Academy Operations Manager – AWFC

Role Overview

Academy Operations Manager – AWFC

We are looking for an Academy Operations Manager to join us as a key part of our Women’s Academy. You will own and lead the delivery of all Academy operations, ensuring high‑quality execution of administration, logistics, and compliance activities across the Academy, while setting standards, driving consistency, and maintaining full accountability for operational performance and governance.

Your day‑to‑day

• Take operational ownership and lead delivery – oversee all administration and operational activities across the Women’s Academy (U9–U21), ensuring smooth, consistent and high‑quality execution.
• Provide outstanding leadership – line‑manage and develop the Academy Operations Coordinator, setting clear objectives and performance expectations.
• Oversee key workflows – coordinate matchdays, fixtures, training venues and communications, ensuring delivery meets agreed standards and timelines; set operational priorities and manage workload across the Operations function.
• Handle critical player processes – deliver all player registrations, contracts and associated administration in line with FA and league requirements; own the integrity, accuracy and ongoing effectiveness of our Academy’s player management systems (including Teamworks).
• Manage workforce and resource coordination – lead and monitor the administration of casual staff, including onboarding, payroll coordination and qualification tracking in line with FA regulations; establish standards and processes for workforce management.
• Own logistics and programme delivery – account for the planning, coordination and quality assurance of all Academy logistics, including training, fixtures and Talent ID activity; oversee matchday experiences and ticketing for Academy players, coordinating kit provision with the Kit Manager.
• Be accountable for travel and operational planning – manage the planning, delivery and quality assurance of all team and staff travel, ensuring efficiency, safety and adherence to budget.
• Uphold compliance, governance & risk – embed and maintain compliance with FA and club policies including safeguarding, health & safety and equal opportunities; act as the designated safeguarding officer for Academy operations.

What we are looking for

• Background in sport – experience working within elite sport or a comparable high‑performance environment, with a sound understanding of academy or youth development settings and a history of delivering operational, administrative or logistics functions in sport.
• Credible expertise – hold an FA Level 1 Introduction to First Aid in Football (IFAiF), a current FA Safeguarding Children certificate and a valid FA DBS clearance.
• Knowledge of the Women’s game and youth‑focused environments – understand the Women’s Talent Pathway and the operational requirements within elite player development; possess knowledge of child development principles and be able to operate sensitively in a youth‑focused environment.
• Organised and adaptable approach – skilfully organise, prioritise and manage multiple operational demands, delivering to deadlines in a fast‑paced environment and managing complex scheduling, events and programme delivery with multiple stakeholders.
• Best‑in‑class communicator – collaborate effectively within a multidisciplinary team, building impactful working relationships across functions.
• Leadership skills – thrive when managing a direct report and proactively supporting team delivery.
• Experience across complex processes – previously worked with regulated or compliance‑driven processes such as FA regulations, safeguarding, audits or similar frameworks.
• Confidence with systems and tools – confident IT skills, including Excel, Word and operational systems; able to manage and interpret data accurately and maintain data systems and operational tools (e.g. databases, scheduling platforms, reporting tools).

Benefits

• An exciting reward and recognition scheme
• Generous holiday allowance that increases with length of service
• Great internal learning and development programmes
• A flexible hybrid working model
• Priority access to apply for match tickets
• A competitive health and wellbeing benefits package
• A leading Employee Assistance Programme
• Great discounts with some of our Partners
• An opportunity to play a vital role in delivering our ED&I strategy by joining one of our Employee Networks

Commitments

Safeguarding – We are committed to ensuring a safe and inclusive environment for children, young people and adults at risk. Successful candidates must complete an enhanced DBS check and other essential background checks prior to starting.

Disability Confident Leader – We actively welcome and encourage applications from people with disabilities and long‑term health conditions. If you need disability‑related adjustments to the recruitment process, please indicate this in your application.

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