Head of Football Academy

We are seeking an exceptional individual to lead and inspire our Football Academy. This full-time role offers an exciting opportunity to shape and deliver a comprehensive and ambitious programme that nurtures players from enthusiastic beginners to high-performance athletes (from primary-aged-children through to 18-year-olds). The ideal candidate will possess an in-depth understanding and proven experience in high-performance academy environments, exceptional administrative capacity, and strong communication skills. They will also hold a recognised professional coaching qualification (e.g., UEFA, FA, or equivalent) , with a clear commitment to elite-level player development. Reporting to the Chief Excellence and Innovation Officer (CXIO), the Head of Football Academy will assume overall responsibility for the programmes, explicitly driving and maximsing the school’s high-profile partnership with The Arsenal Foundation to elevate coaching standards and student development pathways. Key Responsibilities Strategic Leadership & Partnership Management: Overseeing the day-to-day delivery of the sport, including long-term planning, coaching, and competition management. A critical element of this role is acting as the primary custodian of the The Arsenal Foundation partnership, ensuring its internationally recognised coaching expertise and development models are deeply embedded across the entire academy curriculum. Team & Coaching Management: Leading, mentoring, and inspiring a team of coaches and interns to foster a supportive, safe, and high-performance training environment. This includes running professional development workshops to align all staff with elite academy coaching philosophies. Pathway & Inclusion Development: Building robust links with local external clubs, talent networks, and the National Governing Body to create structured development pathways for players. Future Transition & Network Building: Establishing connections with domestic and international univer