Pathway · Lateral move
Safeguarding Officer to Football Governance & Regulatory Officer
How to move from Safeguarding Officer to Football Governance & Regulatory Officer: what to learn, what to prove and what formal steps, if any, are needed.
Qualification check for Football Governance & Regulatory Officer
Strongly preferred
Most employers will expect a qualification for the new role, but evidence of experience also counts. Law, regulation, policy or finance backgrounds are the main entry. New regulators such as England's independent football regulator are hiring people from public-sector and industry roles.
1 to 3 yearstypical timeline
3new skills to build
3qualifications to consider
+36%mid-point UK pay change, illustrative
The move at a glance
Safeguarding Officer
Leads child and adult safeguarding at a club or body.
Football Governance & Regulatory Officer
Works for an association, league or regulator on rules, licensing and enforcement.
Skills and knowledge to build
Experience and routes that help
Qualifications to consider
What the new role asks of you
- Apply club licensing, ownership and conduct rules
- Investigate breaches and prepare cases
- Advise on policy and consultation
Practical steps
- Ask for a small piece of the new role's work before you apply, for example one of the tasks above.
- Close the top gap first: Football Regulations.
- Keep a record of two results that show you working at the next level.
- Talk to three people who do the job. Ask how they got in, and who they would recommend you speak to.