Shropshire fa Participation Officer (coaching and Pathways) RECRUITMENT PACK
PARTICIPATION Officer (coaching and pathways)
our vision
Creating opportunities to empower and inspire people to enjoy football.
our mission
To lead, promote, develop and support lifelong community participation through Football.
Strategic Priorities
Improve Playing Choice & Opportunities
Deliver Equal Opportunities For Women & Girls and other underrepresented groups To Play
Build More & Improve Existing Facilities
Tackle Poor Behaviour
Develop A Valued Network Of Volunteers, Coaches & Referees
Create a sustainable County FA
Strategic Drivers
Support Thriving Community Clubs
Connect & Serve Participants
Progress The Game’s Governance
Job Description and Person Specification
EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY
We would encourage all applicants to complete our voluntary Equality & Diversity Monitoring Form, via this link as part of the application process The data we collect will be anonymous and confidential and will not be stored or linked to your application in any way
Job Title: Participation Officer (Coaching and Pathways)
Reports to: CEO
Job purpose(s):
To support delivery of The FA National Game Strategy and the Shropshire Football Association Business Strategy
To support delivery of the FA Learning strategy: Inspire positive change through football by raising standards of coaching and ensuring a safe and inclusive game.
To develop and deliver a sustainable plan for growth and quality across all football pathways
To contribute to the effective implementation of The FA’s Safeguarding Operating Standard for County FAs.
To support the adoption of FA technology systems across grassroots football
To comply with FA rules, regulations, policies, procedures and guidance that are in place from time to time
Location: Shropshire FA, 2 High Street, Dawley, Telford TF4 2ET Homeworking is permitted where agreed and travel to locations across the County will be required
Working Hours 37.5 hrs including evening and weekend work when required
Contract Type Fixed Term until 30 June 2028 th
Salary £26,682 50
Job Description and Person Specification
Responsibilities:
Engage 2 Star and 3 star England Football Accredited clubs with the Thriving Community Clubs framework and support them with the coaching pillar
Support Quality Assurance and development of the Coaching Leads in Clubs
Support the recruitment and deployment of casual workforce to meet the needs of clubs locally, and is diverse and representative of the county.
Support clubs in their development of a coach development plan
Develop and deliver an annual action plan to support high-quality coaching opportunities across grassroots football
Manage, support and deploy a team of Casual Coach Developers
Develop a Shropshire Coaches Association
Gain more England Accredited leagues and clubs and deliver a programme of services to clubs and leagues
Support the review and development of all competition and league structures to ensure they meet the needs of all players.
Provide football development support and advice to clubs and leagues
Facilitate the improved movement of players from youth to adult football
Use national and local data, research and customer insight to develop and deliver a sustainable plan all areas of the game through the County FA Business plan and to support the achievement of all County FA targets
Provide the highest level of customer excellence to support volunteers across all FA Technology systems (FA Events, Whole Game System, Matchday app and Full-Time).
Risk-assess all The Shropshire Football Association’s events and activity for under-18s and where the Shropshire Football Association directly employs or deploys under-18 referees, coaches and volunteers to ensure that appropriate safeguards are in place
Support messaging so that under-18s and adults at risk in youth and open-age adult grassroots football know how to report concerns about their wellbeing
Listen to and consult with under-18s on their experiences of grassroots football as part of the Shropshire Football Association’s youth engagement strategy.
Utilise the feedback from under-18s and adults at risk to enhance the experience and fun and safety in grassroots football
Contribute to ensuring that safeguarding and equality are embedded throughout The Shropshire Football Association and grassroots football.
Execute tasks as required to meet the Shropshire Football Association’s changing priorities.
Job Description and Person Specification
Person Specification:
Qualifications:
Essential
Educated to degree level or relevant equivalent experience
Uefa B qualified
Skills
Essential
Ability to work strategically with partner organisations across different sectors to plan and deliver football programmes.
Project management skills and experience – to plan, set and achieve objectives to deadlines.
Excellent IT skills, including the use of Microsoft Office applications.
Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
Excellent time management and prioritisation skills.
Excellent problem-solving and decision- making skills
Outstanding communication and presentation skills
Exceptional customer service.
Budget management skills
Report-writing skills
Ability to use data to monitor and evaluate programmes.
Influencing skills to champion change
Desirable
Two years ’ sports development experience
Licensed Coach Developer
Desirable
Practised at developing networks and relationships with a variety of stakeholders to support the delivery of strategic priorities.
Previous experience of successfully applying for funding for a project.
Previous experience of advising or guiding on a project in a team environment
Skilled in creating, delivering and maintaining pathways which support the growth, transition and retention of players
Capability to create multiple reports, budgets and plans
Job Description and Person Specification
Knowledge & Experience
Essential
Practical experience of sports/football development
Practical experience of grassroots coaching and/or coach development
Knowledge of The FA coaching qualifications, coach development framework and wider learning
Demonstrate a working knowledge of inclusion, equality, anti-discrimination and safeguarding
Knowledge of the structure and partner organisations within football, nationally and within the County FA locality
Desirable
Knowledge of The FA’s Grassroots Football Strategy and FA Learning strategic priorities
Skilled in creating, delivering and maintaining pathways which support the growth, transition and retention of players
Experience of utilising mapping programmes to support strategic and logistical planning.
The job holder will be expected to understand and work in accordance with the values and behaviours described below
INSPIRING
INNOVATIVE
Champions and ensures that football is, and will remain, a game for everyone: Openly collaborates with colleagues and partners in the game
Provides equal opportunity to people of different backgrounds, experience and perspective
Seeks out and embraces new ways of thinking and working.
Sets the standards for respectful behaviour across the game: Maintains people’s self-esteem when interacting with them. Avoids pre-judgement when listening to suggestions from others. Seizes the opportunity to apply FA standards at all times.
Embraces new thinking in pursuit of continuous improvement: Identifies the need for, and actions change in direction, practice, policy or procedure.
Questions the way things are done and takes informed risks. Continuously seeks to improve efficiency and performance
Job Description and Person Specification
TRANSPARENT
TRUSTED
Openly and honestly convey information to all:
·Encourage open communication across the game
Encourages feedback to inspire others
Ensures decision-making rationale is clear and considered so that it is easily understood by others
Sets the standards across the game:
Be open and support one another
Be consistently good in quality or performance
Demonstrate commitment and reliability and accountable in all that you do
Job Description Reviews and Modified by: Andy Weston, CEO
Date job description reviewed and modified: 5th August 2025
Job description authorised by: Dave Simpson, Chairman, Shropshire FA
Signed by job holder (on appointment):
Date Signed:
To apply:
Send a cover letter and CV detailing how you meet the requirements of the role marked private and confidential to: andyweston@shropshirefa com
For an informal discussion, please call 01743 362769
The closing date for applications is Monday 15 September 2025 th
If successful, applicants will be invited for an In-Person Interview which will be held on Monday 22 September 2025 nd
Full details can be found here: https://www.shropshirefa.com/about/vacancies
Please complete the online equality and diversity form: https://app smartsheet com/b/form/91b053b160d347d487af1f753153ec48