Foundation Phase Lead Coach

Organisation: Derby County Football Club
Salary: Competetive
Location: Derby
Contract type: Permanent (Full time)
Closing date: 1 July 2025
Job Description: Derby County Football Club, established in 1884, is one of the founder members of the English Football League and has a rich and varied history, including two First Division titles in 1972 and 1975 and an FA Cup success in 1946. The club are currently playing in the Sky Bet Championship, the second tier of English Football following their promotion from League One in the 2023/24 season and is under the management of Head Coach John Eustace. The club also boasts a successful and respected Category One Academy, a status which has been held since 2014, and a Women’s side competing in the FA Women’s National League Northern Premier Division. Derby County recently embarked on an exciting new era following the change in ownership to Clowes Developments (UK) Limited, in the summer of 2022. Our track record of producing talent is outstanding, and we intend to protect that proud legacy, investing in key roles within the club to build on the foundations in place for success.

Derby County Football Club has an opportunity to join our Academy Coaching Team at our Category One Academy as a Foundation Phase Lead Coach.

Our mission is to identify, develop, and support talented young footballers so that they can achieve their maximum potential in a positive, supportive, and professional learning environment.

The successful candidate will be responsible for leading the delivery of an elite Foundation Phase programme for U9–U11, ensuring a high-performance environment is upheld and continuously enhanced. Setting the standard for high levels of conduct and coaching excellence, inspiring staff to support and strengthen the club’s high-performing Foundation Phase.

Key Responsibilities:

Coaching & Player Development
• Aspire to create a world-class football programme tailored to the Foundation Phase age groups.
• Design and deliver high-quality, age-appropriate coaching sessions in line with the club’s philosophy.
• Lead, mentor, and manage a team of coaches and support staff, ensuring high standards of professionalism and commitment.
• Conduct player assessments, provide feedback, and implement Individual Development Programmes (IDPs).
• Ensure optimal progression pathways, preparing players for transition into the next development phase, leading on the Player Audit process for the Foundation Phase.
• Monitor performance metrics and adapt coaching strategies to optimise individual and team development.

Planning & Programme Management
• Oversee and deliver a comprehensive curriculum that aligns with Premier League guidelines.
• Foster an elite learning and training environment that prioritises player development and progression, ensuring the Foundation Phase games programme provides the appropriate challenges including, tours and competitive opportunities.
• Monitor and evaluate training methodologies, ensuring continuous improvement.
• Organise and oversee match-day preparation and performance analysis.
• Maintain detailed records on player progression, performance data, and performance clocks using the appropriate platforms.
• Ensure appropriate session planning and cover is in place throughout the season.
• Champion the player/parent feedback process and ensure a transparent, no-surprise mantra is adhered to throughout the phase, you will be a key point of contact for players/parents across the phase, ensuring a professional approach is always a priority.

Leadership & Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) Management
• Lead and mentor a team of academy coaches and support staff, fostering professional development.
• Lead on suitable meetings to track player development and progress.
• Collaborate with the Medical, Physical Performance, Analysis and Lifelong Learning teams to ensure a holistic player approach.
• Drive best practices in coaching methodology and player welfare.
• Uphold high standards in safeguarding and ethical conduct within the academy structure.
• Maintain adherence to Premier League regulations and best practices in youth development.
• Sit amongst a decision-making group for all Pre-Academy decision making.
• To uphold and promote organisational policies and procedures, promoting those specifically applicable to this area of work and including equality, diversity and inclusion.
• To present and promote an appropriate public image representing the organisation.

Personal characteristics and experience:
• Previous experience of undertaking a Lead Foundation Phase Coach role (Desirable)
• Experience of football coaching in a professional environment
• Experience in managing and leading a team of coaching staff
• Experience in implementing policies and procedures and reviewing practices to ensure continuous improvement
• Ability to manage and motivate a team
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to communicate effectively across all levels
• Ability to organise, schedule and adapt work tasks to meet conflicting deadlines and respond to changing situations
• Knowledge of the football recruitment process (Desirable)
• Ability to work effectively as part of a team as well as independently.
• Commitment to continuous personal and professional development

Essential qualifications:
• UEFA B / Coaching License
• FA Advanced Youth Awards
• UEFA A Coaching License (Desirable)
• Level 2 Emergency First Aid in Football
• Safeguarding Children Certificate

Salary dependent on experience.

This is a full-time position based at our training ground in Oakwood, Derby.

This role will require weekend and evening work in line with the Academy programme.

Everything we do as a Club is built around the three pillars of stability, integrity and progress. Our core values are:

• We are proud of who we are and what we do
• We are positive, inspired and passionate
• We are ambitious and driven
• We are prepared, honest and humble
• We are the heartbeat of our community
• We are the club of opportunity

Derby County employee benefits include:

• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• Two complimentary staff season tickets
• Two complimentary staff away memberships
• 20% discount at DCFC Megastore
• Company Pension with Aviva
• Discounts with select Club partners and sponsors
• Healthshield Cash Health Plan to support employee health and well-being and Perks for great deals and discounts
• Participating in our employee forum, ‘The Herd’
• Training and development opportunities
• Access to programmes and volunteering opportunities with Derby County Community Trust
• Subsidised lunchtime meals at Moor Farm

Derby County Football Club is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk, and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
As part of the Club's commitment to providing a safe environment for children and young people, applicants should be aware that this post is subject to an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Criminal Record Check.

Derby County Football Club is an Inclusive Club for all and is committed to Equality and Diversity.

To apply for this role, please complete an application form, which can be found HERE.

Alternatively, please copy and paste - http://thera.ms/apply - to your chosen browser.

More information can be found at https://www.dcfc.co.uk/page/jobsandcareers

The closing date for receipt of applications is Tuesday 01 July 2025. We reserve the right to close the vacancy early.

Strictly no agencies please.

Derby County Football Club’s Job Applicant Privacy Policy can be found at dcfc.co.uk.
How to apply: To apply for this role, please complete an application form, which can be found HERE. Alternatively, please copy and paste - http://thera.ms/apply - to your chosen browser. More information can be found at https://www.dcfc.co.uk/page/jobsandcareers The closing date for receipt of applications is Tuesday 01 July 2025. We reserve the right to close the vacancy early. Strictly no agencies please. Derby County Football Club’s Job Applicant Privacy Policy can be found at dcfc.co.uk.