Academy Travel Assistant

The Travel Team is responsible for:

All official travel for the Club, including all the teams, Directors, staff and supporters, on a daily as well as match by match basis.

The Travel team's primary focus is to support the preparation of all Arsenal FC teams when travelling for fixtures, whether playing at home or away, and facilitating arrangements for those who travel to away fixtures or on Club business in an official capacity.

You will be working primarily from the Arsenal Football Academy, the football development department for Arsenal Football Club, based at Hale End Training Ground, which provides a comprehensive football training programme for elite youth players.

Arsenal Football Academy has for many years been a world leader in its field and is a constantly growing department within the organisation.

The Academy's vision is to develop strong young gunners - young men who are able to thrive in the face of whatever challenges come their way: in football and in life. We will achieve that vision by developing the most challenging and caring football academy in the world.

The coaching and games programme is the core activity of the Academy which is supported by a multidisciplinary team and wider holistic development programme.

JOB PURPOSE

The role of Academy Travel Assistant involves overseeing and delivering key logistical preparations of Academy players and teams. The post-holder will work within the Travel Team and alongside the Senior Academy Travel & Logistics Executive, organising and delivering all necessary domestic and overseas travel. The post-holder will be a key link between the Academy, its coaches, and the Club's Travel team. There may alsobe developmental opportunities in the future to travel to away matches, site visits, and on international tours as required.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Supporting the Senior Academy Travel & Logistics Executive with the administrative arrangements to successfully coordinate domestic and overseas travel for Academy teams, producing clear and concise working documents that can be clearly communicated to all relevant stakeholders.
• Creating team schedules and communicating these to relevant Academy staff, parents and players in a timely manner, including on the Academy web-based app called Teamworks.Liaising with parents/players and coaches to understand player travel plans and inform internal colleagues as required. Collaborating with Academy staff to ensure the schedules meet the fixture requirements.Where necessary, ensuring that accommodation has been researched thoroughly, is appropriate and meets the specific requirements of the relevant age group including safeguarding.
• Creating new taxi booking guides with the club's appointed taxi supplier for Academy players (U12-U16) and communicating the Academy Travel Policy. Monitoring the taxi account and recording any breaches of agreed Academy travel support. Communicating and liaising with coaches and parents/players where breaches have occurred.
• Collating international tour invitations and logging them on a central database. Working with the Senior Academy Travel & Logistics Executive to liaise with the tournament organisers and coaching staff regarding our participation and undertake any other required administrative tasks to support the delivery of the international tour, including ensuring that all players and relevant staff have the correct documentation for travel; arranging visas, passports etc. as required.
• Travelling with teams as required by the Senior Academy Travel & Logistics Executive and Senior Travel Manager to ensure that the trip runs smoothly and dealing with and resolving any issues that may arise whilst away.
• In the absence of the Senior Academy Travel & Logistics Executive, booking travel and accommodation for visiting trialists; arranging transfers and supporting Talent ID with the daily trialist schedule.
• Assisting and advising visiting Teams on local transport and hotel options.
• Building and maintaining strong working relationships with the Travel Team and supporting other areas of club travel including the Men's First Team, Arsenal Women or business travel.
• Undertaking other tasks that from time to time may be allocated that are appropriate to the grade of the job, including regular reviews of processes to support the development of our workflows
• Adhering to a strict code of confidentiality in respect of any information relating to Arsenal Football Club and its operations.
• The successful applicant will be required to undergo a satisfactory enhanced DBS check.

MAIN JOB REQUIREMENTS AND PERSON SPECIFICATION

Specific Experience:

Required:

• Must have proven, sound experience of working for a sports club/travel company within the travel sector and of delivering a high-quality level of service.
• Tenacious and proactive attitude to be able to manage and execute complex travel plans at short notice within the UK and overseas.
• Experience should have been gained from within a fast moving, high pressure, commercially focused and brand-sensitive organisation.
• Excellent customer service skills.
• High standard of verbal and written communication with an eye for detail.

Desired:

• Leisure & Tourism or travel industry qualification.
• Previous experience of working for/alongside a Premier League Football Club.

Abilities/Skills/Knowledge:

• Exceptional organisation and admin skills, including the proven ability to manage a fast-paced and varied workload.
• Able to communicate effectively with a broad range of internal and external stakeholders, adapting style and approach as and when required.
• Able to display the confidence, integrity and gravitas required to build sustainable relationships at varying levels.
• Ability to manage in pressurised situations and apply own initiative and 'common sense' on certain occasions - sometimes without recourse to supporting managers.
• Willing to be accountable for routine transactional tasks in addition to involvement on liaison activities.
• Flexible approach to work; committed to developing a positive team ethos.
• Operates with the upmost integrity, confidentiality and discretion.
• An understanding of safeguarding and working with minors.

Arsenal FC believes that diversity of background, skills and experience drives our success on and off the pitch. We encourage applications from women, disabled and black, Asian and mixed-heritage candidates. We are committed to the principle of equal opportunity for applicants and employees and aim to appoint on merit from a diverse talent pool.