Oxford University Association Football Club

Applications for OUAFC Sabbatical Officer 2008/9 requested

After the official formation of the Oxford University College Football Forum, the application process for the second OUAFC Sabbatical Officer can now begin.

The job description is included below, and the deadline for applications will be Saturday 1st march 2008. If you have any questions please feel free to call/email me on 01865791207 or nicholas.baker@sport.ox.ac.uk.

Job Description
Responsible to: OUAFC Committee, and for day to day operations the University Director of Sport.

Main Purpose: To provide administrative support to the Oxford University Association Football Club (OUAFC) committee, oversee administration of all college football competitions, liaise with Referee’s Society to ensure adequate refereeing, act as OUAFC safety officer, coordinate with organization of the Varsity matches, develop the alumni structure of the club in association with the two alumni officers, assist the production of the annual OUAFC accounts, actively pursue sponsorship procurement, arrange regular meetings as an executive of the Oxford University College Football Forum and offer general administrative support to footballers within Oxford University at large, where required.

Appointment: Appointment via panel interview consisting of representatives of the OUAFC committee, the Director of Sport and a representative of the Oxford University College Football Forum, in front of whom the candidate must ‘hust’ at the meeting in 8th week.

Working Arrangements
This is a part time post (30 hours per week), running for a fixed term from Sept 2008 to June 2009 (10 months).

Salary is based on a 10 month, 30 hour week schedule, currently £12,864 p.a. (pro rata) but subject to an inflationary cost of living rise in August 2007. This will translate to approximately £1,072 per month, before tax and National Insurance contributions.

The post-holder will have office space at the University Sports Complex and will normally be expected to be available/contactable between the hours of 10am and 3pm, Monday to Friday for the 10 months in post. The post holder needs to be flexible to meet the requirements of the post and additional flexi time work may be needed from time to time to make up the 30 hour a week post.

University holiday entitlement will apply, and leave should be taken at the discretion of the Director of Sport, usually outside of University Full Term. Any further employment plans (such as coaching) should also be discussed with the Director of Sport.

Please contact the Director of Sport (jon.roycroft@sport.ox.ac.uk) for specific questions regarding work practices

Person Specification

Essential:

Considerable experience of Oxford University Football

Knowledge of the specific issues relating to College football in Oxford

Good IT Skills

Good inter-personal skills, written and oral

Desirable:

Experience on the OUAFC committee, or other administrative roles within other football clubs or leagues

FA coaching award(s) or coaching experience

Some experience of event management

Media Experience

General Duties

Specific Duties Relating to College Football

Create and chair regular, frequent, meetings with representatives of college football, known as the Oxford University College Football Forum (OUCFF)

Oversee the administrators of the college leagues, cuppers and 5-aside competitions. Ensure competition regulations are reviewed, revised as appropriate, distributed, and enforced.

Sit on the disciplinary committee for college football.

Manage the democratic means for the wishes of the colleges’ football representatives to be considered by the OUAFC committee.

Arrange coaching and first aid courses for college members at a minimum cost.

Assist with the running and improvement of the colleges section of the OUAFC website.

To liaise, where appropriate, with the Area Safety Officer (Sport), and other such officers at the discretion of the OUAFC committee in relation to all matters of football safety.

Encourage and assist College Football Clubs to develop sound coaching practices.

Promote student participation in refereeing within the college leagues.
General University Football Duties

Offer Administrative support to the OUAFC committee where required.

Coordinate alumni events to coincide with Varsity matches.

Pursue fundraising opportunities within old members of OUAFC.

Liaise with appropriate individuals to identify talented footballers within the College community.

Liaise with current sponsors and produce high quality literature to attract new sponsors

Detailed Duties

The Sabbatical Officer for Football will act as Safety Advisor for OUAFC and be a part of the OUAFC committee and the executive of the Oxford University College Football Forum without voting rights. The post-holder will be expected to refine the current job description, and help to continue to define the relationship between the Sabbatical Officer, OUAFC and the wider Oxford University football community. Although specific duties will be agreed by the post-holder, the OUAFC committee and the Director of Sport, the Sabbatical Officer may be expected to:

Event Management:

In conjunction with the Area safety Officer (Sport) help revise or produce risk assessments for events organised by OUAFC, such as one-off inter-college competitions or tournaments involving teams from other universities or clubs.

Identify opportunities for such tournaments, where demand exists.

Obtain the necessary permissions to hold events from the University Proctors, the FA and any other relevant body.

Ensure an adequate and suitable level of refereeing is present at such events.

Provide assistance to other football clubs within the University in organising events, as sanctioned by OUAFC.

Information and Advice:

Disseminate any relevant information and rulings from OUAFC or other appropriate bodies to College Football Clubs.

Consult with the FA on matters of safety, disseminating information to OUAFC and colleges.

Notify College representatives of, and supply an agenda for, OUCFF Meetings.

Deal with general enquires from the public about OUAFC and any events hosted by OUAFC.

Training and Development:

Identify appropriate FA qualifications or training courses for OUAFC members and members of individual college football clubs.

Organise courses delivering these qualifications or training.

College Football Club Safety:

Liaise with the University Director of Sport and Area Safety Officer (Sport) on matters of safety affecting University and college football.

Ensure all college football clubs maintain affiliation the FA via affiliation with OUAFC or other county FA.

Administration:

Maintain and review the OUAFC constitution and rules of OUAFC competitions.

Convene, and chair, a minimum of one OUCFF meeting per term.

Attend, whenever is possible, all OUAFC committee meetings.

Provide general administrative support to OUAFC.

Act as the Oxford University football liaison with BUSA.

Miscellaneous:

To ensure that good relationships are maintained between OUAFC, college football clubs, college and university groundstaff, potential Varsity match hosts, historical fixture organisers and other bodies.

Application Process

The post is expected to be of interest to those seeking to develop a career in coaching, education or sports management, or those who wish to gain valuable transferable skills while maintaining an interest in developing football in Oxford University.

Interested parties should apply with full curriculum vitae and letter explaining their reasons for applying, and what they feel they can bring to the post. Contact details, and the details (including telephone numbers and email addresses) of two referees, should also be supplied.

Applications should be sent to Jon Roycroft preferably by email (jon.roycroft@sport.ox.ac.uk) before the end of 7th Week Hilary Term (Saturday 1st March 2008). Alternatively they may be sent via post to:

Jon Roycroft
Oxford University Sport Centre
Iffley Road
Oxford
OX4 1EQ

The post-holder will have to hust in front of the OUCFF membership at a meeting on Monday of 8th week (2nd March) who will have an indicative secret ballot to guide the OUCFF representative on the interview panel (also including representatives of the OUAFC Committee and OU Sports Federation) which make the final decision on an appointment.