Football is the global game and Football in New Zealand is the biggest game in the country, providing experiences and opportunities for all – male and female, young and not so young, talented athletes and community level players. New Zealand Football’s purpose is to enrich lives and connect people through positive experiences to build strong communities, and our staff are passionate and talented people who are committed to living our core Values: Enjoyment, Respect, Collaboration, Inclusive and Ambition. New Zealand Football is committed to upholding the mana of Te Tiriti o Waitangi and is embarking on a journey to grow and embed a rich, vibrant culture of diversity and inclusion. We aim to make football the most inclusive sport in Aotearoa New Zealand, and we’d love you to join us.
Job Description
New Zealand Football is seeking applications for a NZ Women’s U20 Head Coach to work within the High Performance team
Reporting to the GM High Performance, you’ll be responsible for the planning and management of the Women’s U20 programme in the lead-up to the 2026 Women's U20 World Cup.
This is a part-time contractor role, with actual hours and days of work being flexible and dependent upon the scheduling of identification events, training camps and tournaments.
The position is responsible for the planning, implementation, management and success of the Women’s U20 international programme. This requires ongoing liaison with players and coaches as well as a commitment this year of approximately 3 weeks for pre-camp and the World Cup Qualifying tournament, success at which will mean taking the team to the World Cup in 2026.
Key responsibilities will include:
Ensure effective coaching direction, leadership, organisation and communication within the WU20 environment;
Coach the WU20 team including managing all aspects of training and competition programmes in a manner that is strongly aligned to NZ Football’s overall strategic direction;
Select players to play for the WU20 team in conjunction with NZ Football’s High Performance panel after a robust and transparent identification process has been conducted;
Communicate with related clubs, players and parents where required in relation to player selection, availability and other relevant issues;
Work closely with GM High Performance as well as the Football Ferns and WU17 technical staff to ensure alignment in training/playing methodology;
Assist in developing and reinforcing a team culture that is supportive, professional and meets the needs of the players and team management;
Provide high quality training and competition opportunities, including effective high performance coaching that is based on NZ Football’s philosophy and team model.
Desired Skills and Experience
We’re looking for someone with a minimum OFC / NZF A licence (or equivalent) with experience leading elite teams on the international stage.
To be successful in this role you’ll need to be able to demonstrate:
A detailed understanding of the NZF National Curriculum and Whole of Football Plan
Familiarity with the NZ domestic playing environment
Widely respected, trusted and a role model for NZF Values
Excellent communication skills
The proven ability to enhance the brand and profile of football in the community
An understanding of player development trends
Applications close at 9am on Monday January 27th .
