Impact, on and off the pitch...
We are excited to be searching for a National Talent Manager - Women's Refereeing to join our Football Operations division.
The post-holder will lead the development of the Women's Refereeing talent pathway by designing and implementing a robust Talent ID network that identifies, nurtures, and accelerates high-potential referees and assistant referees.
You will oversee the progression of women's referees through the talent pathway, ensuring alignment with The FA's strategic objectives for diversity, growth, and excellence. In collaboration with PGMOL, this role will facilitate the development and progression of referees into the Women's Professional Game, while also managing the performance of Women's National League match officials through a culture of continuous improvement, learning and development.
The role is advertised on a part-time contract (0.4 FTE) equivalent to two days per week and will also be home-based. Travel is expected across various sites so the successful candidate must be flexible and willing to commute on behalf of the organisation.
What will you be doing?
* Technical Leadership: Lead and manage the technical direction for the FA CORE - Women's programme and the Women's Refereeing Talent ID & Development Programme, ensuring alignment with the FA's strategic goals for officiating at all levels.
* Talent ID Network: Establish and manage a Talent Identification (ID) network to identify and accelerate high-potential referees and assistant referees. Collaborate with CFAs and other stakeholders to accelerate high-potential talent through structured pathways into the national system.
* Performance Management: Oversee the performance of Women's National League match officials, ensuring regular evaluations, feedback, and tailored development programmes to raise standards across the Women's National League.
* Collaboration with PGMOL: Build and maintain strong relationships with PGMOL to ensure a clear pathway for talent identification, progression, and advancement of match officials to transition into the Women's Professional Game.
* Programme Delivery: Manage and deliver key FA programmes, including the Women's Refereeing Talent ID and Talent Programmes, ensuring they support the growth, experience, and retention of women match officials across the football pyramid.
* Diversity and Inclusion: Implement strategies to increase participation and progression of women's referees from underrepresented communities, aligning with the FA's commitment to diversity and inclusion.
* Match Official Well-being: Ensure the well-being and professional development of referees by providing access to mental health and well-being resources, creating a supportive environment for referees to thrive in their roles.
* Innovative Learning and Development: Utilise technology and innovative learning strategies to modernise referee education and enhance the learning experience for officials at all levels. Implement digital learning tools to support ongoing referee development.
* Data and Feedback Integration: Oversee the integration of performance data, match observations, and feedback into referee development programmes. Ensure that training and coaching are aligned with the needs of individual
referees, supporting their progression within the FA's development pathways.
* Strategic Alignment: Ensure that all programmes align with the FA's strategic goals for women's refereeing,fostering an inclusive and high-performing refereeing workforce.
* Executes additional tasks as required in order to meet FA Group's changing priorities.
* Comply with all company policies and procedures to ensure the highest standards of health, safety and well-being can be maintained.
* As part of The FA's commitment to ensuring a safe environment for everyone in football, every employee will be required to complete a DBS check. The level of the check required will be based on the activity of the specific job role and in line with legislation and government guidance.
What are we looking for?
Essential for the role:
* Experience in Referee Development or Talent Pathways: Proven experience in developing and managing talent identification systems and progression pathways for referees or athletes, with a focus on women's sports.
* Strong Stakeholder Management: Demonstrated ability to build relationships with key stakeholders, including PGMOL, CFAs, and other football organisations, to deliver collaborative talent programmes.
* Leadership in Talent Identification: Experience in identifying and accelerating high-potential referees and officials through structured pathways, particularly in women's football.
* Diversity and Inclusion Expertise: Proven track record of leading diversity and inclusion initiatives, ensuring the participation of underrepresented groups in talent development programmes.
* Performance Management: Strong understanding of performance management systems, including match performance, data analysis and feedback processes to improve referee standards.
* Digital and Learning Innovation: Experience in implementing digital learning platforms and innovative educational strategies to enhance referee development
Beneficial to have:
* Experience within the Professional Game: Prior experience as a referee or assistant referee within the professional game, demonstrating a deep understanding of the standards and demands of high-level officiating.
* International Experience as a Match Official: Experience officiating in international matches, providing a broader perspective on officiating at the highest levels and contributing to the development of referees with global aspirations.
* Experience in High-Performance Sport: A strong background in high-performance sport, with a proven track record of working in elite sporting environments to enhance performance and progression.
What's in it for you?
We are committed to ensuring everyone can flourish in their roles, to achieve this we have unique office spaces under the arch of the iconic Wembley National Stadium, which is the home of English Football. We are also delighted to offer a world-class, Elite Performance Centre, St. George's Park in Staffordshire which is an exceptional setting to develop and inspire high-performing England teams and leaders.
We pride ourselves in offering a competitive salary as well as great opportunities to develop and grow in your role. But that is not all; we also have a range of exciting benefits, some of which can be found below:
* Access to event day tickets at Wembley Stadium, alongside a host of regular internal events throughout the season, encouraging you to connect and learn with your colleagues and look after your mental health and wellbeing.
* Free, nutritious lunches, at Wembley Stadium and St. George's Park.
* Free private medical cover.
* A contributory pension scheme.
* An additional Thank You days leave, volunteering days as well as 25 days annual leave.
* A hybrid working model which offers greater flexibility.
For more information on what it is like to work at The FA, please visit our FA Careers page,
We are a diverse workplace, aspiring to represent football across the country. The Football Association actively promotes inclusion and diversity, encouraging you to be the best version of yourself at work.
We welcome applications from everyone and are proud to be an equal opportunities employer. If you have any particular requirements in respect of the recruitment or interview process, please mention this during your application.
As part of The FA's commitment to ensuring a safe environment for everyone in football, every employee will be required to complete a DBS check. The level of the check required will be based on the activity of the specific job role and in line with legislation and government guidance.