In partnership with The FA, The Football Foundation, Active Devon, Local Authorities, School Sports Partnerships and Ability Counts Clubs, the Devon County FA is seeking to recruit a full time Disability Football Development Officer dedicated to providing football opportunities for people with disabilities.

The successful candidate will be responsible for implementing the County’s Football Development Plan for people with disabilities and supporting the County’s Football Development Team in the drive to ‘ignite a brighter future for Football in Devon’ which will include:

• Following the guidelines of The FA Disability Strategy

• Coordinate the delivery of Disability Football in Devon in partnership with the Disability Working Group and its partners

• Strengthen the Disability Player Pathway with structured opportunities throughout the County from grass roots to excellence for adults and children

• Establish Curricular and Extra Curricular coaching activities for Special Schools in Devon

• Provide practical taster sessions for players with a disability

• Increase the number of staff and volunteers with coach education activities i.e. Coaching Disabled Footballers courses

• Establish a school competition network for the County

• Support independent groups to develop football clubs

• Establish a recreational league competition

• Increase the number of Charter Standard clubs for Disability Football

• Support the existing Ability Counts clubs and the South West Ability Counts League

• Establish a School to Club Link programme

• Increase structured football for players with disabilities, including learning disability, partially sighted, blind, deaf, amputee and cerebral palsy

• Work with our Ability Counts partners

The successful candidate must be a confident verbal communicator as this post will involve working with key agencies e.g. Local Authorities, Local Education Authorities, Schools, Local Leagues and Clubs. They are likely to be a graduate with thorough knowledge and experience of football / sports development.

A desirable attribute of the officer is having specific experience of training or working with people with disabilities.

Excellent presentation and communication skills are essential alongside an ability to work under pressure and to meet deadlines. An understanding of current IT applications would also be beneficial.

Full time Development Officer

Working with people with disabilities

Salary £20,000- 22,000

Two-year fixed term contract subject to external funding.

37 hours per week and will involve some evening and weekend working.

The candidate must hold (or be working towards) the 1st4 Sport Level 2 Certificate in Coaching Football and have a good understanding of football development.

The candidate must have the ability to travel according to the needs of the job with reasonable adjustments, if required, according to the "Disability Discrimination Act".

To apply, please contact Annie Watts, on 01626 325 914 or email annie.watts@devonfa.com for an application pack which should be completed and returned to:

Hannah Buckley
Devon County FA
Coach Road
Newton Abbot
Devon
TQ12 1EJ

Applications should be returned with your Curriculum Vitae and a covering letter outlining how you would meet the demands.

Closing date is 8 September 2008

Interview date is 23 September 2008.