Head of Safety and Security - Women's Super League

Organisation: The Football Association
Salary: Competitive
Location: Farringdon, London
Contract type: Permanent (Full time)
Closing date: 23 April 2026
Job Description: Women's Super League Football has an exciting opportunity for a Head of Safety and Security.

This key senior role will lead the delivery and continuous improvement of the League's matchday safety and security strategy. Working collaboratively with clubs, governing bodies, and external stakeholders, the role ensures the highest standards of safety and compliance across all women's football operations. The postholder will provide strategic leadership on safety and security matters and serve as the League's subject-matter expert, advising senior leadership on emerging risks, trends, and best practices. In addition, the post holder will oversee and develop the League's Match Observer Programme.

What will you be doing?

Safety & Security Leadership

Lead the implementation and ongoing evolution of the League's matchday safety and security strategy.
Chair and develop the WSL Football Safety and Security Working Group.
Design and deliver the annual League Safety and Security Conference and monthly Safety Officer meetings.
Develop and deliver training, workshops, and guidance materials to support the continuous development of club Safety Officers and operational teams.
Represent the League on key committees and working groups, including: Safety Committee, Data Sharing Working Group, CT, WPFNCC Subcommittee, and SAFE.
Lead and enhance the League Match Observer Programme.
Monitor and analyse matchday insights throughout the season to inform strategic decision-making.
Collaborate with Premier League and EFL safety and security teams to ensure alignment across the professional game.
Maintain strong relationships with key external partners, including SGSA, UKPFPU, FSA, FSOA, the Home Office, DCMS, and clubs. Ensure league and club compliance with relevant safety legislation, SGSA guidance, Green Guide standards, and FA/League regulations.
Conduct periodic reviews and audits of club safety documentation, matchday plans, and certification.
Maintain and regularly review the effectiveness of the League's Major Incident Plan. Act as a key member of the League's Crisis Management structure, providing specialist advice during incidents and leading post‑incident reviews.
Lead the identification, assessment and mitigation of safety and security risks across the league, ensuring proactive planning and continuous improvement feeding Into the league - wide operational risk register
Promote a culture of safety, learning, and shared best practice across the league.

General Responsibilities

Coordinate meetings, logistics, agendas, and ensure accurate action recording and minute‑taking.
Support departments with club promotion applications and case conferencing.
Work closely with all League departments, particularly safeguarding, to support the successful delivery of the League Business Plan.
Collate information and produce departmental reports, including monthly risk registers and operational summaries.
Undertake additional duties as required in response to evolving business needs.
Ensure full compliance with company policies and procedures, promoting the highest standards of health, safety, and well-being.
Complete the required level of DBS check in line with legislation and the responsibilities of the role.
Champion an inclusive and respectful environment across matchday operations, ensuring safety practices reflect the needs of diverse participants, staff, and fans.
Execute additional tasks as required to meet Women's Super League Football's changing priorities.
Comply with all company policies and procedures to ensure the highest standards of health, safety, and well-being can be maintained.
As part of the Women's Super League Football'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:
Strong knowledge and experience of safety and security operations within professional sport (ideally football), including the women's game.
Demonstrable experience managing multiple projects and working groups.
Proven stakeholder management skills across internal and external partners.
Understanding of relevant policies, licensing requirements, and regulatory frameworks.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office, PowerPoint, and relevant databases.
Knowledge of financial and budgeting processes.
Flexible approach to working hours, including matchday and out-of-hours requirements.
Ability to remain calm and make sound decisions under pressure.
Strong communication and influencing skills at all levels.
High integrity and commitment to ensuring safe environments in women's football.

Beneficial to have:
Knowledge and experience of professional women's sport.
Qualified to degree level or equivalent (such as crowd management or similar).
Formal qualification in project management (such as Prince II or similar).

Living the values through our behaviours:
FOR THE LOVE OF THE WOMEN'S GAME - Every decision we make drives the growth, quality, and impact of women's football for future generations.
GREATNESS NEVER SETTLES - We have the relentless drive to keep the women's game, growing, and reaching for more. We have the courage to push boundaries, innovate boldly and continuously rewrite the playbook.
FIND A WAY TO WIN, TOGETHER - We move as one – lifting each other up and having each other's backs. Together, we unite players, clubs, fans, and communities to achieve greatness.
CHAMPION THE FEMALE ATHLETE, ON AND OFF THE PITCH - We celebrate and support female athletes, empowering them to shine in their football careers and beyond.
PUT FANS IN THE FRONT ROW - Fans are the VIPs at the heart of our game. We must thrill, inspire, and connect with them to build lifelong loyalty.

Please note that the Women's Super League Football office is based in Farringdon in Central London. To find out more details about the organisation, please click here to be directed to the Women's Super League Football website.

Women's Super League Football welcomes applications from everyone. If you have any particular requirements in respect of the recruitment or interview process, please mention this during your application.

As part of the Women's Super League Football'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/wsl-head-of-safety-and-security-hb0300-farringdon-central-london/3033/description/