provision
• Organise fixtures, competitions, and school teams (internal and external)
• Design, review, and manage football curriculum, schemes of work, and assessment systems
• Monitor, assess, and report on student progress to parents and staff
• Support student academic progress, ensuring education takes priority over sport
• Develop progression pathways including coaching/refereeing qualifications
• Work with external football organisations and governing bodies (e.g. SFA, EFA, KFA, ISSA)
• Ensure health & safety compliance across all sporting facilities
• Contribute to school events, trips, and departmental initiatives
• Attend and contribute to sports and academic department meetings
__________________________________________________ Experience & Qualifications
• Minimum 5-8 years' coaching experience in youth football, academy, or school sport
• Proven leadership experience (Head Coach, Academy Lead, or similar)
• UEFA B Licence minimum (UEFA A desirable or working towards)
• Experience working with 11-18 age groups in structured football environments
• Strong background in player development, coaching delivery, and programme management
• Experience in schools, academies, or elite youth sport settings preferred
__________________________________________________ Person Specification We are looking for someone who is:
• A confident and inspiring football leader
• Highly organised with strong programme management skills
• An excellent communicator with staff, students, and parents
• Passionate about youth development and education through sport
• Able to balance high-performance sport with academic priorities
• A positive role model with strong safeguarding awareness
• Flexible, energetic, and willing to take a hands-on approach
Candidates are invited to submit their CVs to the school, and if successful following an initial sift, will be required to submit a full school application form, before being shortlisted and invited to an interview. Buckswood School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the the Disclosure and Barring Service. An enhanced DBS check and other pre-employment checks are required for successful applicants. You must also have the right to work in the UK with appropriate Visa if necessary. If you have not lived/worked in the UK for the past 5 years you will need to provide a Police check from the country in which you have been living and working.


• Minimum 5-8 years' coaching experience in youth football, academy, or school sport
• Proven leadership experience (Head Coach, Academy Lead, or similar)
• UEFA B Licence minimum (UEFA A desirable or working towards)
• Experience working with 11-18 age groups in structured football environments
• Strong background in player development, coaching delivery, and programme management
• Experience in schools, academies, or elite youth sport settings preferred, We are looking for someone who is:
• A confident and inspiring football leader
• Highly organised with strong programme management skills
• An excellent communicator with staff, students, and parents
• Passionate about youth development and education through sport
• Able to balance high-performance sport with academic priorities
• A positive role model with strong safeguarding awareness
• Flexible, energetic, and willing to take a hands-on approach
Candidates are invited to submit their CVs to the school, and if successful following an initial sift, will be required to submit a full school application form, before being shortlisted and invited to an interview. Buckswood School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and applicants must be willing to undergo child protection screening appropriate to the post, including checks with past employers and the the Disclosure and Barring Service. An enhanced DBS check and other pre-employment checks are required for successful applicants. You must also have the right to work in the UK with appropriate Visa if necessary. If you have not lived/worked in the UK for the past 5 years you will need to provide a Police check from the country in which you have been living and working.