The Role

We are looking for an Academy Goalkeeper Lead for AWFC on a consultant basis to oversee the strategic direction of the goalkeeping delivery across our Women's Academy, you'll be working closely with our Women's First Team Goalkeeping Coach to ensure alignment and continuous evolvement, and to develop and evolve a goalkeeping specific model of player development aligned with our club philosophy and Women's First Team game model. 

This role will have a broad remit encompassing goalkeeper recruitment, development and delivery across our Academy, ultimately enhancing our ability to support the transition of goalkeepers into the Women's First Team. 

This position is offered on the basis of a consultancy agreement for 28 hours per week, across the 2025/2026 season

Who we are

We are one of the most famous clubs in world football, with a rich heritage and history of success – read more about our history, here.

Beyond that, we are passionate about our local community and, behind the scenes, we have a wide variety of opportunities and career paths for all. We have a very defined purpose: to act for a winning team, culture and community. We achieve this by ensuring we are courageous in the pursuit of progress, we champion our community and each other, and that we do the right thing (even when no one is looking).

Your day-to-day

• Oversee the strategy - you'll support in shaping the direction of the goalkeeping offering across all Academy provision, working closely with the First Team Goalkeeping Coach, to ensure alignment and continuous evolvement
• Develop and evolve player development models - you'll be responsible for creating a goalkeeping specific model of player development aligned with our club philosophy and Women's First Team game model
• Collaborate with key colleagues - you'll work closely with our Talent ID Lead, Academy Manager and First Team Goalkeeping coach to develop and execute an Academy goalkeeper recruitment model and oversee associated processes and decision making
• Play a key role in the PDP - you will lead the goalkeeping delivery within the Professional Development Phase (PDP) ensuring the delivery of high quality age-appropriate goalkeeping delivery, and you'll offer bespoke development programmes to all PDP goalkeepers
• Provide insightful analysis - you will utilise analysis to support the development of Academy goalkeepers
• Oversee the goalkeeper retain and release process - you'll play a critical role in the retain and release process across our Academy, aligned with the retain and release process and calendar, supporting data insights collection, decision making processes, communication and review
• Support earlier phases - you will feed into the goalkeeper specific delivery within the Youth Development and Foundation Phases to ensure session quality and long-term player development is aligned with our game model and our club's philosophy
• Monitor individual development plans - you'll oversee the delivery of goalkeeper IDPs within the Youth Development and Foundation Phases, ensuring relevant and up to date feedback and action planning is communicated and supported by documentation in line with the Academy IDP schedule
• Mentor coaches - you will play a key role in developing casual Academy Goalkeeping Coaches to upskill and improve delivery sessions across the Academy, including sessional support, mentoring and CPD event delivery

What we are looking for

• Track record of delivering goalkeeper provisions at academy level - you're well versed in driving and supporting the delivery of best-in-class strategies around recruiting and developing goalkeepers 
  
• History of developing youth goalkeepers - you come with significant experience of developing youth goalkeepers within the female elite game and you have a good understanding of the domestic and international FA Women's and Girl's player pathway
  
• Experience in a First Team environment - you've previously worked in and around a First Team environment and are able to make the transition process from Academy to First Team seamless 
  
• Credible expertise - you hold a Goalkeeper B License as well as First Aid and Safeguarding Children in Football Certificates 
  
• Strategic mindset - you're able to underpin your work with data-driven decision making and leverage your analysis skills to make insightful recommendations
• Excellent collaboration skills - you are adept at forming impactful relationships with Academy Managers, Talent ID/Recruitment Leads and Coaches in order to ensure alignment and consistency 
  
• Flexible and adaptable approach - you are able to work across weekends and bank holidays 
  

Arsenal for Everyone

Arsenal for Everyone is our commitment to promoting and embracing equality, diversity and inclusion, so that everyone connected to the club feels like they belong to the same Arsenal family. We believe that diversity of background, skills and experience drives our success on and off the pitch. 

Disability Confident Leader

We are a Disability Confident Leader. We actively welcome and encourage applications from people with disabilities and long-term health conditions. If you need disability-related adjustments to the recruitment process, please indicate this in your application.

If you are likely to meet the definition of being a ‘disabled person’ according to the Equality Act 2010, you may be eligible to apply for an interview via the Disability Confident Scheme - please indicate this in your application form below. The information you share with us about your health or disability will not be used in recruitment decisions.

Our Commitment to Safeguarding

We are committed to ensuring that our environments for children, young people and adults at risk remain safe and inclusive. We therefore require successful candidates to complete a DBS check and other essential background checks prior to starting their employment. Depending on the responsibilities of the role, a DBS will be either a basic, standard, or enhanced check.

Application Closing Date - Sunday 20th July 2025

Please note: we reserve the right to close the position early if application volumes are particularly high. We encourage you to get your application in sooner rather than later.

Good luck!