Nottingham Forest Football Club
Under 16 Head Coach
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Salary: Please state your expectations within your application
Contract: Full Time, 42 hours a week
Location: The Nigel Doughty Academy, Nottingham, NG2 7SR
Department: Academy Coaching
Reporting to: Youth Development Phase Manager
Closing Date For Applications: 10th August 2026
About the Role:
The Under 16 Head Coach is responsible for leading the coaching, performance, and development programme for Nottingham Forest's Under 16 squad, creating an outstanding learning environment that prepares players for the successful transition into full-time football within the Professional Development Phase.
The post-holder will lead the planning, delivery, and review of all aspects of the Under 16 football programme, ensuring coaching sessions, match preparation, fixtures, and individual player development are fully aligned to the Club's coaching philosophy, playing identity, and long-term player development strategy.
As the final age group within the Youth Development Phase, the role plays a critical part in preparing players for a scholarship programme and the demands of the Professional Development Phase. Working under the leadership of the Youth Development Phase Manager, the successful candidate will work in close collaboration with the Professional Development Phase Manager & Under 18 Head Coach to ensure every player's transition is planned, purposeful, and centred around their individual development needs.
The role will also maintain a strong collaborative relationship with the Head of Football Development, ensuring player progression, succession planning, and transition decisions remain aligned to the Academy's overall football strategy.
The successful candidate will create a demanding, innovative, and player-centred environment that develops technically excellent, tactically intelligent, and psychologically resilient players capable of thriving within Nottingham Forest's full-time development programme.
The Perks of the Job:
- Opportunity to access tickets for events at The City Ground.
- Employee Assistance Programme.
- Access to high street and gym discounts.
- Discount within our Club shop.
- Free on-site parking.
Key Tasks and Responsibilities:
Under 16 Head Coach Responsibilities
- Lead and manage all aspects of the Under 16 football programme, ensuring the highest standards of coaching, preparation, performance, and player development.
- Plan, prepare, deliver, and review all Under 16 training sessions, fixtures, and competitive matches in line with the Club's coaching philosophy, playing identity, and Academy methodology. Inclusive of training sessions on all three of our training models.
- Create an innovative, demanding, and enjoyable learning environment where players are challenged daily to maximise their long-term potential.
- Develop players technically, tactically, physically, psychologically, and socially in preparation for scholarship and full-time football.
- Lead all Under 16 matchday activity, including squad selection, tactical preparation, in-game coaching, and post-match review.
- Embed the Academy's coaching methodology and playing principles into every aspect of the Under 16 programme.
- Prepare players to meet the behavioural, physical, tactical, and psychological expectations of the Professional Development Phase.
- Foster professionalism, resilience, independence, and accountability as players prepare to enter the next stage of the Academy pathway.
- Produce monthly, quarterly, and annual reports, as required by the Head of Academy, demonstrating progress and outcomes against the Academy strategy.
- Ensure all information relating to the individual player's performance clock and relevant team information is up to date daily on the Football iP platform.
- Contribute to the Academy audit preparation ensuring all documentation is recorded and accurately kept up to date on a daily basis.
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Player Development & Transition
- Take a leading role in preparing players for transition into the Professional Development Phase, ensuring every player is equipped to thrive within a full-time training environment.
- Work closely with the Youth Development Phase Manager to review player progress, establish development priorities, and agree on appropriate player movement.
- Develop an outstanding working relationship with the Professional Development Phase Manager & Under 18 Head Coach to ensure seamless transition of players into the Under 18 programme.
- Collaboratively identify players who are ready to experience the Professional Development Phase through selected training sessions, fixtures, and specialist development opportunities.
- Contribute to scholarship recommendations, transition planning, and succession planning across both phases.
- Ensure all player movement between the Under 16s and Under 18s is supported by a clear developmental rationale and aligned to the player's Individual Development Plan.
- Maintain regular dialogue with the Head of Football Development regarding players approaching scholarship, ensuring alignment with the Academy's long-term player pathway.
- Liaise with the Head of Academy on recommendations for player scholarship offers through a strategic process of selection.
- Assist the Youth Development Phase Recruitment and Retention Manager and the PDP Emerging Talent Recruitment Manager on ensuring our trial process is fully adhered to with players attending on trial.
Individual Player Development
- Deliver an individualised coaching programme that maximises every player's technical, tactical, physical, and psychological development.
- Work collaboratively with the multidisciplinary team to ensure Individual Development Plans are aligned across football, physical performance, psychology, education, and medical services.
- Monitor player progress through observation, objective performance data, analysis, and regular player reviews.
- Deliver position-specific coaching and specialist development sessions where appropriate.
- Ensure every player understands their development objectives and takes ownership of their individual learning journey.
Collaboration & Football Integration
- Work closely with the Youth Development Phase Manager to ensure alignment across all aspects of the Youth Development Phase curriculum.
- Build a highly collaborative relationship with the Professional Development Phase Manager & Under 18 Head Coach to ensure continuity of coaching methodology, playing philosophy, and transition planning.
- Maintain strong communication with the Head of Academy and Head of Football Development to support succession planning and long-term player development across the Academy.
- Support the wider Academy coaching programme by contributing across age groups where appropriate through but not limited to delivering sessions.
- Build positive relationships across the multidisciplinary team to ensure players receive an integrated, holistic development programme.
- Attend and contribute positively to Phase Meetings and multidisciplinary discussions as required.
- Ensure players, parents, and staff consistently uphold the Club's values and Codes of Conduct.
- Create an environment where players take ownership of their development and embrace challenge as an opportunity to improve.
Administration & Compliance
- Ensure all coaching administration, Individual Development Plans, Performance Clocks, player reports, and YD Rules documentation are completed accurately and within required timescales.
- Maintain compliance with Premier League, Football Association, and Club policies, procedures, and audit requirements being the lead on CASA for the Audit process.
- Ensure all player records, educational documentation, and development reports are maintained to the highest professional standards.
- Undertake any additional duties reasonably requested by the Head of Academy or Head of Football Development.
- Complete administration relevant to the job as required by the Head of Football Development and Head of Academy, meeting the requirements of the Premier League Youth Development rules and our own internal platforms.
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What are we looking for:
Essential
- UEFA A Licence.
- FA Advanced Youth Award.
- Demonstrable experience coaching in an elite Youth Development Phase.
- Excellent understanding of long-term player development, a genuine youth developer, and transition into senior football.
- Outstanding knowledge of coaching methodology, player development, and elite performance environments.
- Excellent communication, organisation, and presentation skills.
- Ability to build collaborative relationships across football and multidisciplinary departments.
- High-level IT, planning, and performance analysis skills.
- BFAS First Aid qualification.
- Enhanced DBS clearance.
Desirable
- UEFA Pro Licence (or working towards).
- Professional playing experience.
- Experience within a Category One Academy.
- Additional qualifications in Sports Science, Performance Analysis, Psychology, or Education.
Forest For Everyone
We aim to create a culture which embraces and celebrates our differences, enables individuals to feel comfortable, maximise their potential, and eliminate discrimination.
Nottingham Forest Football Club is an equal opportunities employer and welcomes applications from all suitably qualified persons, regardless of age, disability, gender, gender reassignment, marital / civil partnership status, pregnancy / maternity leave, race, religion/belief, sexual orientation, or any other legally protected characteristic.
Nottingham Forest Football Club is a signatory of the FA’s Football Leadership Diversity Code. We are committed to developing policies to promote equal opportunities and diversity within our workforce. To monitor our progress against these commitments, we invite all applicants to provide diversity data during the application process.
Disability Confident Committed Employer
We are a Disability Confident Committed employer. We 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 selections.
Our Commitment to Safeguarding
As part of the Club’s commitment to safeguarding, the successful applicant may be required to undergo a Disclosure Barring Service (“DBS”) check or an enhanced DBS check. The results of a DBS check will be considered on an individual basis, and the Club will act in a proportionate manner when deciding whether or not to proceed with the appointment.
An FA Enhanced DBS disclosure is required for all relevant new appointments to the Club. Individuals will be asked to declare any convictions, cautions, or reprimands, warnings
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