Glasgow City FC, Scotland's most successful women's club, are delighted to be opening recruitment for the position of Head of Player Development.
Working in a full-time professional environment, this is a unique and exciting position to join the original trailblazer in women and girls football and to make a measurable impact in the game.
Main Purpose of Job
The Head of Player Development (HOPD), will be responsible for player development within the Glasgow City First Team and the Glasgow City Elite Academy programme.
ACADEMY - Working within the club’s game model the HOPD, will lead the talent identification and development system for the growth of coaches and players within the Glasgow City Academy, for the purpose of producing players with the ability to graduate to the Glasgow City first team. They will liaise with parents/guardians and key stakeholders, such as the Scottish FA and Scottish Women’s Football.
FIRST TEAM – The HOPD will be responsible for leading on the individual development of players within the Glasgow City First Team. They will work collaboratively within the multi-disciplinary first team staff to design and deliver a holistic player development process to nurture and maximise talent within the first team environment.
Key Responsibilities - Academy
1. Ensure football and technical decisions within the Glasgow City Academy are based on the Club Philosophy and Club Game Model.
2. Work with the academy coaches to implement the playing style of the academy teams in accordance with the Club Philosophy and Game Model.
3. Working with the Academy Manager, identify the best coaches at each age group to translate these theories into practice and be the point of contact for all youth coaches on player related issues.
4. Lead on Talent ID in line with the Glasgow City Academy player profile, overseeing the external identification and recruitment of elite youth players and internal identification and progression of current players.
5. Lead on the implementation of Player Individual Development Plans and manage player/parent development meetings.
6. Monitor and track player progression, reporting regularly to the Academy Sub-Committee.
7. Establish and Chair a Player Transition board and lead on player movement decision making within the academy.
8. Support the transition of elite academy players into the Glasgow City First Team.
9. Working closely with the Academy Manager, oversee academy player exit strategy.
10. Oversee the design and implementation of the Academy Curriculum.
11. Develop an appropriate games programme to support and enhance player development.
12. Design and lead on the implementation of a coach education and coach development programme, working with the Academy Manager.
13. Optimise a learning culture for female youth players.
14. Represent the club at meetings and seminars as and when required.
15. Liaise with national team coaches where relevant regarding Glasgow City youth players.
16. Be a regular presence at all elite youth training sessions and games.
17. Carry out other tasks as required by the Academy Football Sub-Committee.
Key Responsibilities – First Team
1. Assist the First Team Head Coach in the preparation, delivery and review of first team training sessions and matches.
2. Ensure football and technical decisions within the Glasgow City first team are based on the club philosophy and club game model.
3. Work in collaboration with multi-disciplinary first team staff to take a 360-degree approach to player development, focusing on the technical, tactical, physical and psychological elements of a player’s game.
4. Lead on the creation and implementation of player Individual Development Plans (IDPs), including monitoring of key performance indicators (KPIs).
5. Manage and keep up to date records of player IDP meetings, whilst providing regular feedback to the First Team Head Coach.
6. Monitor and track first team players out on loan to other clubs, reporting regularly to the First Team Head Coach.
7. Liaise with youth national team coaches where relevant regarding Glasgow City first team players.
8. Follow club policies and implement best practice at all times.
9. Carry out other tasks as required by the Glasgow City First Team Head Coach.
Essential Qualifications
UEFA A Licence.
UEFA Elite Youth A Licence.
Advanced Children’s Licence.
Children’s Wellbeing in Scottish Football Certificate (this can be completed prior to commencing position).
Desirable Qualifications
Talent ID Award.
Experience
Experience within the women’s game, in particular in relation to game modelling, Talent ID, player progression and youth coach development.
Experience in performance analysis and using the Hudl platform.
Experience in leadership and managing people.
Personal Skills
Passionate about individual player development and coach development.
An excellent level of communication and interpersonal skills to deal with coaches, players and parents.
Good level of IT skills.
A flexible attitude to work.
Possess the ability to work on own initiative and as part of a team.
Has the ability to remain polite and courteous in difficult situations.
Can demonstrate good planning, preparation, and delivery skills.
Enthusiastic and passionate about keeping up to date with research on football and youth development.
Pro-active and forward-thinking.
Driving licence.
PVG checked.
Glasgow City FC are a leading professional women's football club based in Scotland.
Founded in 1998 by Laura Montgomery and Carol Anne Stewart, the club has been championing women and girls for 26 years and is one of the most well known and successful stand alone women's clubs in the world.
Owned fully by women, with Montgomery as Chief Executive, Glasgow City are Scotland's most successful women's football club by some distance with 16 SWPL titles, 9 Scottish Cups, 6 League Cups and two UEFA Women's Champions League Quarter Final appearances achieved to date.
The club also operates a full academy for girls, with over 130 girls playing for the City youth teams.
Always standing out for it's values and leadership within the game, Glasgow City is a club synonymous with doing this differently and promoting equality and health and wellbeing for women and girls.