Academy Auditor (Leadership, Management, Pathway)

Overview:

As part of the Elite Player Performance Plan, the overarching professional-game strategy for the development of youth footballers in England, the Academies of professional football clubs are categorised into four categories (1-4), based on a combination of spend, infrastructure, staffing, and qualitative assessments of their provisions across a range of multidisciplinary areas.

To effectively categorise Academies and to support the continual raising of standards in elite player development, an independent standards organisation has been developed, mandated by the professional game, to monitor safety, compliance and the quality of work being delivered.

The independent standards organisation oversees a multidisciplinary assessment of Academies across; Leadership and Management, Coaching, Performance Support, Duty of Care, Education, Safeguarding, and Productivity.

As part of the above, the Academy Auditor will be responsible for the auditing the Academies of Premier League and EFL Academies

The Role:

• Review and Evaluation of multidisciplinary programmes:
  • Deliver Using the Academy Audit Company assessment framework, assess the quality of Leadership, Management, and Pathway provisions in Academies
  • Accurately and fairly report findings, identifying areas of quality, risk and development
  • Manage the end-to-end auditing/quality assurance process, ensuring the operation runs as smoothly as possible for club and auditing team
  • Ensure a consistent assessment is given no matter the auditor or club
  • Ensuring that all judgements are based on firm evidence and are defensible against challenge
  • Acting in the best interests of children and adults at risk at all times

• General Responsibilities:
  • Deliver annual Club visits to ensure adherence with Safe to Operate guidelines and the Youth Development Rules
  • Support the development of a suitable Academy standards framework and auditing practices
  • Meet tight deadlines
  • Ensure the auditing team maintains an up to date knowledge of good practice

Requirements for the role:

• Experience working in coaching and development programs with young athletes
• Previous experience in reviewing, assessing and developing recommendations for multidisciplinary development programs at a strategic level
• Experience of working with children and adults at risk and/or knowledge and understanding of issues that affect their safety and wellbeing

• Interviewing skills and observational analysis
• A consultative approach
• Analytical ability to identify areas for improvement, perform root-cause analysis and convert findings into required actions
• Ability to make sound judgements on the basis of evidence gathered during audit activity
• Ability to see both the big picture and enabling detail
• Clear and concise written and spoken communication skills
• Ability to present written information in a structured and balanced way appropriate to the needs of the reader
• Strong time management and organisational skills
• High level emotional intelligence and interpersonal skills

• High practical and theoretical understanding of talent development demands in elite level sport
• Understanding and appreciation of context and cultural difference between clubs of different sizes and philosophies

• High practical and theoretical understanding of coaching demands in elite level sport (desirable: player development, football)
• Person-centred approach and a sound understanding of the rights, needs and best interests of children and adults at risk
• Sharing our commitment to safeguarding and driving continual improvement to promote and protect the safety and wellbeing of children and adults at risk
• Understanding and appreciation of context and cultural difference between clubs of different sizes and philosophies
• Understanding and comfort in Quantitative and Qualitative assessment
• IT literate
• Full driving licence, frequent travel required
• Safeguarding and Protecting Children
• DBS Clearance