Breadalbane & Strathtay Youth FC

Girls and Women Football Development Officer

Role Summary

Job Title: Girls and Women Football Development Officer

Employer: Breadalbane & Strathtay Youth FC

Reports to: Club Development Officer

Location: Highland Perthshire, including Aberfeldy, Pitlochry, Dunkeld, Strathtay and surrounding rural communities

Contract: Fixed term, 3 years. 

Hours: Minimum 20 hours per week, part-time

Salary: Based on experience and at least Scottish Living Wage

Working Pattern: Flexible, including school hours, evenings, weekends, school holidays, festivals and community events.

Start Date: To be confirmed, subject to recruitment process and relevant background checks.

Purpose of the Role

Breadalbane & Strathtay Youth FC is seeking to appoint a part-time Girls and Women Football Development Officer to strengthen and grow female football across rural Highland Perthshire.

The post will support the development of a sustainable Girls and Women pathway, from school-based activity and entry-level football through to teenage retention, young female coach development, women’s recreational football and the longer-term ambition of creating the Club’s first adult women’s team.

The role will focus on increasing participation, improving the quality of delivery and creating safe, welcoming and inclusive environments where girls and women can enjoy football, develop confidence and feel a sense of belonging.

The postholder will work closely with the existing Club Development Officer, Scottish FA, Scottish Women’s Football, Active Schools, Live Active Leisure, schools, coaches, volunteers, players and parents.

While the post is initially part-time, the Club’s longer-term ambition is to grow the role towards a full-time position as the Girls and Women pathway expands and sustainable funding allows.

Key Responsibilities

1. Girls and Women pathway development

• Support the continued development of a clear Girls and Women football pathway across BSYFC.
• Help grow participation across U8, U10, U12, U14 and U16 age groups.
• Support transition from school activity, participation programmes and girls-only festivals into regular club activity.
• Support girls’ age groups as required, working alongside volunteer coaches and team leads.
• Work with the Club to develop a plan towards women’s recreational football and the future creation of the Club’s first adult women’s team.
• Encourage girls and women to remain involved in football as players, volunteers, young leaders and coaches.
• Help ensure the Club’s ethos and values are understood and upheld across Girls and Women activity.

2. School, community and festival activity

• Plan, coordinate and deliver girls-only school tasters, breakfast clubs and lunchtime clubs in priority rural locations such as Aberfeldy, Pitlochry, Dunkeld and surrounding communities.
• Work with Active Schools and local schools to identify opportunities, remove barriers and support school-to-club transition.
• Support and manage community-based football opportunities that increase access for girls and women in rural areas.
• Support the development and expansion of girls-only festivals and participation events, including the Pitlochry Girls Festival.
• Assist with planning, communication, delivery, volunteer coordination and participant experience at festivals and events.

3. Coaching delivery

• Deliver high-quality coaching sessions across Girls and Women activity.
• Plan sessions that are fun, progressive, inclusive and appropriate to the age, stage and needs of participants.
• Support football camps, festivals, school sessions and community programmes where Girls and Women development is a priority.
• Promote enjoyment, confidence, skill development, teamwork and long-term participation.
• Ensure coaching reflects Scottish FA guidance and the Club’s values.

4. Coach and volunteer development

• Mentor young female coaches, teenage leaders and parent volunteers, and assist the Club Development Officer in delivering regular coaching workshops.
• Support young female coaches through supervised delivery, session planning and Scottish FA coach education pathways.
• Support the postholder’s own coaching development through the Scottish FA coach education pathway, with UEFA C Licence as an initial target and UEFA B Licence as a longer-term ambition where appropriate.
• Improve the quality and consistency of volunteer-led girls’ coaching sessions through mentoring, feedback, session planning support and shared good practice.
• Help identify, encourage and support new volunteers, particularly around younger girls’ age groups.
• Support U16 girls who wish to assist with younger sessions, holiday camps, festivals or school activity.

5. Women’s recreational football

• Pilot and develop women’s recreational football opportunities.
• Create relaxed, welcoming sessions for beginners, returners, mums of players, former players and women new to football.
• Support women’s recreational activity as part of the wider female pathway.
• Help identify opportunities for adult women to become involved as players, volunteers, coaches or supporters of the girls’ pathway.

6. Safe, welcoming and inclusive environments

• Promote safe, welcoming and inclusive football environments across all Girls and Women activity.
• Support the Scottish FA Let Them Play approach by encouraging child-centred, positive and enjoyable football experiences.
• Promote positive behaviour and respectful relationships between players, coaches, parents, carers and volunteers.
• Support a culture where girls and women feel valued, listened to and confident to participate.
• Promote awareness of mental health and wellbeing, helping football activity contribute positively to confidence, connection, resilience and enjoyment.
• Follow Club safeguarding, child wellbeing and protection, equality, health and safety, data protection and code of conduct policies.
• Ensure any concerns are reported promptly and appropriately through Club procedures.

7. Administration, communication and monitoring

• Maintain accurate records of sessions, attendance, coaching activity, volunteer development and programme outcomes.
• Support communication with players, parents, schools, coaches, volunteers and partners.
• Support the Club Secretary with Scottish Women’s Football player registrations, team administration and dispensation / right-to-play applications through COMET where required.
• Contribute to monitoring and evaluation reports required by the Club, Scottish FA and sportscotland.
• Track key outcomes including girls’ participation, school-to-club transition, coach development, volunteer support, teenage retention and women’s recreational activity.
• Work within agreed budgets and support the Club’s reporting requirements.

8. Partnership working

• Work closely with the Club Development Officer, Scottish FA, Scottish Women’s Football, Active Schools, Live Active Leisure and local schools.
• Ensure delivery complements existing local football and sport development activity.
• Represent BSYFC positively and professionally at meetings, sessions, festivals and community events.
• Help identify further opportunities to grow and sustain Girls and Women football across Highland Perthshire.

What Success Looks Like

By the end of the project, success would include:

• Increased girls’ participation across the Club.
• Clearer school-to-club links in rural communities.
• Stronger U8 and U10 entry-level girls’ football.
• Improved support for volunteer-led girls’ coaching.
• More young female coaches and teenage leaders mentored.
• Expansion of girls-only festival opportunities, including the Pitlochry Girls Festival.
• Stronger teenage retention, particularly around U16s.
• Women’s recreational football established successfully.
• Progress towards a future adult women’s football pathway.
• The postholder progressing through the Scottish FA coach education pathway, with UEFA C as an initial target and UEFA B as a longer-term ambition where appropriate.
• Safer, more welcoming and more inclusive Girls and Women football environments.
• A stronger football culture that supports confidence, wellbeing and positive mental health.
• A clearer case for growing the role towards full-time as the Girls and Women pathway expands and sustainable funding opportunities develop.

Person Specification

Essential

• Passion for developing Girls and Women football.
• Experience of coaching children and/or young people.
• Minimum Scottish FA 1.3 Children’s Coaching Award, or equivalent relevant experience/qualification.
• Child Wellbeing and Protection in Scottish Football certificate, or willingness to complete before taking up the post.
• Understanding of player-centred, inclusive and age-appropriate coaching.
• Ability to engage, motivate and inspire girls and young women.
• Strong communication skills with players, parents, volunteers, schools and partners.
• Good organisation and reliability.
• Ability to work independently while taking guidance from the Club Development Officer.
• Willingness to work flexible hours, including evenings, weekends, school holidays and festivals.
• Commitment to safeguarding, child wellbeing, equality and inclusion.
• Commitment to promoting positive mental health, wellbeing and confidence through football.
• Willingness to complete PVG Scheme membership and required safer recruitment checks.
• Basic IT/admin skills to maintain records and support reporting.

Desirable

• UEFA C Licence or working towards UEFA C Licence.
• First Aid qualification, or willingness to complete.
• Experience coaching girls’ football.
• Experience delivering in schools or community settings.
• Experience supporting volunteers or young coaches.
• Knowledge of the Scottish FA player pathway, SYFA/SWF structures or girls’ football landscape.
• Experience using COMET or willingness to learn Scottish FA / SWF registration systems.
• Understanding of, or willingness to learn, Scottish Women’s Football player registration, dispensation or right-to-play processes.
• Full driving licence and access to transport, given the rural nature of the role.
• Ambition to progress through the Scottish FA coach education pathway.

How to Apply

Applications should be sent to Scott McBride, Club Development Officer, at bsyfc2014@gmail.com.

Applications should include:

• A short CV including coaching qualifications and relevant experience.
• A covering letter explaining your interest in the role and suitability.
• Two referees.

Closing date: 21st September

Informal enquiries about the role are welcome and can be sent to the same email address.

Appointment will be subject to the funding agreement being finalised, PVG Scheme membership, references and safer recruitment checks.