Lead U13 Coach

Derby County are seeking to recruit a Lead U13 Coach to join the Coaching Department 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.

The successful candidate will be responsible for acting as a full-time lead coach within the Youth Development phase, holding responsibility for the day-to-day organisation and delivery of an age-specific coaching and games programme that is focused on the long-term objective of fulfilling the potential of players within the Academy pipeline, creating a strong working relationship with the MDT to ensure a holistic focus is at the Centre of our young players' development.

Key Role Responsibilities:

• Responsibility for ensuring that the Derby County Technical Curriculum is effectively taught, delivered and executed in an age-appropriate manner.
• Deliver as a Lead Coach for one age group within the Youth Development Phase, including all training and match day preparation, working within the framework and best practice guidelines.
• Ensure Player Individual Development Plans (IDPs) are maintained, regularly updated, and at the centre of all session design, using Audit action points to work with the MDT to ensure that individual player development is at the forefront of our work.
• Working with the Cell Lead Coach and Head of Academy Coaching to ensure session planning, delivery, and evaluation are to the highest level both personally and for the IDP age group coach.
• To be a key stakeholder within the MDT of the Youth Development Phase, working closely with the Cell Lead Coach and Head of Academy Coaching to ensure thorough processes are in place to ensure the holistic development of all players within the Academy.
• Adhere to the framework set in review periods, including weekly player feedback and match/training analysis using the correct platforms within the required time frames.
• To lead the age-relevant games programme, ensuring controlled, challenging and player-centered outcomes, all operational requirements must be met, reporting promptly to the Head of Academy Operations and Cell Lead Coach. This will require daily cross-phase communication and referencing, including tours and tournaments throughout the season.
• To support additional age group day release sessions and be available to work across the phases as and when required.
• To support the development of the player/parent feedback process and ensure a transparent, no-surprise mantra is adhered to, you will be a key point of contact for players/parents across the phase, ensuring a professional approach is always a priority.
• Working with the Cell Lead Coach and Head of Academy Coaching to support and attend regular meetings to ensure that CPD and Personal Development Plans are relevant, supported and in place to focus on staff development, ensuring application and execution of the coaching competency framework.
• To attend weekly MDT Operational meetings, providing informative input and relaying information obtained to fellow coaching staff members.
• Play a key role in the age-relevant player audit meetings, ensuring all staff are compliant and consulted before the meetings.
• Play a key role in the retain and release process within the specified age group, holding a viewpoint on age groups in years below and above.
• Be present for all team selection meetings, ensuring preplanning is completed to ensure game time suits EPPP requirements.
• Shall hold responsibility for all kit and equipment provided for their relevant age group throughout the season.
• On a monthly basis, hold a reflective meeting with the Cell Lead Coach and Head of Academy Coaching to discuss the previous month and action plans for the month ahead, raising any additional resource requests required for individual groups.
• Working with the Cell Lead Coach and Head of Academy Coaching to ensure efficient staffing schedules are in place well in advance.
• Support the staff appraisal process by providing evidence, support, and detail as and when required.
• Develop a strong working relationship with all departments within the Academy.

General

• To be responsible for the health, safety and welfare of customers and colleagues, complying with health and safety guidance and policy.
• Continuously work to maintain, embed and improve the club’s safeguarding provision, ensuring the highest standards for safeguarding children and adults at risk.
• To uphold and promote organisational policies and procedures, promoting those specifically applicable to this area of work and including equality, diversity and inclusion.
• To present and promote an appropriate public image representing the organisation.
• To undertake any other duties as may reasonably be required commensurate with the post.

Personal characteristics and experience:

• Experience working with players who have progressed through the Academy system
• Experience of football coaching in a professional environment
• Experience of coaching 11v11 format
• Experience in implementing policies and procedures and reviewing practices to ensure continuous improvement
• Passion, desire and understanding of Youth Development
• Excellent communication and listening 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
• Confident presentation skills
• Ability to work effectively as part of a team as well as independently.
• Understanding of EPPP and the audit process.
• Ability to enter data efficiently and effectively on Kitman Labs and other suitable platforms.

Qualifications:

Essential

• UEFA B Coaching Licence
• UEFA A Licence – Working Towards
• FA Advanced Youth Awards
• Level 2 Emergency First Aid in Football
• Safeguarding Children Certificate

Salary is competitive, dependent on experience.

Excellent spoken and written English is essential for this role, as it involves clear, accurate communication in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment.

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 regular 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
• Subsidised lunchtime meals at Moor Farm