Lead Professional Development Phase Coach

JOB DESCRIPTION

JOB TITLE: Lead Professional Development Phase Coach
DEPARTMENT: Academy
REPORTS TO: Academy Manager- Football / Head of Coach Development / Head of Player
Development
LOCATION: Sir Jack Hayward Training Ground, Compton Park
HOURS: 37.5 hours per week including evening and weekend work
DATE: April 2023

We are Wolves. Progressive, determined, bright, unified and humble. A pack that is hungry for
success. Wolves is one of the fastest growing professional football clubs in the UK, and also boasts
one of the richest histories in the beautiful game.

Formed in 1877, Wolves was a founder member of the Football League, and was one of the
country’s most successful sides in the fifties and sixties. During a two decade spell the Black
Country’s most decorated side won three First Division titles and one of its four FA Cups.

Fast forward to 2022, three seasons at Molineux saw Wolves clinch the Sky Bet Championship
trophy with 99 points, followed by a seventh-place finish in the Premier League, which included
memorable wins over Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea and Arsenal. The next
season saw the team complete a memorable double over the reigning champions, equal the
previous season’s seventh place finish and reach the quarter finals of the Europa League all as part
of the ‘longest season’ in league history, either starting before or finishing after all other teams.

But this post is about not what we have done, but what we will achieve next.

We take seriously our commitment to the safeguarding of children and vulnerable adults and to
ensuring that Wolves is free from discrimination and harassment.

Job purpose

• Reporting to the Academy Manager- Football, Head of Coach Development and Head of

Player Development, the role of the Lead Professional Development Phase Coach will be
responsible for the delivery of the coaching programme/games programme for the
Academy’s U18 age group and to help develop and prepare players for elite professional
football.

• This will include the organisation and delivery of all KPIs, as required by the EPPP programme.

In addition, the successful candidate will profile all players within the phase across the 4
corners (Technical/Tactical, Physical, Psychological, Social) and be expected to follow
Coaching Competency Framework, Staff Development Plans, Player ILP’s and Academy
Training needs Analysis.

Key responsibilities

• Be an ambassador of the Wolves culture and philosophy.

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• Working alongside the Academy Manager- Football, Head of Coach Development, Head of

Player Development and the Player Pathways Manager to provide a clear, up-to-date
training needs of every individual coach’s current and required level of performance.

• To be responsible for preparing and leading the U18 team. To work alongside the

organisation, planning and delivery of the Coaching Competency Framework, Staff
Development Plans, Players ILP’s, Academy Training Needs Analysis and having a major
influence on the analysis & delivery of the Academy Coaching Philosophy and pathway plan.

• Working alongside colleagues and the Multi-Disciplinary Team (MDT) to ensure that all squads

operate in accordance with FA/FAPL and PL rules and regulations i.e. FAPL/PL Reporting, Team
sheets.

• Review of all sessions and information on the online management tool (PMA), relevant for

your phase.

• Co-ordinate multi-disciplinary reviews for each player, alongside the Academy Manager-

Football, Head of Player Development, Head of Coach Development and Senior Professional
Phase Coaches.

• To be committed to attend and deliver when required on the coach development

days/evenings as part of your continual professional development.

Individual Player Development

• Being able to identify talented individuals within the Academy System and work with the

coaches and MDT to develop and deliver and support with their individual development
plans.

• Working alongside the Head of Player Development and Academy Elite Performance Team,

to develop players within the Academy System, in line with the Academy APP.

• Understanding of player development and how this may differ across the 4-corner model

and age groups across the academy.

• Work alongside the local and national recruitment team to identify players of high potential.
• Support the Head of Player Development to deliver Player MDT meetings every 6 or 8

weekly reviews.

Training, Coaching and Mentoring

• Manage the promotion and transition of players through the Youth Development and

Professional Development Phase age groups.

• Completion of the training register for all players, including session and player evaluation of

training within 24 hours on the online management tool (PMA).

• Completion of the match report within 24 hours of the fixture on the online management tool

(PMA).

• To complete the mandatory qualifications and relevant Continued Professional Development

requirements as required by the Elite Player Performance Plan and associated governing
bodies (The Football League, The Football Association).

• To complete individual match objectives per game.
  

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Match Day

• Ensure that the U18 teams play in line with the Club Football Philosophy Guide.

• To ensure the Match Day Coaching Code of Conduct is maintained in accordance to the Club

Coaching Philosophy.

• Document Match Day planning and evaluation using the PMA.

• Document individual and team key coaching points in each Match Day plan that are linked to

the Club Football Philosophy and individual player aims on the PMA.

• Evaluation of the player’s performance against the players individual aims.

• Emphasise individual and team learning objectives during pre-match, half time and post-

match team talks and player interaction.

• Ensure a warm-up and cool down is conducted on each Match Day according to the

Academy Coaching Programme.

• Evaluate all matches, documenting achievement of learning objectives or action plan for

next coaching session/Match Day.

• Ensure that the Performance Clock is maintained and updated daily for each player on the

PMA, reflecting all training information.

• Exhibit touchline behaviour according to the Coach Competency Framework.
  

Performance Reviews

• Support Player Performance Reviews for each player, involving MDT staff in the process.

• Link Player Performance Reviews to the learning outcomes of the Academy Coaching

Programme.

• All the above information to be maintained on the PMA.
  

General Duties

• Work with the Head of Coach Development to ensure the individual coach development

plan is in place with the appropriate CPD programme.

• Carry out any other reasonable duties that may arise or be assigned by the Academy

Manager- Football and/or senior management staff.

• Attend special events, dinners, induction and seminars.
  

Their personal growth as a Professional Phase Coach

• Undertake self-development to ensure knowledge in relation to all aspects of coaching and

coach development is up to date and forward thinking.

• Build relationships throughout the Academy broader Club and community.

• Maintain/enhance football and cross sport coaching competence.
  

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General responsibilities

• Compliance with Club policies.

• Compliance with Club’s health and safety procedures.

• Compliance with Club’s safeguarding policies.

• To undertake such other duties as may be reasonably expected.

• To maintain professional conduct at all times.

• Where required, complete the mandatory qualifications and relevant Continued Professional

Development requirements as required by the Elite Player Performance Plan and associated
governing bodies (The Football League, The Football Association).

Safeguarding

• This role involves working with children and/or vulnerable adults in a Regulated Activity (or

in close proximity to children and/or vulnerable adults). This means that the post-holder is
required to apply all relevant policies and uphold the Club’s commitment to safeguarding
vulnerable people.

Diversity and Equality

• To be responsible for your own behaviour and act in a manner that avoids and discourages

any form of discrimination or harassment.

Key Relationships

• Academy Manager-Football, Senior Professional Development Phase Lead Coach, Player

Pathways Manager and Sporting Director.

• Academy Management team which includes Head of Coach Development, Head of Player

Development, Head of Education & Welfare, Head of Medical, Head of Academy
Administration, Head of Sports Science, Head of Academy Recruitment, Head of Analysis,
Head of Psychology and Head of Academy Goalkeeping.

• Lead Youth Development Phase Coach and Players operating across the programme.
  

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PERSON SPECIFICATION

Job Title: Lead Professional Development Phase Coach

Knowledge: The level and breadth of knowledge to do the job e.g. understanding of a defined system,
method or procedure, legal or regulatory frameworks etc

Essential

• Evidence of understanding the Premier League Elite Player Performance Plan (EPPP) rules and

regulations.

• Previous experience of working within an elite football academy environment.

• A proven track record of developing youth players and professional players within the EPPP system.

• A Licenced member of Football Association Coaches Club.

• Understanding of maturation and long-term athletic development.

• A strong understanding of key organisational and operational requirements, including safeguarding,

HR and Health & Safety.

• Experience of working within an Academy multi-disciplinary team, to develop SMART targets.

• Knowledge and experience of reflective practice and personal development.

• An understanding of elite player behaviour and psychological aspects.

Desirable

• Experience at a Category 1 EPPP Academy.

• Knowledge of the FA and Premier League rules and regulations with regards to Academies.
  

Technical/work-based skills: skills specific to the job e.g. language competence, typing skills, coaching skills
etc

Essential

• Capability to develop and maintain a positive learning environment to maximise each players

learning potential in line with the requirements of the Coach Competency Framework.

• Good understanding technical demands of elite football.

• Understand of appropriate coaching strategies.

Desirable

• Ability to provide reflective feedback using PMA/Hudl.

• Good use of IT e.g. Word, Excel, PowerPoint.
  

General skills and attributes: more general characteristics e.g. flexibility, communication skills, team working
etc

Essential

• Understanding of how to work safely with children and/or vulnerable adults and uphold generally

accepted practice when working with those participants.

• Can work effectively within a team environment and also independently.

• Excellent interpersonal skills.

• Ability to effectively liaise with players, parents, coaches, staff and senior management, including

being able to deal effectively with situations/tasks, in both a methodical and creative way.

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• Strong communication and public engagement skills.

• Availability for flexible working hours.

• Own transportation and clean driving licence.

• Takes responsibility for ensuring a high quality of work at all times.

• A genuine team player who leads from the front and will support and motivate other members of

the team.

• An adaptive individual who can cope well under high pressure situations.

• A proven ability to multi-task and manage multiple projects.

• Hardworking and enthusiastic.
  

Experience: proven record of experience in a particular field, profession or specialism.

Essential

• Proven experience of working in a similar role.

• Proven experience of leading across professional development programme environments.

• Member of F.A. Licensed Coaches Club.

• Working with children and/or vulnerable adults.

Desirable

• Experience of working across U21 and First team level.
  

Qualifications: the level of educational, professional and/or occupational training required

Essential

• U.E.F.A - A Licence.

• F.A. Advanced Youth Award.

• Up to date FA Emergency First Aid Certificate.

• Post-holder must hold or obtain at the earliest opportunity the relevant safeguarding training (i.e.

FA Safeguarding Children Workshop).

• Post-holder will be subject to a DBS check at the appropriate level and cleared by the Wolves

Safeguarding Manager.

Desirable

• UEFA -Pro Licence.

• Associate degree (college diploma or above).
  

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