Football Development Officer

Organisation British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS)

For over 100 years British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS) has been at the forefront of university sport in the United Kingdom.

Our ambition is to deliver exceptional student sporting experiences that inspire, develop and unite.

BUCS works with its member institutions to get more students active more often, through traditional competitive sport and providing physical activity opportunities.

The Football Development Officer will coordinate programmes and deliver activities/events which directly support the delivery of strategic objectives relating to the BUCS Strategy and The FA Grassroots Strategy 'A Thriving Grassroots Game' .

Aiming to increase participation in football within the HE sector you will coordinate the BUCS Football Accredited Universities operating model working in close partnership with internal colleagues and external key stakeholders. The successful candidate would need to have excellent relationship building skills to ensure successfully achieving the strategic objectives in The FA contract.

You will report to the Football Development Manager who will help to support and guide you, but you need to be comfortable with managing your own workload and providing comprehensive support for the whole football development team.

Main duties and responsibilities

• Coordinate the delivery of the BUCS Football Accredited Universities operating model working closely with The FA Staff members, member universities and expert partners to deliver against The FA participation and workforce KPIs.
• Coordinate a dynamic and inclusive accreditation process, recruiting member universities into the network, building and managing relationships with key staff within universities, enabling BUCS to gain insight into the football and futsal landscape across higher education.
• Support in the planning, recruitment, and delivery of the Emerging Club Leaders Programme alongside the Football Development Manager.
• Project manage FA funded University Development Projects and University Referee Hub model, working with the digital engagement team to demonstrate impact of the funding and promote good practice.
• Support the design and delivery of Football Development events (member services) for all Accredited Universities targeting staff, students and the wider workforce.
• Complete all associated reporting, monitoring and evaluation of overall effectiveness of projects ability to deliver against The FA Education strategy.
• Support the Football Development Manager with technology evolution and development to ensure successful integration of the BUCS Football Accredited Universities network into BUCS organisational priorities and processes.
• Work with the Football Development Team on budgeting, forecasting and reporting processes that align to accreditation and member services in line with The FA and BUCS HR and financial processes and requirements.
• Support the Football Development Manager to guide and inform BUCS on the ongoing development and evolution of the BUCS and The FA 4-year strategic plan ().

Other

• Develop mutually beneficial relationships with the BUCS membership that support the development of football and BUCS led initiatives.
• Contribute fully to the wider work of the BUCS Football Development Team and organisational priorities. This could include but not limited to, attending working groups, meetings with partners to support the delivery.
• To undertake other duties, activities and responsibilities as required in the delivery of BUCS business.
• This role will involve weekend and evening work and overnight stays at BUCS events.
• Professionally represent BUCS at all times.

Should you have any questions about the role, please contact Sean Lofting, BUCS Football Development Manager on

Application deadline: 23:59 on Tuesday 3 March 2026

Interview Information: If successful candidate will be called to interview on the provisional date of the week commencing 16th March.

Candidates who successfully advance to the interview stage will receive further information about logistics and tasks via email. Some candidates may process to a second interview, which will be communicated accordingly. If any reasonable adjustments are required, please communicate them when accepting the interview offer.

Due to the expected high number of applications, it is likely we will only be able to provide feedback to those who reach the interview stage. If you don't hear from us within two weeks of the closing date, please assume that, unfortunately, your application has not been successful.

Applicants should have the right to work in the UK and will be asked to provide proof of their eligibility to work in the UK before employment is confirmed. We reserve the right to close this advert early if we receive a high volume of suitable applications.

Data Protection Statement Any personal data submitted to BUCS in the course of this recruitment process will be held securely and processed solely for the purposes of recruitment. It will be held for the duration of the recruitment process, and if employed by BUCS, for the duration of the contract of employment and to fulfil the statutory, or recommended, retention periods when no longer an employee of British Universities and Colleges Sport. BUCS will comply with data protection legislation at all times and in line with BUCS Privacy Policy.