Academy Education & Welfare Officer

What the role involves

• Coordinate players' study with schools and colleges
• Monitor wellbeing and safeguarding concerns
• Support transition and release processes

Ways in, with or without formal qualifications

Experience, knowledge and interests count in football. These routes are what people in this role commonly point to.

• Experience

  Teaching or youth-work background

  Teachers and youth workers bring behaviour management, safeguarding awareness and planning skills to coaching, education and welfare roles.

• Experience

  Community and foundation programmes

  Part-time delivery roles with club foundations and charities, running sessions in schools and communities.

• Experience

  Work experience and internships

  Placements at clubs, associations, agencies and sports businesses. Often unpaid or low-paid, but the strongest way to get a first contact.

Qualifications and licences

You need the relevant qualification, licence or registration in this role.

• Safety & welfare

  Safeguarding Children Training & Background Check

  A basic requirement for most people who work with children in football. It covers recognising and reporting concerns and keeping a safe environment.

• Degree

  Teaching Qualification (QTS or equivalent)

  Required to teach in state schools in many countries. PE teachers often coach school football and move into development roles.

• Degree

  Degree in Any Subject

  Many football employers ask for a degree in any subject as a screening requirement for graduate-level jobs. The subject matters less than evidence of skills and football involvement.

Skills and knowledge

• Safeguarding
• Child & Youth Development
• Communication
• Player Development

Tools you may use

• Spreadsheets

Where this role is found

• Academies & youth development
• Top-flight clubs
• Women's professional football

Where this role leads

• Academy Manager

  Required

  Runs the whole academy, including coaching, education, welfare and recruitment.

• Safeguarding Officer

  Required

  Leads child and adult safeguarding at a club or body.

Common stepping stones into this role

• Physical Education Teacher (Football Focus)

Pay and context by region

Illustrative estimates scaled from a UK baseline. Check local job adverts and union or association data.