Manchester United
Academy Safeguarding and Host Family Manager
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Application Deadline: 29 September 2026
Description
At Manchester United, we believe that excellence on the pitch starts with excellence off the pitch. Our team thrives in a high-performance environment, united by a shared passion for success. We aim to elevate the standard of performance through collaboration and continuous growth, creating a space where everyone can contribute their best to our common goals.
We work together at our iconic Manchester United offices, enabling connection and innovation as we look ahead to what we can achieve as a global football club. We are excited to bring in passionate people who share our vision and drive for success.
Key Responsibilities
- To support the Head of Safeguarding and Head of Academy Operations in delivering a child-centred, proactive safeguarding and wellbeing service across the Academy. Ensuring effective safeguarding practice, safe and supportive host family arrangements, and positive outcomes for all children and young people.
- Lead on safe recruitment and safeguarding training - Ensuring safeguarding remains central to all Academy operations through the provision of regular, high quality training tailored to the specific safeguarding responsibilities of each role.
- Host Family Management - Assess, approve and monitor host families, providing ongoing oversight and support to ensure children are safeguarded and receive safe, nurturing and appropriate care.
- Safeguarding Leadership - Provide trusted advice, professional challenge and informed risk management to support effective safeguarding practice across all Academy activity.
- Safeguarding Partnerships and Risk Management - Use effective relationships, professional curiosity, and informed professional judgement to identify, assess, and respond to emerging risks. Embedding preventative approaches across practice.
- Promoting the Voice of the Child - Champion the voice of the child, rights and best interests of every young person in the Academy. Ensuring children feel safe, valued, cared for and able to thrive on and off pitch.
- Compliance & Record Keeping - Maintain accurate, timely and comprehensive case records, ensuring safeguarding concerns, actions, decisions and outcomes are clearly documented.
- Quality Assurance and Improvement - Lead and contribute to regular audit, using evidence and learning to inform continual progress, improved outcomes and planning for children.
- Safeguarding Culture and Shared Responsibility - Promote a culture in the Academy in which safeguarding, care and wellbeing are shared responsibilities.
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Skills, Knowledge and Expertise
Essential
- Experience leading safeguarding within sport, education, health, social care, or a comparable safeguarding environment.
- Experience managing complex safeguarding concerns, risk assessments, and multi-agency working.
- Strong knowledge of safeguarding legislation, statutory guidance, and football safeguarding standards.
- Experience delivering safeguarding training, influencing practice, and embedding a positive safeguarding culture.
- Excellent communication, relationship building, and decision making skills, with the ability to influence stakeholders at all levels and work effectively within a multi-disciplinary environment.
- Maintain knowledge of emerging safeguarding risks, research, legislation, and best practice, ensuring the Academy's approach reflects the evolving safeguarding needs of boys and young men in elite football.
- Ability to engage effectively with children, young people, parents/carers, host families, and external agencies, ensuring the voice of the child remains central to decision making.
Desirable
- Experience within elite sport or professional football.
- Knowledge of academy football and the specific safeguarding, wellbeing, and developmental needs of boys and young men.
- Experience of supporting young people living away from home, including host family arrangements, education, welfare, and transition planning.
- Experience of transitional safeguarding and supporting young people into adulthood.
- Experience preparing for or supporting external audits and regulatory inspections, including liaison with the Professional Game Academy Audit Company (PGAAC), Premier League, or The Football Association (FA).
- Understanding of the pressures, risks, and welfare considerations associated with talent development pathways in elite youth sport.
Self-Development
- To undertake any necessary internal or external training sessions and to take personal responsibility to seek opportunities to develop yourself to realise your own potential, supported by the Head of Safeguarding.
- Lead the design, delivery and evaluation of safeguarding learning and development to build capability, confidence and a positive safeguarding culture across the Academy.
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Hours of Work
The employee is required to work 35 hours per week. Additional hours may be required, including relevant Academy activities according to the operational requirements of the Safeguarding Team or demands of the business. Given the nature of this role, evening work and weekend work is a requirement (including occasional anti-social hours). There may also be a requirement to work across the UK, in Europe and overseas to meet the needs of the Academy.
What we offer
At Manchester United, we recognise that our people are at the heart of our success. That’s why we offer a range of rewards designed to support your professional and personal well-being:
- Annual Incentive Scheme to reward your dedication and hard work
- 25 days annual leave (plus bank holidays) and an opportunity to purchase additional holiday days
- Electric Vehicle scheme via Octopus and cycle to work scheme
- Simplyhealth Cash Plan: Supporting you with your everyday healthcare needs
- Wellness Support with access to mental health resources, digital health checks, and & nutritionists through Aviva Digicare+ Workplace
- Exclusive Discounts through our United Rewards platform, giving you access to exclusive deals from the club and partners
- Gym Facilities in our onsite locations and opportunities for regular social events and team-building activities
- Enhanced family Leave Benefits and policies
- Enhanced Career Development with access to professional learning platforms like LinkedIn Learning, and internal training programs
- A Supportive Work Environment that values diversity, equity and inclusion, and individual growth
Manchester United is committed to safeguarding children and vulnerable adults, and as part of this commitment, all candidates will undergo a Disclosure and Barring Service check and reference checks.
If you need any adjustments to help you perform at your best during the recruitment process, please contact us, and we will be happy to discuss them with you.
It is unlawful to employ a person in a UK-based job who does not have permission to live and work in the UK. You should make yourself aware of how immigration laws apply to you before applying for any of our roles.
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