Vacancy description
Key Information
- Division:FA Learning
- Location:National Football Centre, St George's Park
- Closing Date:8 July 2026
The Football Association is excited to be advertising for the Mentee Development Programme for the 2026/2027 season.
The Mentee Development Programme is a learning and development work experience and mentorship programme which offers a unique environment for ambitious coaches to broaden their understanding of player and coach development within the elite game. Through a combination of practical experiences, collaborative learning, and exposure to high-performance environments, coaches will gain valuable insights into contemporary approaches used across the talent pathway, accelerating their progress into the professional game.
Alongside these experiences, coaches will be supported in their personal and professional growth through bespoke tailored development opportunities, expert guidance, and ongoing reflection. The programme encourages the sharing of ideas and best practice, helping participants build strong networks while developing the skills, knowledge, and confidence to progress within the game.
Applicants wishing to apply must be actively coaching; male applicants must hold a UEFA B Diploma, working towards a UEFA A Diploma. Female applicants must hold a UEFA C Diploma, working towards a UEFA B Diploma. Please upload evidence of your qualifications with your CV.
The Mentee Development Programme is unpaid; however, all reasonable programme-related expenses will be covered. The programme runs from September to June, and participants will be expected to commit approximately 20 days over the course of the programme, with a September start and June finish. In order to get the most out of the programme, you will be expected to commit approximately 20 days over the course of the programme, which include both weekend and weekday dates. Further details regarding dates will be shared with shortlisted applicants later in the process.
Please note that if shortlisted, a full assessment day at St George's Park on Wednesday 26th August is compulsory; this will include an interview and practical day. There will also be a compulsory induction date on the 9th of September at St George's Park.
We are committed to building a coaching workforce that reflects the diversity of the game and the communities it serves. As part of this commitment, we particularly welcome applications from women and individuals from Black, Asian and historically underrepresented ethnic communities.
ABOUT US
The Football Association [The FA] is the not-for-profit governing body of football in England. It is responsible for promoting and developing every level of the game, from grassroots through to the professional game, and generates significant revenue to support investment into English football each year.
The FA oversees England international teams across men’s, women’s, youth and disability football, as well as running the National League System and FA Competitions including the Emirates FA Cup, and the Adobe Women’s FA Cup, and the world-class facilities of Wembley Stadium and St. George’s Park, all with a purpose to inspire positive change through football.
Our game can tackle some of society’s core challenges. It can bring communities together, nationally and locally. It can be a platform for inclusion, ensuring there is a place for all. It can get people active and promote wellbeing often at a time when we need it most. With UEFA EURO 2028 – hosted in the UK and Ireland – on the horizon, we have an incredible opportunity to transform football across the country.
Now is the time to inspire positive change.
We currently work within a hybrid working model whereby the expectation is to work from your contractual location for part of the week, and as and when required by the team. The remaining days can be worked remotely. We will continue to monitor this model, and it may be adjusted in future if deemed necessary.
Your contract with The FA will specify a fixed location of Wembley Stadium or St. George’s Park unless the role is advertised as a homebased contract. The contractual location of this role can be found at the top of this advert on our FA vacancy page.
THE PROCESS
We believe that assessment and selection should be robust, fair, and inclusive.
Following receipt of your application and the closing of the application process, you can expect a period of circa two weeks for us to thoroughly screen and shortlist, ahead of any next stage and interview.
Please note, we receive a high volume of applications so this can vary but we ensure that our assessor panel reviews all applications, and no use of automated screening or AI is used.
At an interview, we want to ensure that we see the best of you as an individual and increase our understanding of your skills and experience relevant to the demands of the role. It is very much a two-way process with importance placed on the candidate experience so that regardless of outcome, you feel valued, and treated fairly and hopefully have a positive experience.
No process is ever the same, but we would like to create an environment that is welcoming and ensures the experience is as enjoyable as possible.
We tailor our assessment and selection depending on the nature and demands of the role. The FA Resourcing Team will provide you with as much notice as possible about the process and the format of any interview will always be communicated to you in advance, including what to expect on the day and who you will be seeing.
We often receive a high volume of applications, and for certain roles, we will supplement your application, utilising our on-demand video interviewing platform. On-demand video interviews enable you to answer preset questions, in the comfort of your own home or office setting and at a convenient time for you, giving us greater insight into you as an individual and the skills and experience you might bring to the role and working at The FA.
We also utilise Microsoft Teams for virtual interviews and of course host you at our world class venues, Wembley Stadium and our National Football Centre, St. George’s Park.
EDI STRATEGY
Our equality, diversity and inclusion (EDI) strategy forms an integral part of our long-term commitment to using our influence across English football to create a game free from discrimination.
A GAME FREE FROM DISCRIMINATION
Our 2024 – 2028 strategy outlines three fundamental pillars for delivering a game free from discrimination – Boosting Representation, Driving Inclusion and Tackling Discrimination.
These pillars ensure that our work uniting communities, improving lives, and inspiring positive change on and off the pitch will remain a core priority for English football for years to come.
We are a diverse workplace, aspiring to represent football across the country. The FA actively promotes inclusion and diversity, encouraging you to be the best version of yourself at work.
We welcome applications from everyone and are proud to be an equal opportunities employer. If you have any particular requirements in respect of the recruitment or interview process, please mention this during your application.
As part of The FA’s commitment to ensuring a safe environment for everyone in football, every employee will be required to complete a DBS check. The level of the check required will be based on the activity of the specific job role and in line with legislation and government guidance.
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