Overview

Football Operations (Administration) Apprentice - 2 Year Fixed Term Contract. The FA is looking for an enthusiastic and organised individual to support primarily Referee Operations and the wider Football Operations teams in the administration and governance of football. You will be employed on a two year fixed term contract and will study towards a Level 3 Business Administration qualification with CMS Vocational Training. You will be contractually based at Wembley Stadium.

What will you be doing

• Supporting the referee operations team with admin tasks including match official appointments, confirmations, and system updates.
• Managing and responding to real-time issues.
• Prioritising competing demands and juggling multiple deadlines.
• Handling communications with match officials, clubs and other departments via phone and email.
• Participating in wider football events – e.g. hosting visiting international referees, supporting matchday logistics.
• Using internal systems to update records and coordinate referee appointments across competitions.
• Gaining insight into how elite football operates at national and international levels.
• Executes additional tasks as required to meet the FA\'s changing priorities.
• Comply with all company policies and procedures to ensure that the highest standards of health, safety, and well-being can be maintained.
• As part of the FA\'s commitment to ensuring a safe environment for everyone in football, every employee will be required to complete a DBS check. The level of the check required will be based on the activity of the specific job role and in line with legislation and government guidance.

What are we looking for

To be eligible you must meet the following criteria:

• Live within England and have lived within the UK for the last 3 consecutive years.
• Must not be in full time education at the start of your apprenticeship.
• Must be at least 16 years of age.
• If aged 16-18 you will need to have maths and English at grade 4/C and have the certification for this. If not, you will need to sit Functional Skills Level 2 as part of the programme.
• Must not hold a similar or higher qualification in the same area of study.

This is a developmental role, so we do not require you to have lots of prior experience. Instead, we are looking for:

• A genuine interest in football (playing, volunteering, refereeing, or following the game; any kind of involvement).
• Good organisational skills and attention to detail.
• Comfortable using the phone and email to communicate clearly.
• A positive mindset, open to learning.
• Experience of using Microsoft Outlook.
• Experience of Microsoft Office, particularly Excel.
• The ability to stay focused on repetitive tasks without losing quality.
• Ability to stay calm and prioritise when plans change.
• Willingness to take initiative and ask questions.
• Some experience of creating presentations and public speaking.

What\'s in it for you

• Access to unique office spaces under the arch of Wembley National Stadium, and the Elite Performance Centre, St. George\'s Park in Staffordshire.
• Competitive salary and opportunities to develop and grow in your role.
• Range of benefits including event day tickets, free lunches at Wembley Stadium and St. George\'s Park, private medical cover, contributory pension, volunteering days, 25 days annual leave (based on full-time contract), and a hybrid working model.

Other information

For more information on what it is like to work at The FA, please visit our FA Careers page. Currently, we operate a hybrid working model with some days in the contract location and some days remote. The contractual location of this role can be found on the FA Careers page. We are a diverse workplace and an equal opportunities employer. If you have any requirements regarding the recruitment or interview process, please mention this during your application. As part of The FA\'s commitment to a safe environment for everyone in football, every employee will be required to complete a DBS check, the level of which will be based on the activity of the specific job role and in line with legislation and government guidance.