Torquay United Football Club is seeking an ambitious, committed and highly motivated Head of Youth to lead the development of our entire youth programme and help create a clear pathway from grassroots football through to the first team.
This is a key position within the football department, offering an exciting opportunity for an experienced youth-development professional to shape the future of the club.
The Role
The Head of Youth will have overall responsibility for the development and coordination of all age groups within Torquay United’s youth programme, ensuring a consistent footballing philosophy and high standards of coaching throughout the pathway.
Working closely with the first-team management and coaching staff, the successful candidate will develop and implement a club-wide coaching syllabus, ensuring that young players are developed in line with the technical, tactical, physical and psychological requirements of the modern game.
The role will include:
- Taking overall responsibility for the development of all youth age groups at Torquay United.
- Working closely with the first-team coaching staff to establish a clear and consistent football philosophy throughout the club.
- Developing and implementing a structured coaching syllabus across the youth programme.
- Ensuring regular Continuing Professional Development (CPD) opportunities for all youth coaches.
- Supporting, mentoring and challenging coaches to maintain consistently high standards.
- Monitoring player development and helping identify talented players capable of progressing through the pathway.
- Working alongside South Devon College to coordinate and deliver training sessions for the Under-19 squad.
- Maintaining strong relationships with players, parents, coaches, educational partners and other key stakeholders.
- Attending youth fixtures, including Wednesday U19 fixtures and Saturday matchdays for all age groups, to monitor teams and player development.
- Attending Monday youth training evenings and maintaining a visible presence across the programme.
- Ensuring that the club’s coaching and player-development standards are consistently applied across every age group.
- Helping create a positive, ambitious and inclusive environment in which young players can develop and reach their potential.
The Ideal Candidate
We are looking for an individual who is passionate about youth development and understands what it takes to create a successful player pathway.
The successful candidate will ideally have:
- Proven experience working within a professional or high-level youth football environment.
- Relevant coaching qualifications and a strong understanding of modern player development.
- Excellent knowledge of age-appropriate coaching and development principles.
- The leadership skills to manage, support and develop a team of coaches.
- The ability to work collaboratively with first-team staff and external education partners.
- Excellent communication and organisational skills.
- A strong eye for identifying and developing talent.
- The enthusiasm, energy and commitment required to make a genuine difference to young players.
- A willingness to work evenings, weekends and matchdays as required by the role.
Most importantly, we are looking for someone who shares Torquay United’s ambition to develop homegrown talent and who can build a youth programme that provides a genuine pathway towards senior football.
Why Join Torquay United?
This is an opportunity to take a leading role in shaping the next generation of Torquay United players.
The successful candidate will have the opportunity to work closely with the first-team department, influence the club’s footballing identity from the youngest age groups upwards, and establish a high-quality development pathway for players within the South Devon community.
If you are an ambitious youth-development professional who wants to make a lasting contribution to the future of Torquay United Football Club, we would like to hear from you.
To apply: Please send a CV and covering letter outlining your experience, coaching philosophy and suitability for the role to General Manager Tim Herbert on timh@torquayunited.com
Closing date: Wednesday, September 9
Torquay United Football Club is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The successful applicant will be subject to appropriate safeguarding checks.
Youth Physio
Torquay United Football Club is also seeking a part-time physiotherapist with a minimum qualification in Sports Therapy and an EFAiF. This role would involve covering training on a Monday night and home youth fixtures.
To apply, please send a CV and covering letter to General Manager Tim Herbert on timh@torquayunited.com
