Job Opportunity

The PFA is in the process of expanding a dedicated Former Player Care department for neurodegenerative diseases (NDD) within football.

The PFA is seeking to appoint a Head of NDD Former Player Care to lead the new department and has appointed Compass Executives to oversee the search.

The new department is central to a wider PFA strategy on this issue, which also sees Dawn Astle, daughter of former West Bromwich Albion and England international Jeff Astle who passed away with CTE in 2002, take up the position of the PFA’s Project Lead on NDD in Football. This will be a wide-ranging role focusing on areas such as developing player education, monitoring ongoing research and football stakeholder engagement.

The new post holder will oversee a team of two new Family Support Advisors in conjunction with Rachel Walden.

A vital part of the new role will be to proactively engage with other members and their families to ensure services develop in line with their needs. The PFA is also keen to seek further guidance from prominent figures and campaigners, such as Penny Watson, who is acting formally as an independent consultant.

PFA Chief Executive Maheta Molango said: “The creation of a new, dedicated department is hugely important, but we are acutely aware that this is just a first step. We are determined to take responsibility internally and to ensure that we advocate for a coordinated, football-wide approach to this issue on behalf of members.

“A joined-up game-wide approach is absolutely essential to improve the health and safety of current and future players. Now is the time for the whole of football, including clubs, leagues and governing bodies, to recognise their collective responsibility to protect former players who have contributed so much to the game. This means providing comprehensive support to former players and their families, who are currently living with dementia and other neurodegenerative diseases.”

Job Description

Position: Head of Former Player Care – Neurodegenerative Disease (NDD)
Department: Former Player Care NDD
Reporting To: Chief Executive
Reports: 4 (3x family support advisors, 1x project lead)

Job Summary

The Head of Department is a leader that puts the PFA members, their families and staff at the very heart of all decision-making and setting the department’s direction.

You will be an experienced professional working around dementia and neurodegenerative diseases, leading a multidisciplinary team to deliver the department’s priorities, such as: