Step 3 & 4 Referee Support Officer - Consultant

Organisation: The Football Association
Salary: Competitive
Location: Home-Based
Contract type
Closing date: 26 November 2026
Job Description: Develop and inspire the next generation...

Our Refereeing team are excited to be searching for consultants who will provide operational, developmental, and practical support to Step 3 & 4 referees within a defined region of the National League System, enhancing referee performance, education and retention in line with The FA Refereeing Strategy. To deliver these support services, there will be three (3) roles to ensure we can maintain a high level of service for the Step 3 & 4 competitions:

Role 1: Northern Premier League

Role 2: Southern League

Role 3: Isthmian League

Please consider the location of these leagues when applying. You will be asked, as part of the application process, which league you will be applying for.

Please note that this role is a contractor role and not a full-time or part-time position.

What You'll Do?

League and club engagement:

Complete one scheduled engagement meeting or call per month with their allocated league.
Provide a brief record of the main referee-related themes arising from each league engagement.
Deliver or co-deliver a minimum of two specific club or league engagement activities during the contracted period.
These activities may include:
Laws of the Game education;
explanation and discussion of key match incidents;
referee and club engagement sessions;
technical-area or participant behaviour education;
referee development presentations;
structured forums bringing together referees and club or league representatives.
Attend any additional league meeting, club meeting or stakeholder event only where that specific piece of activity has been agreed in advance.
Additionally, your responsibilities will include:

Act as the primary point of contact for approximately 120 referees within the assigned region.
Plan and deliver training, education, and development programmes aligned to The FA's frameworks.
Conduct match day coaching and provide timely, constructive feedback to referees.
Identify referees with promotion potential and support their progress.
Deliver regular monthly updates and communications to referees to sustain engagement.
Provide bespoke support to referees requiring performance improvement.
Assist in the delivery of seasonal events, including assessments, inductions, and regional support sessions.
Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of referee interactions, feedback, and development activity.
Collaborate with the National Referee Manager to ensure consistent delivery of national objectives across all regions.
Execute additional tasks as required to meet the FA's changing priorities.
Comply with all company policies and procedures to ensure the highest standards of health, safety, and wellbeing can be maintained.

What You'll Need?

Essential for the role:

Experience as a referee, observer, developer, or mentor within the National League System.
Passion for referee development and a strong understanding of The FA Refereeing Strategy.
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.
Ability to work independently and manage your own schedule.
Willingness and ability to travel within the assigned region and nationally when required.
Technological competence (e.g., Zoom, MS Teams, MOAS)

Beneficial to have:

Previous involvement in referee education or talent identification.
Experience in delivering CPD or development content.
Familiarity with Step 5 & 6 leagues within the relevant region.

What's in it for you?

We pride ourselves in offering a competitive rate of pay as well as great opportunities to develop and grow in your role.

We are committed to ensuring everyone can flourish in their roles, and by doing this, we offer top-of-the-range facilities across two core business locations. 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 have 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 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/step-3--4-referee-support-officer---consultant-hb0323-home-based-/3302/description/

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Step 3 & 4 Referee Support Officer - Consultant