Status: Permanent, full time (35 hours per week)Location: Edinburgh & East LothianSalary: Up to £40k
Closing Date: 9am, Friday 21 November 2025
Start Date: Negotiable
This senior leadership role reflects the Foundation's ambition to grow football participation, enhance player experience, and embed inclusive, community-driven football across all programmes. The Head of Football will lead the strategic development and delivery of football activities from early years to player journeys, ensuring excellence, innovation, and impact.
Hibernian Community Foundation is the charitable arm of Hibernian Football Club, harnessing the power of football to create lasting social impact. Our strategic focus is on improving physical and mental health for individuals and families from low-income communities.
We deliver a range of targeted project activities through our Community Hub, including inclusive fitness programmes, mental wellbeing activities, and social events that reduce isolation and build community resilience. Our community meals initiative addresses food insecurity, while our football sessions, designed for all ages and abilities, promote confidence, connection, and lifelong participation. Every activity is rooted in inclusion, empowerment, and the belief that football can be a catalyst for healthier, happier lives.
Roles and Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership & Growth
- Lead the strategic development of football within the Foundation, aligning delivery with organisational priorities and community needs.
- Design and expand inclusive football pathways from 18 months, including football development centres, holiday camps, mentoring programmes, and Future Stars Programme.
- Identify and implement new ways to increase community involvement in football, especially among underrepresented groups.
- Champion the Foundation's football vision, philosophy, and ethos across all programmes and stakeholders.
Programme & Delivery Oversight
- Oversee the day-to-day management and coordination of all football programmes, including recreational activities, school partnerships, and matchday operations.
- Ensure high standards of customer care and player experience across all touchpoints.
- Lead on the creation and implementation of coach development structures and curriculums, engaging with academic establishments.
- Monitor programme performance using KPIs, feedback, and impact data to drive continuous improvement.
Team Leadership & Development
- Manage and develop a team of Community Football sessional coaches, and volunteers, fostering a culture of collaboration, learning, and accountability.
- Set team goals, manage staffing issues, and support CPD and performance appraisal processes.
- Promote a positive, inclusive culture that reflects the Foundation's values and commitment to safeguarding.
Community Capacity-Building
- Expand the reach of Hibernian Community Foundation by supporting local clubs, schools, and grassroots groups to grow their capacity, knowledge, and confidence.
- Develop and deliver training, mentoring, and partnership initiatives that strengthen community-led football.
- Act as a connector between the Foundation and the wider football ecosystem, ensuring alignment and shared impact.
Partnerships & Stakeholder Engagement
- Build and maintain strategic relationships with key stakeholders including Hibernian FC, the Scottish FA, local authorities, schools, and community organisations.
- Develop partnerships that enhance programme delivery and support inclusion, wellbeing, and social impact.
Income Generation & Communications
- Develop and deliver marketing and communications plans to grow participation and visibility.
- Work with the senior management team, in particular Communication and Marketing, to provide compelling storytelling and evidence for funders and social media platforms.
Governance & Compliance
- Ensure all football activity complies with Foundation policies, safeguarding standards, and Disclosure Scotland requirements.
- Contribute to senior management discussions, helping shape Foundation strategy and respond to emerging opportunities.
Key Relationships
- Managing Director, Hibernian Community Foundation
- Head of Community Development
- Girls' & Women's Section Lead
- Football Development Officers
- Coaching Staff (Full-time, Part-time, Sessional)
- Volunteers and Community Club Leaders
- External partners: Scottish FA, SYFA, SWF etc.
- Hibernian Football Club and Academy staff - HTC
Knowledge, Skills & Experience
Essential
- UEFA 'B' Licence or Scottish FA Advanced Children's Licence.
- Minimum 3 years' experience leading football programmes and teams, with a proven track record in grassroots club development and community engagement.
- Experience managing staff, volunteers, and sessional coaches.
- Strong understanding of safeguarding, PVG, and child protection procedures.
- Strong understanding of managing budgets, monitoring KPIs and impact, and reporting. We use Office 365 and would expect you to be comfortable using Word, Excel, SharePoint, Outlook and Teams.
- Experience designing and delivering inclusive football pathways for young people.
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills across diverse audiences.
- Ability to set team goals, monitor performance, and lead CPD for coaches and volunteers, with experience of creating coach development curriculums and learning environments.
- Confidence in delivering programmes autonomously and adapting to change.
Desirable
- HNC/HND in Sports Coaching or Management.
- Familiarity with football body structures, coaching qualifications, and progression routes.
- Experience commercialising football programmes (e.g. Tots, Train Like a Pro).
- Experience supporting marginalised groups through sport.
- Experience working with schools, local authorities, and regional leagues.
- Creative thinker with a passion for inclusion and sector-wide legacy.
- Full UK driving licence.
Disclosure Scotland
This post is subject to a Disclosure Scotland PVG check.
Working pattern
Five days a week, with flexibility to work on weekends and evenings as some out-of-hours working will be required.
Application Process
Further information and applications
Closing date: Friday 21 November 2025.
We will be holding in-person interviews at Easter Road Stadium on Thursday 27 November 2025.
No agencies please.