Head of Academy Education

Organisation: Huddersfield Town AFC
Salary: Up to £36,000 depending on skills, qualifications, and experience.
Location: Canalside Training Centre, Leeds Road, Huddersfield, West Yorkshire, HD2 1YJ
Contract type: Permanent (Full time)
Closing date: 22 September 2025
Interview date: 6 October 2025
Job Description: Job Description

Post Title
Head of Academy Education.

Department/Location
Huddersfield Town AFC Academy / Canalside Training Centre.

Reports to
Academy Director.

Purpose of the Role
The post holder will be responsible for the organisation, management, and delivery of the Club’s Education Programme in relation to Academy players and will be required to take a lead role in managing all issues relating to the education of all young players registered with the Huddersfield Town Academy.

Functional Links
Internal: Academy Director.
Football Administration Manager (Academy Secretary).
Head of Player Care.
Senior Safeguarding Manager and Safeguarding team.
Coaching Staff.
Academy players and their parents/carers.
Staff and managers throughout the organisation.

External: Education Providers.
Local Schools and Colleges.
Premier League and English Football League.
Football Association.
Department for Education.
League Football Education (LFE).
Professional Football Association (PFA).
Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS).
Accommodation providers.

Key Performance Indicators

• Academy players successfully achieve their own individual educational targets and all associated qualifications.

• Academy players have access to a broad educational curriculum covering academic / vocational education and life skills programmes.

• Players’ safety and welfare are factored into all educational pursuits.
Role Specific Responsibilities

Education

• To work with the Academy Director to ensure the Academy Education Programme offers the best learning opportunities and maximises the educational potential of young players.

• To ensure that the Academy’s education provision reflects the strategy and performance targets set out in the Club’s Academy performance plans/ VMOST and is consistent with the rules/guidance issued and approved by the Football League.

• To liaise with education providers, e.g. schools and colleges, to ensure all Academy players registered with the Club are enrolled on a suitable course of study.

• To provide teaching support and one-to-one teaching as may be required on occasion.

• To prepare young players for qualifications and external examinations and assessments.

• To maintain up to date and thorough knowledge of developments in the UK education system, including Apprenticeships and any associated review/reform, and the LFE education requirements including the Sporting Excellence Professional Standard.

• To monitor the educational progression of all Academy players, in conjunction with external education providers, and to take any associated action as required, particularly if progression and achievement are falling below expected standards.

• To work with the Head of Human Resources and EDI to ensure all Academy players are registered within the Club’s Digital Apprenticeship Service account, and that funds are released to the education providers to cover the cost of the players’ education and training.

• To attend all formal parent/carer consultations.

• To respond to requests from parents, players, the Academy Director, and/or education providers regarding the educational progress of young players, including providing written reports as required.

• To manage young players’ behaviour in the classroom and throughout the Club’s premises, to ensure professional standards are upheld, and to apply appropriate and effective measures in cases of misbehaviour.

• To undertake pastoral duties such as supporting young players on an individual basis through any academic and/or personal difficulties.

• To manage and safely store all data relating to the educational progression of young players, in line with Data Protection legislation.

• To plan and implement, with input from colleagues and other/external agencies as necessary, a programme of additional education and training for the Academy players, focusing on developing skills for life, e.g., cooking, finance management, equality, diversity, and inclusion, etc.
• Assist in preparing and planning Academy Trips and Tours and attend when required in a safeguarding role.

Safeguarding and Player Care Support

• To work with the Academy Director and others to recruit accommodation providers.

• To liaise with accommodation providers to ensure that Academy players are allocated appropriate accommodation for the duration of their engagement with the Academy.

• To liaise with the Senior Safeguarding Manager, Designated Safeguarding Manager, and Head of Academy Player Care to ensure that all vetting checks for accommodation providers are in place prior to any Academy players being placed in their care.

• To safeguard and promote the welfare of children and young people and to work with the Club’s Safeguarding team to ensure that all Club staff, volunteers, parents, and players understand their role in safeguarding children and young players, in the education and welfare philosophy.

• To undertake safeguarding training, including Designated Safeguarding Officer (DSO) training, and to maintain up to date knowledge of the associated legislation, e.g., ‘Keeping Children Safe in Education’.

• To report and refer child protection and/or poor practice complaints in line with policy guidance, advised by relevant regulatory bodies.

• To investigate and address any complaints about poor practice in line with the Club’s Safeguarding Policies and Procedures, and in conjunction with the Senior Safeguarding Manager.

• To be responsible for recording and safekeeping any incidents relating to the welfare of a child/young person.

• To ensure that all Academy players are aware of how to report any concerns in relation to their safety/safeguarding.

• To liaise with parents/carers and authorities as necessary in respect of any safeguarding complaints.

• To represent the Club at any education and/or safeguarding workshops or training delivered by any relevant body.

• To support the Club’s Safeguarding team and Head of Academy Player Care to facilitate or deliver safeguarding training for Club staff, appropriate to their work with children and young people.

• To undertake continuing professional development (CPD) organised by the Club, in relation to safeguarding and any other aspects of the Club’s operation.
This job description is not intended to be exhaustive, and the post holder is also required to undertake any other duties as may reasonably be required by the Academy Director, the Huddersfield Town Chief Executive Officer, or any other Senior Leader within the Club, commensurate with the level of the post.

Behaviour/Conduct

The post holder is required to:

· Be proactive with workload and interventions.

· Seek to continually develop their skills and knowledge.

· Adopt an organised and structured approach to fulfilling the duties and responsibilities of the role.

· Communicate appropriately at all levels.

· Be flexible to fit the development and growth of the organisation.

· Be flexible in hours of work.

· Be trustworthy and adhere to the Club’s Code of Conduct and Ethics.

• Adhere to protocol and respect confidentiality in all matters, also protecting any data relating to the area of work in accordance with the Data Protection Act 2018 and the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) 2018.

• Consistently demonstrate high standards of behaviour and appearance and encourage the same from others.

• Demonstrate a commitment to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people.

• Respect others and behave in an inclusive and non-discriminatory manner, taking account of all protected characteristics, as specified in the Equality Act 2010.

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Huddersfield Town AFC
Head of Academy Education

Up to £36,000 per annum, depending on skills, qualifications, and experience.
Full-time - 35+ hours per week including occasional evenings and weekends.
Permanent.

We are looking for a talented individual to lead on the organisation, management, and delivery of the Club’s Academy education programme and to contribute to the wider needs of our Academy in terms of safeguarding and holistic player development. Reporting to the Academy Director, the successful candidate will work closely with colleagues throughout the Academy and with players and their parents/carers, to ensure the academic and professional success of the young people in our care.

This is a varied role in which you will fulfil both teaching and non-teaching duties, also working closely with external agencies, including education and accommodation providers, and ensuring a well-rounded approach to players’ progress that also encompasses important life skills.

Candidates must have previous experience in a teaching role, ideally in the Further Education sector, excellent understanding of vocational education and training including apprenticeships, and proven experience in a leadership role. Safeguarding of Academy players is a crucial aspect of this position thus candidates are required to have previous experience and/or training in this respect.

Applicants must hold an undergraduate degree or equivalent in a relevant discipline, for example Sport and Exercise Science, and a recognised teaching qualification. Additional qualifications in leadership and management and/or at Postgraduate level would be advantageous.

The varied nature of this role requires applicants to have excellent communication skills, a well-organised approach to work, and excellent IT skills.

This role also requires flexibility and a willingness to work non-standard hours in accordance with the needs of the Club. The successful candidate must be passionate about making a difference through sport, be able to form positive relationships with young people and team members and be committed to achieving individual and team-related objectives.

If you have the specified qualifications and personal attributes and are enthusiastic about the variety and opportunities that this role offers, we would love to hear from you.

We receive a high volume of applications for our vacancies and as such, we encourage you to ensure that your application details how you feel you match our requirements. The volume of applications received prevents us from being able to provide feedback at short-listing stage.

To apply, please create an account in our online application portal and ensure you complete the associated questions in full.

Please also highlight any factors that you would like us to consider, for example, if you have a disability or health condition that may require us to make reasonable adjustments in accordance with the Equality Act 2010.
Safeguarding

We are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and we expect all staff and other stakeholders to share this commitment.

As this role will involve the supervision of and work with children and young people or vulnerable adults, the successful candidate will require an Enhanced Criminal Records Check (CRC) through the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) and clearance to work in football.

Applicants must disclose all previous convictions including spent convictions in accordance with the associated legislation; disclosure may be via a separate letter addressed to the Head of Human Resources and EDI. The amendments to the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 (Exceptions) Order 1975 (2013 and 2020) provide that when applying for certain jobs and activities, certain convictions and cautions are considered ‘protected’. This means that they do not need to be disclosed to employers, and if they are disclosed, employers cannot take them into account.

Guidance about whether a conviction or caution should be disclosed can be found on the Ministry of Justice website.

Equality and Inclusion

Huddersfield Town AFC is committed to promoting a diverse and inclusive community – a place where everyone can be themselves and in which everyone feels valued, included, and supported to achieve their full potential. We offer a range of family-friendly and inclusive employment arrangements, and we have a zero-tolerance approach to any form of discrimination.

We are committed to the redress of any inequalities by taking positive action where appropriate.

We are a Disability Confident Leader and welcome applications from disabled candidates. We are also seeking to diversify our workforce, particularly by gender and ethnicity.

Further information about the Company and working with us is available from the Careers section of our website:

https://careers.htafc.com/

To apply, please complete the application form in our portal. If you need any assistance and/or would prefer to apply in an alternative format, please contact us by email to jobs@htafc.com

Completed applications must be submitted by 9:00am on Monday 22nd September 2025.

Interviews are likely to take place in early October 2025.
How to apply: Further information about the Company and working with us is available from the Careers section of our website: https://careers.htafc.com/ To apply, please complete the application form in our portal. If you need any assistance and/or would prefer to apply in an alternative format, please contact us by email to jobs@htafc.com Completed applications must be submitted by 9:00am on Monday 22nd September 2025. Interviews are likely to take place in early October 2025.