Senior Academy Player Care Manager - Maternity Cover
- Premier League
- Hybrid (London, UK)
- 06 Aug, 2026
Job Description
The Premier League’s Elite Player Performance Plan (EPPP) aims to create unrivalled development environments through a focus on empowering young people who are aspiring footballers to maximise their potential, on and off the pitch. The EPPP prioritises elite player development and personal growth, recognising that Academies should provide a safe, caring and inclusive environment and a life‑enriching experience, for all Academy Players, regardless of on-field progression.
Due to maternity leave, we are seeking to appoint a Senior Academy Player Care Manager on a 12-month Fixed-Term Contract to continue to lead our provision, ensuring current and former Academy Players receive an outstanding Player Care service, that supports their ongoing academic, personal and football development, with a strong focus on their mental and emotional well-being. The Senior Academy Player Care Manager will also work closely with the Head of Player Care and Engagement to ensure alignment across First Team and Academy Player Care provisions.
Due to maternity leave, we are seeking to appoint a Senior Academy Player Care Manager on a 12-month Fixed-Term Contract to continue to lead our provision, ensuring current and former Academy Players receive an outstanding Player Care service, that supports their ongoing academic, personal and football development, with a strong focus on their mental and emotional well-being. The Senior Academy Player Care Manager will also work closely with the Head of Player Care and Engagement to ensure alignment across First Team and Academy Player Care provisions.
This is a critical role in the Premier League’s Football Development team, working in partnership with clubs and key stakeholders to drive standards and continuous improvement across Academy Player Care.
Who we are
The Premier League is home to some of the most competitive and compelling football in the world. The League and its Clubs use the power and popularity of the competition to inspire fans, communities and partners in the UK and across the world. The Premier League brings people together from all backgrounds. It is a competition for everyone, everywhere and is available to watch in 1.2 billion homes in 189 countries.
We have a wide variety of responsibilities. These include organising the competition and its Handbook as well as managing the centralised broadcast and commercial rights. The work we do in conjunction with the Clubs also goes far beyond the 90 minutes. We support and provide a framework for youth development, we protect the organisation’s intellectual property, support the wider game and community programmes, undertake international development work and liaise with governing bodies and other leagues.
The Premier League is an equal opportunities employer and strives to create an inclusive culture where talent can flourish. We believe in the potential of everyone and open our doors to those who share those values. All appointments will be made based on merit; however, we particularly encourage applications from women, people from minority ethnic communities, LGBTQ+ people and disabled people.
Our hybrid-working model also allows you some variety on your place of work, offering you the chance to work from home on some days each week. Where possible, you will attend the office or site visits in line with our company policy. All staff liaise closely with their line manager to manage their time appropriately and according to their work and team requirements.
The role
- Manage the Premier League Player App for Academy Players and parents/carers - including managing content, leading club engagement and owning ongoing communications.
- Manage the Premier League’s involvement in the ‘Futures’ initiative and associated programmes, working alongside the Head of Strategic Projects to represent Premier League on the Futures Working Group, coordinate internal activity and oversee the development and deployment of Futures workforce across existing and new initiatives.
- Project Manage and deliver annual transition programmes that support released Academy Players, working collaboratively with football stakeholders. Programmes include: U16 Development Programme, PDP Preparation Programme and Young Professionals Residential.
- Manage strategic relationships with key Academy Player Care stakeholders, including the EFL, LFE, PFA and PGAAC – to chair meetings and drive collaborative activity.
- Oversee Academy Player Care operational planning and delivery, including management of the Player Care calendar, team workflows and departmental priorities.
- Manage the Academy Player Care involvement within the Five Step Process, working closely with the Football Administration and Football Regulatory teams to ensure effective support and compliance.
- Oversee the Academy Player Care budget, ensuring effective financial planning within the team, monitoring and resource allocation.
- Drive the development of the Academy Player Care workforce through the coordination of Regional Hubs and a bespoke learning and development offer and ongoing CPD to embed EDI principles across practice.
- Support the Academy Player Care Manager on the development of the Life Skills and Personal Development Programme.
- Collaborate with colleagues across Football Development teams to support wider strategic initiatives, including Safeguarding, Education, Elite Performance, Games Programme and Coaching, as well as Community/Premier League Foundation and Academy Support Managers delivering Enrichment initiatives
- Contribute to the Football Department’s Duty of Care Steering Group, in place to ensure the highest standards of Duty of Care provisions are in place to ensure the safety and well-being of all Players. Inform agenda content, attend meetings and complete relevant agreed actions.
- Club engagement and support – to provide in-club support where required alongside Academy Support Managers.
- Work in partnership with First Team Player Care strategies and programmes to ensure alignment across the player pathway.
- Line manage and support the Academy Player Care Executive.
Requirements for the role
- Previous experience working within a Player Care role within an Academy or First Team environment or experience working within an elite/developmental sports environment.
- Practical and theoretical understanding of Player Care demands in elite-level sports.
- Experience working with children and adults at risk and/or knowledge and understanding of issues that affect their safety and wellbeing.
- High level of emotional intelligence and interpersonal skills.
- Ability to produce high level reports and presentations.
- Excellent operational and project management skills.
- Budget management experience.
- Strong IT skills and excellent knowledge and understanding of social media platforms.
- Enhanced DBS.
- Current FA Safeguarding Children certification.
About Premier League