Football Development Officer (Female Participation and Inclusion)

Location: Somerset FA HQ, Glastonbury, with home working available
Hours: 35 hours per week, full-time
Contract: Fixed-term until July 2028, subject to future funding
Salary: £25,000 - £31,000

Help shape the future of football in Somerset

Do you want to help more women and girls discover football, stay in the game and have the opportunity to reach their full potential?

Somerset Football Association is looking for a passionate and creative Football Development Officer (Female Participation and Inclusion) to join our team and help shape the future of the women's and girls' game across the county.

This is a fantastic opportunity for someone who understands the power of football to bring people together and wants to make a genuine difference to the experience of women and girls in grassroots football.

You'll play a key role in growing female participation, developing stronger player pathways and helping clubs and leagues create environments where women and girls feel welcome, supported and able to thrive.

But this role is about more than participation numbers. You'll also be a driving force for inclusion and equality across Somerset football, working with partners, volunteers, clubs, leagues and communities to help make the game more inclusive and representative of the communities it serves.

What will you be doing?

You'll have the opportunity to lead and influence a wide range of exciting projects, including:

• Developing programmes that encourage more girls to start playing football at an earlier age.
• Using participation data and mapping tools to identify gaps in provision and opportunities to grow the game.
• Supporting clubs to develop sustainable female teams and complete player pathways.
• Working with the Somerset Girls League as it continues to grow and develop.
• Managing and supporting Wildcats and Just Play centres to help them thrive.
• Supporting Equal Game Ambassadors to develop the female game in targeted areas of Somerset.
• Developing opportunities and pathways for female coaches and referees.
• Managing the Somerset Emerging Talent Centre and supporting the development of talented female players.
• Working with education and community partners to create opportunities for women and girls to get involved in football.
• Leading Somerset FA's work with the Inclusion Advisory Group and supporting the progression of the Equality Standard in Sport.
• Helping ensure inclusion, equality and safeguarding are embedded across Somerset FA and grassroots football.

You'll also work closely with colleagues across Somerset FA, including our Clubs & Leagues, Coach Development and Referee Development teams, ensuring that the development of the female game is embedded across everything we do.

Who are we looking for?

We're looking for someone who is passionate about football and believes everyone should have the opportunity to enjoy the game.

You'll need experience of working within a grassroots football environment, practical experience of sports or football development, and a good understanding of the barriers that can prevent women and girls from participating.

You'll also need to be confident working with partners from different sectors, managing projects, using data to understand participation, building relationships and turning ideas into action.

Most importantly, you'll be someone who can influence, collaborate and bring people with you.

You don't have to have done everything before. If you have the passion, experience and ideas to help us grow the female game and make football more inclusive, we want to hear from you.

Why join Somerset FA?

This is an opportunity to join an organisation that is passionate about developing football at every level across Somerset.

You'll have the chance to:

Make a difference
Help shape opportunities for thousands of women and girls across the county.

Develop the game
From grassroots participation through to talent, coaching and refereeing, you'll help build stronger pathways for women and girls.

Build partnerships
Work with clubs, leagues, schools, community organisations, volunteers and strategic partners to create lasting change.

Be creative
Challenge existing approaches, find new solutions and bring fresh ideas to the game.

Champion inclusion
Help ensure football is welcoming and accessible to people from all backgrounds.

These principles reflect Somerset FA's values of being Creative, Inclusive and Dedicated, finding new ways to support grassroots football, creating opportunities for everyone and delivering the best football experience for Team Somerset.

Ready to make a difference?

If you're passionate about women's and girls' football, enjoy working with people and want to help create a more inclusive game across Somerset, we'd love to hear from you.

Key dates

Closing date: Tuesday 20 October at 5pm
Interview date: Thursday 29 October

How to apply

View the full job description here

Apply by clicking here

Complete the Equality and Diversity Monitoring Form here

For an informal conversation about the role, please contact Rob Allan, Football Development Manager, on 07740 663853 or email rob.allan@somersetfa.com.

Somerset FA is committed to creating an inclusive football environment where everyone has the opportunity to participate, develop and enjoy the game.