Safeguarding and Welfare Manager (Female Pathway)

Organisation: Manchester City
Salary: Competitive
Location: Manchester
Contract type: Permanent (Full time)
Closing date: 18 August 2025
Job Description: Closing Date of Applications – 18/08/2025

Our Story

Established in 2013, City Football Group is the world’s leading private owner and operator of football clubs, with total or partial ownership of twelve clubs across the world. City Football Group also invests in other football related businesses and serves as a global commercial platform for our partners, whilst fulfilling our purpose of empowering better lives through football on a local and global scale, consistent with what “City” football has meant to people for over a century.

The Opportunity

We believe in more than just winning on the pitch. As our new Safeguarding and Player Welfare Manager (Female Pathway), you’ll play a vital role in shaping a safe, supportive, and empowering environment for every player in our women’s and girls’ programmes. Joining a passionate, purpose-driven team, you’ll help ensure our safeguarding standards lead the way in professional sport — delivering protection, promoting wellbeing, and elevating voices across the pathway. This is your opportunity to contribute meaningfully to the future of football, on and off the field.

This is Your City

As part of our team, you will be entitled to 26 days annual leave plus an additional day off for your birthday, private healthcare and a simply health cash plan, an annual discretionary bonus, plus a range of partnership and lifestyle discounts.

Your Impact

Champion the rights, safety, dignity, and wellbeing of all children, young people, and vulnerable groups involved in MCWFC activities.
Lead the planning, delivery and continuous improvement of safeguarding and welfare programmes across all club operations.
Promote a safe, respectful, and inclusive environment by collaborating with multi-disciplinary teams and embedding safeguarding best practice.
Ensure player voices are actively heard and represented in decisions, policies, and day-to-day operations.
Oversee safer recruitment processes, including compliance with background checks and regulatory standards.
Coordinate and deliver safeguarding education and awareness campaigns for staff, players, and stakeholders.
Provide expert guidance on safeguarding practices specific to the female football pathway, including residential care, tournaments, and player transitions.
Respond appropriately to safeguarding concerns, liaising with governing bodies and statutory agencies as required.
Partner with the Performance Lifestyle team to deliver holistic, age-appropriate player support.
Assist with the implementation of disciplinary policies and provide welfare support to players involved in such processes.
Maintain secure, compliant records and generate data-driven insights for leadership reporting.
Lead safeguarding efforts for players in club accommodation, ensuring a safe and supportive living environment.
Produce regular reports and contribute to the club’s annual safeguarding reviews.
Collaborate with the wider CFG Safeguarding Team to develop policies and frameworks that uphold best practice across all MCWFC operations.

What we are looking for

Essential

Proven experience in child rights, welfare, or safeguarding-related roles, ideally within environments involving young people or vulnerable groups.
Strong knowledge of safeguarding legislation, statutory guidance, and regulatory compliance.
Understanding of Local Authority statutory processes and their application in safeguarding.
A person-centred approach, with the ability to advocate for the rights, dignity, and wellbeing of young people.
Demonstrated experience handling safeguarding cases, including report writing and case management.
Emotional resilience and sound judgement when dealing with sensitive or complex situations.
Expertise in managing confidential data in line with data protection laws.
A thorough understanding of inclusion, equality, anti-discrimination, and safeguarding best practice.
Experience promoting safe environments and embedding a culture of welfare and protection.
Understanding of the principles and risks associated with boarding and accommodation for young people living away from home.

Desirable

A relevant professional qualification in social work, probation, or experience within a police child protection role.
Knowledge of safeguarding in professional sports environments.
Familiarity with coaching or educational settings involving young people.
Experience in developing or contributing to safeguarding policies or frameworks.
Fluency in a second language.
How to apply: https://careers.cityfootballgroup.com/job-invite/2440/