Learning Developer - Refereeing

Organisation: The Football Association
Salary: Competitive
Location: Home based
Contract type: Permanent (Full time)
Closing date: 8 June 2025
Job Description: The Football Association has an exciting opportunity for a Learning Developer - Refereeing to join our Football Operations department.

The purpose of this role is to design and build high-quality digital learning experiences and resources that meet learner and business needs, with a focus on the development of referees across all formats of the game. You will work closely with the Senior Manager, Referee Progression Pathway and Development, National Referee Manager - Grassroots Engagement & Workforce and subject matter experts (SMEs) to create interactive, engaging, and effective learning solutions across various digital platforms, including the Learning Experience Platform (LXP). This role plays a critical part in advancing and aligning the English Refereeing Curriculum and CPD offer, with a strong focus on on-field officiating and workforce development across all tiers of the National League System and sections of grassroots football.

What will you be doing?

Design Continuing Professional Development (CPD) modules and contribute to developing and evolving the English Refereeing Curriculum, including pathways for assistant referees, workforce and match officials in grassroots football, futsal, and 11-a-side formats.
Design and build online modules using authoring software such as Adapt and the Articulate 360 platform.
Use Adobe Creative Cloud to create multimedia assets and resources, e.g., graphics, animations and PDFs.
Ensure all online modules, assets, and resources adhere to The FA's brand guidelines and learning design principles.
Use a basic understanding of CSS and HTML to maintain The FA's suite of online modules.
Work with the Digital Systems team to ensure digital platforms adhere to The FA's brand and UI guidelines.
Work with subject matter experts (SMEs) to create compelling learning experiences that meet the target audience's needs, incorporating elements specific to refereeing development such as observing scouting, and matchday coaching.
Collaborate with the FA Learning team to ensure alignment between refereeing education and the wider FA learning and development offer, enabling consistency and quality across the learner journey.
Ensure the learning is inclusive, accessible and tailored to meet the diverse needs of all learners
Support the development of materials and resources for both blended and face-to-face delivery, ensuring consistency across all delivery modes and formats of the game.
Ensure high-quality standards are maintained across all digital learning content, providing support in the testing and quality assurance process.
Oversee the rollout and management of The FA's Learning Management System (LMS) to support referee education, ensuring platform effectiveness and learner engagement.
Monitor and evaluate the impact of curriculum and CPD delivery through data insights and feedback, using findings to continuously improve referee education across England
Use data insights and feedback to refine and improve learning resources, ensuring they are effective and engaging for learners.
Keep updated with developments in digital learning, e-learning technologies and learning design to ensure continuous content improvement.
Executes additional tasks as required to meet the FA's changing priorities.
Comply with all company policies and procedures to ensure that the highest standards of health, safety, and well-being can be maintained.
As part of the FA's commitment to ensuring a safe environment for everyone in football, every employee will be required to complete a DBS check. The level of the check required will be based on the activity of the specific job role and in line with legislation and government guidance.

What are we looking for?

Essential for the role:

Knowledge:

Degree in a relevant subject area (e.g., multimedia design or digital learning) or equivalent experience.
Knowledge of design principles and their application in digital learning development.

Experience:

Experience in designing and developing e-learning content, with the ability to apply design principles effectively.
Experience collaborating with subject matter experts (SMEs) to create targeted, high-quality learning content, ideally within the context of refereeing development.

Skills:

Proficiency in using e-learning authoring tools (e.g., Adapt and Articulate 360) to develop interactive digital content.
Experience using graphic design and multimedia software, such as Adobe Creative Cloud, to create visual assets.
Understanding of SCORM and LMS/LXP platforms for content management and delivery.
Basic understanding of CSS and HTML implementation.

Beneficial to have:

Knowledge:

Familiarity with referee development philosophies and how they can be enhanced through effective learning design and delivery across formats such as futsal, disability and grassroots football.

Experience:

Experience working within a footballing organisation or refereeing structure, from grassroots to elite levels.
Experience creating interactions within interactive videos, such as Vimeo Interactive.
Experience using xAPI to track learner progress and outcomes.

Skills:

Familiarity with UX/UI design principles for creating user-friendly digital learning experiences.
Ability to translate refereeing performance frameworks (e.g., observation and scouting metrics) into practical learning design components.

What's in it for you?

We are committed to ensuring everyone can flourish in their roles, to achieve this we have unique office spaces under the arch of the iconic Wembley National Stadium, which is the home of English Football. We are also delighted to offer a world-class, Elite Performance Centre, St. George's Park in Staffordshire which is an exceptional setting to develop and inspire high-performing England teams and leaders.

We pride ourselves in offering a competitive salary as well as great opportunities to develop and grow in your role. But that is not all; we also have a range of exciting benefits, some of which can be found below:

Access to event day tickets at Wembley Stadium, alongside a host of regular internal events throughout the season, encouraging you to connect and learn with your colleagues and look after your mental health and well-being.
Free, nutritious lunches at Wembley Stadium and St. George's Park.
Free private medical cover.
A contributory pension scheme.
An additional 'Thank You' days leave, volunteering days as well as 25 days annual leave (based on a full-time, permanent contract.)
A hybrid working model which offers greater flexibility.

For more information on what it is like to work at The FA, please visit our FA Careers page, https://www.thefa.com/about-football-association/careers

We are a diverse workplace, aspiring to represent football across the country. The Football Association actively promotes inclusion and diversity, encouraging you to be the best version of yourself at work.

We welcome applications from everyone and are proud to be an equal opportunities employer. If you have any particular requirements in respect of the recruitment or interview process, please mention this during your application.

As part of the FA's commitment to ensuring a safe environment for everyone in football, every employee will be required to complete a DBS check. The level of the check required will be based on the activity of the specific job role and in line with legislation and government guidance.
How to apply: https://careers.thefa.com/jobs/vacancy/learning-developer---refereeing-hb0245-home-based-/2560/description/