Applications are invited for the Professional Player to Coach scheme, in partnership with the Premier League, PFA and EFL.
Contract Type: 23–month fixed-term employment
Salary: £22,000 per annum
Premier League Coach Development Programme: The successful candidate will divide their time between their Port Vale Football Club’s employment and their individual development plan which includes enrolment to the Premier League’s Coach Development Programme.
Key relationships: Port Vale Football Club, Premier League, The PFA and The EFL
Location: Port Vale Football Club, Hamil Road, Burslem, ST6 1AW
Background
Professional football must reflect modern Britain. The Premier League, Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) and English Football League (EFL) are seeking to improve the diversity of football coaches in the professional game to make this area more representative. As part of their commitment to improving diversity, they have jointly launched the Professional Player to Coach Scheme (PPCS) to encourage, build and support the transition of under-represented Black, Asian, Mixed Heritage Men and Women who are PFA members into football coaching in the professional game so that football at all levels better represents the wider communities in which it is played, enjoyed and serves.
What is the Professional Player to Coach Scheme?
The Professional Player to Coach Scheme will provide a 23-month fixed-term employment opportunity and development programme for the successful candidate. The Club will act as the ‘base’ of employment and the individual will work across a variety of football functions within the Club in order to broaden their learning experience.
Port Vale Football Club in partnership with the Premier League, PFA and EFL aim to identify a high potential coach so that after the Scheme, they remain highly employable within the professional game. Simultaneously, the Premier League, PFA and EFL want to be able to recognise and support Clubs involved in the Scheme as Inclusion and Diversity role models.
The fixed-term employment opportunity will include coaching and observation across the Academy, including multi-disciplinary teams. Successful applicants will enter the Premier League’s Coach Development Programme which is accredited by Leeds Beckett University. Upon successful completion of the programme, coaches will receive a Diploma in Higher Education in Professional Football Coaching. The development programme includes mentoring, workshops, peer learning, projects and FA/UEFA qualifications dependent on need.
Objectives of the Scheme
- To increase the number of PFA members who are Black, Asian and Mixed Heritage Men and Women, transitioning into full-time coaching positions in English Professional Football.
- To provide selected PFA Members with fixed-term employment and training opportunity within EFL Clubs, which include a range of professional roles within both the Academy and First-Team environment, where possible.
- To substantially improve employment prospects for coaches who complete the Scheme.
- To provide each of the coaches with their own development programme to ensure they are appropriately trained and supported to become successful coaches and visible role models.
- To recognise Clubs who role model excellent Inclusion and Diversity practices, as well as supporting those who wish to develop in this area.
Person Specification
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Background |
• Black, Asian and Mixed Heritage Men and Women who are PFA Members • This is a positive action scheme aimed at addressing under-represented groups in football coaching. Applications will only be accepted from individuals who identify as being from those backgrounds |
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Experience |
Essential · PFA Member · Professional playing experience in men’s or women’s football · No previous experience of full-time coaching in a Premier League or English Football League Club
Desirable · First Team playing experience · Experience of coaching a team or group of players on a regular basis · Experience of coaching a team or group of players under the age of 18 · Experience in scouting and player recruitment |
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Qualifications |
Essential · UEFA B Licence
Requirement prior to commencing role · Current FA Safeguarding Certificate · Enhanced DBS Clearance · FA Level 2 First Aid/ EFAiF
Desirable · UEFA A Licence · FA Youth Award (or willing to work towards) |
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Person Specification |
· Candidates with high potential to be world-class football coaches and visible role models · Candidates should be able to demonstrate high-level interpersonal skills, where they can communicate effectively and appropriately with a wide range of individuals and groups of people · Candidates should be able to demonstrate the resilience required to be able to succeed in high-performance football environments · Candidates should be able to demonstrate a high motivation to become a football coach in English Professional Football and to help other footballers and teams to successfully develop and perform · Candidates must have the ability to travel independently, the ability to prioritise their workload and to work to tight deadlines · The Scheme is interested in candidates who have an aspiration to work at any age group. We are specifically targeting coaches who can contribute to Foundation, Youth Development and Professional Development phases as part of their role; working alongside the majority of coaching staff and with all teams within our program.
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Job Profile |
· Design and deliver their own coaching sessions, in line with the club wide and age-specific Academy Performance Plan · Develop young players socially and psychologically, alongside their technical ability. · Ensure all players graduate from each phase with the requisite core ball mastery and individual skills and the knowledge of how to apply these in a team setting. · Develop a player’s tactical awareness as that importance evolves. · Liaise closely with the recruitment and MDT team to identify and monitor incoming trialists, as well as identify areas of need within each age group.
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Process Timeline
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24th May 2023 – Advert Live 16th June 2023 – Applications Close w.c. 19th June 2023 – Shortlisting w.c. 3rd July 2023 – Two-part interview process begins 1. Interview/ Q+A in front of panel 2. Practical interview delivering to academy players w.c. 17th July 2023 – Offer and pre-employment checks w.c. 24th July 2023 – Feedback for unsuccessful candidates |
How to Apply
The Professional Player to Coach Scheme placement opportunity welcomes applications from coaches who are Black, Asian and Mixed Heritage men or women and are PFA members. Reasonable adjustments will be made for any applicant with a disability, and these should be requested directly to Michelle Fallows, Human Resources Advisor, to email HR@port-vale.co.uk
Port Vale Football Club, the Premier League, the EFL and the PFA believe in equal opportunities and all applications will be assessed on merit only. All personal data that the applicant shares on the equality monitoring form will be submitted separately and not form any part of the application process. This information is collected simply to see if our advert is reaching a wide and diverse range of applicants who are applying for this role. The successful candidate will be selected based on merit as measured against the candidate description and person specification, set out above.
To apply, please submit an application following these guidelines. Typed applications are preferred, but they can be, recorded or written (example: video or audio) if that is not possible.
Port Vale Football Club will only consider applications from men or women who are from Black, Asian, Mixed Heritage backgrounds and are PFA members.
- Please confirm that you match each of the criteria for the application using a brief application letter and CV
- Include a reference(s) from a coach developer(s) and/or coach(es) describing your football coaching potential. This could be typed, recorded or written
- Include answers to the following questions (no more than 250 words per answer):
- Please explain why you would like to join this initiative and what you want to achieve.
- Briefly describe your coaching philosophy.
- What do you think is the biggest barrier to young players achieving their potential?
If you would like to be contacted regarding other development opportunities, please let us know in your application.
Deadline for Applications
Please submit your application by 4pm on Friday 16th June
Please email your application and any queries to Michelle Fallows, Human Resources Advisor, at HR@port-vale.co.uk
Please email if you require any assistance in applying. We would support applications in other formats (for example by video or audio) if required.
By submitting your application, you are agreeing to Port Vale and the Premier League processing your personal details for the purpose of administering and evaluating the Scheme in accordance with Port Vale Football Club and the Premier League’s privacy notices[1].
Equality monitoring form https://forms.gle/MjtX4iUYmEmZGD2t7
Privacy Notices
https://www.premierleague.com/privacy-policy www.port-vale.co.uk/website-privacy-policy