Club Secretary

Organisation: Bristol City Women's FC
Salary: Competitive
Location: Bristol
Contract type: Permanent (Full time)
Closing date: 10 April 2026
Job Description: The Club Secretary is the Club’s senior football governance and compliance lead. Reporting to the CEO, the role ensures full adherence to FA and Women’s Super League regulations, oversees player registration and contract administration, and maintains audit-ready compliance systems.

As the primary interface with league and regulatory bodies, this role safeguards the Club’s competitive eligibility and supports Tier 1 promotion readiness within a lean and scaling organisation.

Key Responsibilities

Player Registration & Contract Administration

• Manage all player registrations, transfers, loans and deregistrations through FA and league systems.

• Maintain oversight of trialist registrations, and all associated regulatory requirements in line with FA and league rules.

• Monitor squad composition and eligibility, including homegrown status, loan limits, and competition registration deadlines.

• Manage international transfers through the FIFA Transfer Matching System (TMS), overseeing International Transfer Certificates (ITCs) and all cross-border regulatory documentation.

• Coordinate visa and immigration processes for international players and staff in collaboration with Legal and HR advisors, including Governing Body Endorsement (GBE) applications, visa renewals, and right-to-work compliance.

• Oversee the full player contract lifecycle — including extensions, amendments, and expiry monitoring — in collaboration with Recruitment and Finance, ensuring regulatory compliance.

• Coordinate transfer window activity end-to-end, including documentation, eligibility verification, and league submissions, ensuring full compliance with FA, FIFA, and league regulations covering squad eligibility, transfer window rules, and competition-specific requirement.

• Maintain secure and accurate player records in accordance with UK GDPR requirements.

• Maintain accurate records of intermediary/agent involvement in player transactions to ensure adherence to FA and FIFA Football Agent Regulations.

Regulatory Compliance & League Governance

• Own the Club’s compliance with FA and WSL rules, ensuring all regulatory obligations are met in full and on time.

• Lead the preparation and submission of annual league compliance reporting, including the WSL Compliance and Development Report (CDR).

• Coordinate and manage regulatory aspects of the Club’s Tier 1 promotion application process.

• Serve as the Club’s principal liaison with the WSL, The FA, County Association and competition officials.

• Advise the CEO and Board on relevant regulatory developments and associated risk implications.

Match Day Administration & Stakeholder Liaison

• Work with the wider football operations team to ensure all matchday and fixture administration is managed in line with competition regulations.

• Act as a reliable, professional point of contact for league and competition stakeholders.

• Support senior leadership in preparation for league inspections, audits and regulatory panels.

• The club secretary is required to be in attendance at all home matches and some away matches as and where required.

Documentation, Governance & Audit Readiness

• Maintain a structured and audit-ready governance and compliance framework across football operations.

• Ensure mandatory league policies and documentation are current and properly controlled.

• Develop and manage a central compliance calendar and filing system.

• Align club-level governance processes with Mercury13 group standards where applicable.

What You Bring

Qualifications & Experience

• Proven experience in a club secretary, football administration, or governance/compliance role within the professional game

• Strong working knowledge of FA rules and regulations, league compliance frameworks, and player registration systems

• Experience managing regulatory compliance processes and preparing governance documentation

• Familiarity with player contract administration and transfer regulations

Bristol City Women’s Expectations

• Detail-oriented and organised, with the ability to manage multiple regulatory deadlines simultaneously

• A collaborative, solutions-oriented approach — this role works across football, finance, recruitment, and commercial functions

• Discretion and integrity when handling confidential information

• Resilient, adaptable, and comfortable operating in a fast-paced, growth environment

Desirable

• Experience within professional women’s football

• Knowledge of FA and league registration platforms (e.g. FIFA TMS, FA Whole Game System)

• Experience working in a multi-club ownership environment

About Us

Bristol City Women is a football club entering a new era of growth under the stewardship of Mercury13. The club is offering a unique opportunity to shape its governance and compliance function during a pivotal moment in its history. The club has big ambitions for its performance both on and off the pitch. Employees benefit from a supportive work culture that champions diversity and inclusion, alongside the chance to make a meaningful impact in the sporting world.

Safeguarding Statement

Bristol City Women's Football Club is committed to safeguarding the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults and expects all staff and volunteers to endorse this commitment.

Note: Due to the nature of the role, any job offer is dependent on a DBS check. All information will be kept by the Safeguarding Officer in strictest confidence.

Equality Statement

The successful candidate must ensure a positive commitment towards equality and diversity by treating others fairly and not committing any form of direct or indirect discrimination, victimisation or harassment of any description and to promote positive working relationships between all internal and external stakeholders.
How to apply: For more information, and to apply, please click here: https://mercury13.teamtailor.com/jobs/7461659-club-secretary?promotion=1913325-trackable-share-link-uk-sport