Head of Safeguarding

Nycfc • New York, NY

2d • Onsite

About The Position

The Head of Safeguarding – Americas (North) is a senior member of City Football Group’s (“CFG”) safeguarding team, working directly with New York City Football Club, City So Five, City Football US, and various commercial partners. This role will be supported by CFG’s Director of Safeguarding and NYCFC’s Chief Operating Officer, and will collaborate closely with stakeholders across these operations. The position will oversee and maintain the CFG Safeguarding Strategy and framework (“SafeAtCity”), providing strategic direction, tactical guidance, and operational support for safeguarding and child protection processes across all CFG-related operations in the ‘Americas (North)’ region. This includes operations such as New York City Football Club, City So Five, City Football Education & Recreation activities, commercial partnerships, City Football Foundation activities, and charitable partnerships. The role also encompasses the protection of adult participants at risk of harm.

Requirements

• Graduate-level qualified or professional equivalent in contemporary safeguarding practice, children’s / adults’ rights, or similar.
• Experienced professional in a relevant senior and/or strategic organizational/management/business partner-type role.
• A team player who demonstrates an understanding of the need to share and work with others to achieve common goals and able to inspire those others on their safeguarding journey.
• Approachable, diplomatic, discrete, thoughtful and driven to succeed and demonstrates high levels of personal and professional integrity and a ‘can do’ attitude.
• Experience developing and implementing policies, protocols, education programs and guidance in a child or adult welfare or social care-type settings and experience of managing and influencing people, meetings, projects, events within this setting.
• Experience handling sensitive data in accordance with local data protection regulations.
• Working knowledge and understanding of inclusion, equality and anti – discrimination legislation, policy and practice.
• Experience of working directly with children and listening to and valuing their views, opinions and concerns.
• Demonstrates ability to influence and negotiate with staff, other members of the workforce, participants, players and parents.
• Proven experience conducting or leading investigations of a sensitive nature.
• Able to travel domestically and internationally and for significant periods of time for program related purposes.
• Applicant must be able to comply with MLS Next Safety and Well-Being policy and any other applicable child safety policies provided to applicants by NYCFC.
• Right to work in the U.S.

Nice To Haves

• Ideally, knowledge of the workings of professional sports businesses and particularly the application of safeguarding principles therein.
• Fluency in Spanish a plus.

Responsibilities

• Execute the vision and ensure the long-term objectives and processes that promote and protect the rights and well-being of any children and other vulnerable people who interact with CFG-related operations in the identified geographic region.
• Serve as a subject-matter expert providing leadership, visibility and co-ordination across the region, working with and supporting the businesses’ leaders, strategic & operational managers, other safeguarding practitioners and the wider workforce.
• Ensure that all relevant local/regional operations are compliant with local legislative and regulatory requirements related to the rights and protection of children and/or other vulnerable people.
• Represent all relevant CFG subsidiaries in the safeguarding-related interface with statutory and regulatory bodies, including but not limited to: Police, Child Protective Services, Adult Protective services, soccer/football authorities, charity and medical authorities.
• Develop and/or lead the local safeguarding education program for the workforce and others.
• Lead and/or support the co-ordination of the local ‘safe recruitment’ policies in accordance with local Human Resources departments, including appropriate criminal record vetting protocols.
• Lead or co-ordinate the organizational response to safeguarding-related incidents, concerns and complaints.
• Lead and co-ordinate the work of other local (ie in-market) designated safeguarding personnel where appropriate.
• Lead the development of processes that give children and other vulnerable people a voice within CFG business activities.
• Ensure the accurate maintenance of records in respect of all of the above and ensure all sensitive SafeAtCity data accordance with internal protocols and local data protection regulations.
• Contribute to the SafeAtCity management reporting processes as and when required, producing data, insights and recommendations where appropriate.
• Participation in NYCFC’s Administration Leadership Team to ensure Safeguarding implementation and strategy is cohesive with Club strategies and priorities.

Benefits

• Excellent health, dental & vision insurance, with options to fit you and your family’s needs
• Comprehensive and competitive benefit programs, including maternal & paternal leave
• Ancillary benefits: Commuter, and Citi Bike discounts
• Wellness strategy focuses on mental and physical wellbeing through in-office and virtual programs
• Four complementary tickets to every NYCFC home match
• Team outings, happy hours, and annual staff gatherings to celebrate our co-workers

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior