Job Title: Academy Operations Lead
Department: Academy
Direct Reports: None
Reports to: Academy Manager
Location: Cobdown Park, Station Road, Aylesford, Kent, ME20 6AU
Hours: 40 per week, including evenings and weekends
DBS Level: Enhanced, Child Barred List
About Us:The London City Lionesses are part of the Kynisca group, setting a vision and building an infrastructure in which all the players and staff can thrive.
Owned by Michele Kang, our vision for Kynisca is to:
1. Become the most pre-eminent sports organisation in the world;
2. Have a high-performance culture of winning on and off the pitch;
3. Train women as women;
4. Motivate and inspire the next generation of girls and women.
Role Purpose:
The role of the Academy Operations Lead is key to ensuring the smooth running and efficient operation of our Academy which includes U12 – U21 age groups. This role acts as the central point to ensure compliance with PGA criteria, strong communication with Academy players, parents and carers, opposition teams, League and other governing bodies and acts as liaison with First Team and other Club staff to ensure we co-exist effectively in shared spaces. The key stakeholders are Academy staff, players, parents and carers, opposition clubs and the relevant league organisations.
The ideal candidate will have exceptional organisation, time management and trouble-shooting skills, along with a people and outcomes focused approach. They will likely be someone who thrives under pressure and enjoys working to set deadlines in a fast-paced environment, but who can also ensure the details are covered.
This is a new position within the business, so the responsibilities are not set in stone. We need someone who can jump in, get things done and work with the senior leadership team to shape the future of the club.
Main Duties/Responsibilities
1. Logistics
o Coordinate all non-football aspects of the Academy, with a focus on Academy logistics and matchday logistics.
o Assist with the planning and delivery of U21 fixtures, including but not limited to operations, catering, complimentary ticketing, travel, logistics and accommodation for away fixtures.
o Lead all U21 & U16 away match travel logistics and be available to travel with the team.
o Lead the operations of training, including premises, facilities bookings and visibility to parents.
o To be the League and opposition’s primary contact relating to all day-to-day enquiries, operational needs and match requirements.
o To be the referee’s primary contact.
o Ad hoc support to Academy Manager and Academy coaching staff as required.
2. Academy Operations
o Deliver administration relating to player registrations, player contracts and player compensation.
o Lead on player operations, ensuring all administrative and operational tasks are carried out effectively for Academy players.
o Create and maintain/update a database for storing personal information for the academy players: including ensuring that daily, weekly and monthly schedules for the academy are up to date.
o Book all aspects of team travel, coaches and hotels when appropriate.
o Keep a comprehensive record of all travel and associated costs for all Academy away games.
o Liaise with Match Officials on the confirmation of appointment.
3. Compliance
o Support with ensuring PGA criteria are being met and that Academy staff are aware of their own responsibilities.
o Support with any audit requirements including record keeping and evidence collation.
4. Other ad-hoc duties
o As assigned from time-to-time by management.
Club Accountabilities
1. To comply with all Club policies, procedures and practices and carry out your role diligently and in the best interests of the Club.
2. To lead with a proactive, high-performance mindset and actively contribute to a winning culture on and off the pitch.
3. To behave in a manner consistent with Club values and policies.
What we are looking for:
Qualifications and Training
Any specific qualifications or technical requirements listed here will be mandated by league and/or governing body rules.
Essential
·N/A
Desirable
·Project Management qualification.
Knowledge, Skills and Experience
Essential
* Operational management experience, ideally within football or elite sport.
* Strong time management and organisation skills with the ability to prioritise.
* Ability to build and maintain strong working relationships with others.
* Excellent leadership and interpersonal skills, capable of working within a matrix environment.
* Strong MS Office product knowledge including Word, Excel, PowerPoint.
* Ability to use technology to support with and improve delivery.
* Process oriented with the ability to identify gaps and improve efficiency.
* Solutions focused approach and able to work under pressure with own initiative.
* Ability to interact and influence proactively with management and staff at all levels of the organisation.
Desirable
·Knowledge of FA systems such as IFAS.
Characteristics
* Passionate about women’s football and broader women’s sport culture.
* Entrepreneurial spirit and ability to deal with matrix stakeholders & ambiguity.
* High standards of personal integrity and EQ.
* Comfortable and able to work on own initiative.
* Has a learning mindset; is keen to continue their self-development and keep up to date with best practice and learning opportunities.
* Continually seeks to improve efficiency and performance.
* Seeks out and embraces new ways of thinking and working – not afraid to fail.
Club Statement
London City Lionesses is committed to safeguarding, health and safety, and equality, diversity, and inclusion. We prioritise the welfare of children and vulnerable adults, the well-being of all staff and visitors, and fostering an inclusive environment where everyone feels valued and supported. These responsibilities are shared by all staff and volunteers, with safeguarding, safety, and inclusivity being collective priorities.
All staff are required to adhere to the Club’s policies, complete relevant training, and actively contribute to maintaining a safe, inclusive, and welcoming environment. This includes timely reporting of concerns, compliance with health and safety regulations, and upholding the Club’s zero-tolerance approach to discrimination.
For certain roles, additional checks, such as Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks or health assessments, may be required. Applications must include a fully completed application form; CVs alone will not be accepted. All candidates will be assessed on merit and their alignment with the Club’s values.
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