The Director of Football Opportunity
Cranleigh School seeks an outstanding and visionary Director of Football to lead, grow, and redefine the sport at one of the country’s premier sporting institutions.
This is a pivotal strategic appointment. With the unveiling of a brand-new 3G floodlit football pitch and a commitment to making football a core sport across the Lent term and the full academic year, we are looking for a leader who can bridge the gap between high-participation enjoyment and elite performance.
The successful candidate will not only deliver an exceptional programme for Years 9–13 but will also act as a key ambassador, driving pupil recruitment and elevating the school’s national and international profile.
The Role: Vision & Strategy
At Cranleigh School, sport is integral to our identity. While our Boys’ 1st XI has a proven track record of success—reaching two of the last three ISFA Shield finals—we are entering a new era of expansion.
Your primary strategic mandates will include:
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Transforming Girls’ Football: Driving our girls’ programme from its infancy to a market-leading, national-level programme within the next five years.
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Recruitment & Admissions: Working as a strategic partner to the Admissions team to attract and retain high-potential footballers.
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Pathway Development: Establishing clear, professional pathways for elite talent while maintaining 7+ teams at the U18 level to ensure "sport for all.
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Facility Maximisation: Leveraging our new 3G pitch and premier grass surfaces to create a "centre of excellence" atmosphere.
Key Responsibilities
1. Strategic Leadership
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Design and implement a coherent, aspirational football structure from Year 9 through to Year 13.
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Foster a culture that values sportsmanship, personal development, and elite-level commitment.
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Build external partnerships with professional and local clubs, county bodies, and US college recruitment programs.
2. Coaching & Player Development
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Deliver high-quality coaching sessions across the games and co-curricular programmes.
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Mentor and upskill staff coaches to ensure a unified coaching philosophy across all school teams.
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Lead pre-season training, holiday camps, and specialised "masterclasses.
3. Operations & Outreach
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Manage the football budget, fixture lists, and officials.
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Organise international and domestic football tours.
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Act as a visible ambassador at Open Days and scholarship assessments.
4. Pastoral Contribution
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Fully engage in the life of the school as a Tutor within the House structure, supporting the holistic wellbeing and academic progress of our pupils.
The Candidate
We are looking for a candidate who combines professional coaching expertise with the administrative gravity of a senior leader. You should be:
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A Visionary: Able to see the "big picture" for football within a high-performing independent school.
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An Expert Coach: Possessing significant experience in developing youth talent.
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A Communicator: Capable of inspiring pupils, engaging parents, and collaborating with senior leadership.
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Growth-Minded: Particularly passionate about the untapped potential of girls’ football.
What We Offer
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Outstanding Facilities: A brand-new 3G floodlit pitch (ready for Sept 2026), premier grass pitches, and two state-of-the-art Strength & Conditioning suites.
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A Culture of Success: Join a department that consistently wins national titles across multiple sports.
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Professional Growth: A platform to build a "market-leading" programme from the ground up with significant institutional backing.
Cranleigh offers a supportive community environment and also a wide range of benefits.
For further details about the role and to apply, please click the apply button below.
Candidates are requested to submit a brief letter of application (no more than one side of A4), together with the online application and supported by a full CV (via the ‘Apply now’ button on the website) as soon as possible and no later than 9:00 am 30th January 2026. Applications are considered as they are received and therefore the vacancy may close sooner than advertised.
Cranleigh School recognises the positive value of diversity, promotes equality and challenges discrimination. We welcome and encourage job applications from people of all backgrounds.
All applicants must have the right to work in the UK.
The School is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. The post holder will be subject to a DBS check.
Director of Football application closing date - 30/01/2026