About:
Sheffield United were on a mission to strengthen their commitment to women’s football and girls’ development. They sought a Head of Women & Girls Football to oversee all aspects of the Sheffield United Women and Girls program. The Club has a competitive Women’s team participating in the Barclays Women’s Championship and a strong focus on nurturing young talent via pathways.
Challenge:
In the midst of women’s sports experiencing remarkable growth, Sheffield United faced a crucial challenge: finding the ideal leader for their Women and Girls Football program. The club was resolute in its pursuit of a candidate with extensive experience in football, particularly within the realm of women’s football.
The role demanded a unique blend of skills, encompassing oversight of recruitment processes, support for contracting, management of match day operations, and the cultivation of relationships with funding partners. Additionally, the Head of Women and Girls Football was entrusted with promoting the club positively in the media while ensuring compliance with safeguarding, discrimination, and inclusion policies.
Solution:
Following a detailed briefing meeting with the club our team meticulously defined the role’s criteria, providing a clear understanding of the ideal candidate. Our research team conducted a comprehensive talent search using a detailed competency and assessment framework. This approach enabled us to rigorously evaluate each candidate, ensuring a precise alignment of skills with the club’s specific requirements. Leveraging our extensive network of contacts and proactively reaching out to potential candidates in the market, we created a robust long list of potential candidates.
Results:
Following our exhaustive search and evaluation process, the Executives in Sport Group successfully shortlisted four exceptional candidates for the role. The appointed Head of Women and Girls Football brought with them over seven years of invaluable experience in women’s football. This appointment marked a significant milestone for Sheffield United, ensuring they had a highly qualified and experienced leader at the helm of their Women and Girls Football program.