Academy Coach

Organisation: Heart of Midlothian plc
Salary: Competitive salary plus excellent staff benefits
Location: Oriam - Scotland’s Sports Performance Centre, Edinburgh, EH14 4AS
Contract type: Permanent (Part time)
Closing date: 8 August 2025
Job Description: Heart of Midlothian Football Club is a Scottish Premiership Football Club based in Edinburgh with Elite Academy Status. The Club are looking to recruit an Academy Coach who will be working within our Youth Academy. This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced coach who has previous experience within an Elite Football Academy and is passionate about training and developing talented young players.

The successful candidate will collaborate with the Head of Youth Academy and other Academy staff to plan, deliver, and evaluate coaching sessions in accordance with the Academy Identity and best coaching practice. The role also involves delivering player assessment meetings to update on individual progress and contributing to a positive environment for young players to thrive.

Key Responsibilities:

• Work with the assigned age group, within the Youth Academy, at both training and matches, ensuring they play in line with the Academy identity.
• Ensure that all individual and team learning objectives link to the Academy game model and Hearts Position Specific Criteria.
• Responsible for implementing coaching programs for young players, documenting session plans prior to the delivery of training sessions and post session reflection and evaluations.
• Liaise with Head of Youth Academy and various Departments within the Academy regarding coaching programs and individual player development.
• Responsible for providing iterative specific feedback that is both formal and informal to the young players and parents/carers, in line with the Academy Review guidelines.
• Create a positive environment for player development.
• Assist in any other related duties that may be required by the Head of Youth Academy, Academy Manager, or any other senior Academy staff member.

Essential Qualifications & Experience:

• Scottish FA Advanced Children's Licence or equivalent.
• Scottish FA Elite Youth A Licence or equivalent (Desirable).
• Previous experience of working in an Elite Football Academy.
• Currently based in Edinburgh or can reliably commute to Edinburgh and other locations as per the needs of the position.
• Able to evidence the Legal right to work in the UK.
• Valid UK driving licence.

Essential Skills & Abilities:

• Strong interpersonal skills, and able to build strong working relationships across multi-disciplinary teams.
• Excellent communication, both written and verbal.
• Commitment to ongoing professional development.
• A strong work ethic with a passion for developing players.
• Ability to manage your own time effectively.
• A high standard of professionalism and confidentiality.
• Excellent IT and presentation skills.
• Able to commit to working 3 mid-week evening training sessions per week, and one weekend matchday depending upon the Academy schedule.

The role will have regular contact with children, and it is therefore required by law to have a Protection of Vulnerable Groups (PVG) check through Disclosure Scotland as a condition of employment.
How to apply: How to apply: If you think that you are suitable for the position and meet the criteria above, please send a Covering Letter and CV to Recruitment@homplc.co.uk. Due to a high volume of applications, the advert may be closed earlier than the closing date stated above. Interviews are expected to be conducted mid-August 2025. HEART OF MIDLOTHIAN FOOTBALL CLUB IS AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES EMPLOYER AND FULLY COMMITTED TO THE SAFEGUARDING AND WELFARE OF VULNERABLE GROUPS. HEART OF MIDLOTHIAN IS A LIVING WAGE ACCREDITED COMPANY.