Assistant Football Development Officer

Organisation: The Junior Premier League
Salary: £21,157.50 - £24,784.50 (dependent on experience)
Location: The North East of England, close to Middlesbrough
Contract type: Permanent (Full time)
Closing date: 13 March 2026
Interview date: 23 March 2026
Job Description: This is an exciting opportunity to join the team at the Junior Premier League in England and help shape competitive opportunities for thousands of ambitious young players every week. As Assistant Football Development Officer, you will play a pivotal role in the planning and delivery of fixtures across U7–U18 boys, mixed and girls’ competitions, support league compliance and discipline processes, and help coordinate showcase events and the prestigious JPL All-Star programme. Working closely with a driven team, you will ensure games happen, standards are upheld, and clubs receive outstanding service. This is the perfect opportunity for an organised, football-savvy professional who thrives on detail, collaboration and problem-solving, and who wants to make a tangible impact on the youth football landscape in England.

Key Accountabilities:
1. Support the creation and management of Junior premier League U12-U18 fixtures:
Support the Fixture Secretary and Senior FDO (girls’ football) with;
Competition mapping, planning and draws.
U12 – U18 league and cup fixtures well in advance of the next relevant stage.
Ensuring teams have games most weeks.
Reschedules due to priority games as per FA rules e.g. County cup.
Recording, rescheduling or processing of unplayed games.
Reporting the delivery and completion status of the leagues to league management.
Respond to member club U12-U18 boys / mixed fixture enquiries.
The planning, delivery and review of JPL events, including JPL finals each season.

2. Support the creation and management of Junior Premier League boys/mixed U7-U11 fixtures.
Support the Foundation Phase FDO with;
The central venue programme fixtures in ‘blocks’.
U11 season fixtures in ‘blocks’.
Delivery of Central Venue and U11 competition format including winter and end of season competitions.
The recruitment and coordination of casual central venue officers and referees.
Developing referee opportunities at central venues.
Respond to member club U7-U11 fixture enquiries.
Central venue quality / support visits.

3. Support league compliance & discipline processes.
Support the Compliance & Discipline FDO with;
League sanctioning, league rules and other annual tasks.
Ensuring member clubs’ teams are affiliated and eligible to be members of the league.
Ensuring all clubs / teams fix affiliation issues before they play JPL games.
Ensuring all clubs/teams have completed the registrations processes before they play.
Ensuring JPL clubs are compliant with weekly match procedures and league rules.
Ensuring reports of discipline breaches are replied to within 48 hours (weekdays).
Appropriate investigations carried out to determine discipline outcomes.
Weekly discipline charges, meetings and decisions.
Ensuring all club charges are paid in full and on time.
Updating league secretary with any amendments to games after discipline process - rescheduling / awarding.
Ensuring all JPL discipline/compliance communication, information or ‘evidence’ is stored and (where necessary) updated weekly.

4. Support the operation of the JPL All-Star programme.
Support the regional All-Star leads with;
-All-Star programme communications and information sharing.
-All-Star programme parent, and JPL-club queries.
-All-Star programme regional lead queries and challenges.
-All-star programme diary planning.
-All-Star programme game and training logistics.
-All-Star Programme kit and equipment logistics.

5. League Communication.
Contribute towards daily lean meetings, and project meetings across the JPL Team.
Communicate in a professional manner relative to the task/query/discussion.
At the request of league management, communicate league messages to clubs.
Signpost all club, partner and external communication to the appropriate JPL Colleague(s).
Collaborate with the appropriate JPL colleague to resolve issues and identify solutions.
Reply to colleagues and club enquiries/requests within 24 hours (week days).
Use out of office reply on weekends or days out of office.

Behaviours:
• Collaboration – Works cooperatively and effectively with others ensuring participation with colleagues and across different projects to support the achievement of JPL objectives
• Communication – Persuasively communicates with others to gain support for ideas, and efficiently communicates with stakeholders to inform
• Customer Service – Completes work to high standards and continually looks for ways of improving performance and customer service
• Problem Solving – Identifies a variety of solutions and looks at issues from a variety of perspectives before determining the best course of action

Essential
• Understanding of football structures and pathways
• Ability to use or be trained to use online competition / fixture platforms
• Ability to collaborate effectively with colleagues
• IT skills and ability to carry out administrative duties
• Communication skills using traditional, modern and emerging media
• Ability to collate feedback and data in order to assist in the development of a programme
• A flexible approach to duties and work, be comfortable working occasionally independently from home, and unsociable hours and Saturdays on a rota basis

Desirable
• Experience of sports governance procedures
• Experience of competition mapping and fixture scheduling
• Experience of competition or fixture management
• Sports development/other relevant qualification
• An understanding of the challenges associated with running football clubs and leagues
• Knowledge of Youth football in England
• Experience of budgeting
• FA Emergency aid trained
• FA Safeguarding trained

Enhanced CRB Check Required: YES
Clean Full Driving Licence: YES

Hours of work: 37.5 per week
How to apply: Please send a CV and a cover letter to Steve.Connolly@Junior-Premier.co.uk