Player Development Lead

Organisation: Charlton Athletic Football Club
Salary: Competitive
Location: Sparrows Lane, London
Contract type: (Part time)
Closing date: 30 August 2025
Job Description: Player Development Lead (ETC)

Location: Sparrows Lane Training Ground, South East London

Hours: Part time, 6 hours per week

Role Type: FTC - ending June 2026

Closing date: 30th August 2025

JOB PURPOSE

• Support Lead and inspire an environment where any player is welcome, and possibility is encouraged via a systemic approach to emerging an undeveloped talent potential

• To deliver on the Ultimate Goals of the ETC programme including increasing the quality and diversity of players whilst ensuring any young player with potential can access the centre.

• Play a key role in making the ETC a place where players learn, have fun and develop a love for the game

• Protect the ETC's Ultimate Goal of a late specialisation remit

• Drive a non-selective philosophy through dual registration practice supporting the Ultimate Goal of increased playing time, varied and enhanced football experiences

• Play a key role in ensuring the ETC contributes positively to its local sporting and wider community

• Lead the development-and oversee the delivery of -the ETC's player development philosophy

• Ensure the ETC's coaching programme adheres to or exceeds FA ETC licence requirements

• Be an advocate and guardian of the women's game.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Coaching Programme

• Design and periodically review coaching curriculum

• Seek input and respond to feedback from other coaches in the development and the delivery of the coaching curriculum

• Oversee ETC coaches in their planning, preparation, and evaluation of their coaching sessions

• Plan, prepare and evaluate own coaching sessions

• Oversee the work of coaches to ensure ETC practice supports player engagement in their learning and development, ensuring players:

• are encouraged to ask questions and seek feedback for improvement and clarity

• are encouraged to have input to footballing decisions and their own learning process.

• are communicated the why' as well as 'what' of decisions

• know and understand the purpose and 'why' of training sessions

• Lead and support the player selection policy alongside the ETC's Talent Identification Plan ensuring accessible opportunities for potential players.

Player development

• Work with individual players set appropriated development targets with a plan to work towards

• Input information into the PGA’s monitoring system to allow for analysis

• Provide feedback to players (using technology where appropriate) that is recorded in the IDPs.

Multi-disciplinary Working & Being Part of the ETC Culture

• Deliver, or oversee the ETC group coaches activity:

• Work with individual players; set appropriated development targets with a plan to work towards those targets

• Provide feedback to players (using technology where appropriate)

• Monitor and evaluate player development; provide feedback to players and parents on a regular basis

• Liaise with and work closely with coaches, medics and performance staff regarding player development, and prevention, treatment, and rehabilitation of injuries

• Encourage/ support the holistic development of players to support them as people and players.

• Be available to players to offer advice, guidance and support on football and personal matters.

• Set, monitor and manage behaviours based on club and team values and expectations

• Make and act on decisions about disciplinary matters in conjunction with other staff

• Ensure coaches input information into the ETC's data gathering system

Work with the ETC's Safeguarding Manager to ensure that the wellbeing and welfare of all players and staff is always an operational priority

Coaching Development: The ETC's Culture and Ways of Working

• Through being a role-model, contribute to the development of a learning environment where people take responsibility for their own development, feel able to learn from their mistakes, experiment and show humility

• Be a role model of good personal wellbeing practice, and therefore show the way to the coaching staff for sustainable performance

• Provide clarity regarding expectations, regular feedback, and appropriate support to enable strong leadership, engagement, and performance in the role

• Ensure every coach has a personalised Development Plan (DP) that is tailored to meet their needs and wants, which they are committed to

• Observe, and provide feedback to coaches to assisttheir development

Ensure all ETC games and festivals are wellmanaged witha development philosophy clear to players and coaches

Internal & External Relationships

• Work to develop and maintain positive relationships with ETC delivery partners (eg., The FA, clubs and schools)

• Work well with the centre manager, and other colleagues to ensure smooth running of the ETC

• Develop relationships with parents; communicate with parents, and educate then regarding their role in supporting their child's football and personal development

Self Development

• Seek feedback from others, and reflect on personal behaviour and performance to identify areas for improvement

• Create and maintain a personalised Development Plan (DP), taking input and feedback from a variety of sources

• Regularly review skills againstjob specification and identify areas for improvement

• Attend CPD events and undertake CPD activities in line with identified development themes

• Work with an advisor or mentor from outside the ETC

MAIN JOB REQUIREMENTS AND PERSON SPECIFICATION

Education/Qualifications/Training:

Essential

• UEFA B Licence/The FA Level 3 in Coaching Football or above

• Qualification or Teaching experience

• FADBS

• FASafeguardingChildren

• FALevel 1Introductionto FirstAid in Football(IFAiF) or FA Emergency First Aid.

Desirable

Desirable Qualifications and Membership

• Engages in professional development other than technical football coaching development, for example:

• Physical Development of Youth Female Players (growth and maturation, female athlete physiology & menstrual cycle)

• Talent Identification & Talent Development across allsports (RAE, Unconscious Bias, Performance vs Potential)

• Player support qualifications (e.g., Talented Athlete Lifestyle Support)

Coaching & mentoring qualification (e.g., EMCC)

Specific Experience:

• A background in Talent Development

• Experience of creating and managing programmes to facilitateyoung players' long-term athletic development

• An up to date understandingofChild Protectionand Safeguarding procedures

• Experience of roles which have brought understanding of how children learn and develop (e.g., teaching)

• Experience of leading a team of people

• Knowledge and awareness of diversity and equality challenges in football

Safeguarding
Charlton Athletic Football club are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. We endeavour to provide a fun, safe and welcoming environment where children and young people feel respected and valued.

Additional Information

This a part time role that includes work on weekends and evenings (negotiable);
Applicants must be eligible to live and work in the UK
Charlton Athletic is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.
As such, this post is exempt for the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (1974) and the successful candidate must disclose all convictions spent convictions should be declared, that have not been subject to filtering by the DBS
Charlton Athletic Women FC is committed to the principle of equal opportunity and its policies for recruitment, selection, training, development and promotion are designed to ensure that no job applicant receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of race, colour, nationality, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, age, ethnic and national origin, disability or gender reassignment.
Any personal data that you provide to Charlton Athletic Women Football Club Ltd (data controller) will be processed in line with applicable data protection laws and will be used only for the purpose of recruitment.
We will keep your personal information for 6 months after which we will erase it. You can always choose to have your data erased earlier by emailing us
We’d love to hear from you if you believe you can meet the challenges of working within an elite sporting environment.
Please note that due to the high volume of applications we receive we regret that we are unable to respond to unsuccessful applicants.
How to apply: Apply here: https://cafc.peoplehr.net/Pages/JobBoard/Opening.aspx?v=b7372f09-d58f-4c02-82fc-79a7190c17ce