Group Director

Role Overview

• Lead the day-to-day operations and oversight of the Professional Refereeing Group, including Assistant Referees, ensuring high standards, performance and development across match officials and staff.
• Prepare Professional Refereeing Group appointments for approval by the CRO, supporting the delivery of high-quality officiating across the professional game.
• Foster a positive, open and transparent culture built on two-way dialogue, trust and mutual respect between staff and match officials.
• Oversee nominations to The FA for international appointments, supporting the ambition to strengthen PGMO’s international representation.
• Coordinate training camps, including all pre-season planning activities, to support readiness, performance and consistent standards.
• Participate in and contribute to all meetings involving members of the Professional Referee Group, including those of the wider Professional Refereeing Group.
• Lead group-wide weekly performance coaching reviews to drive on-pitch accuracy, accountability and continuous improvement feeding-in on a six-weekly basis to the Performance Review Panel.
• Collaborate with the PGMO Technical Director regarding representation at Premier League and EFL KMI Panels, ensuring alignment between performance insight and officiating standards.
• Represent PGMO at the VAR Hub when needed.
• Collaborate with the VAR Manager to improve performance and strengthen the quality and consistency of officiating outcomes.
• Provide coaches and match officials with individual feedback, performance reviews and tailored support plans to enhance performance and accelerate development.
• Provide performance insights and guidance to support improved decision-making, standards and progression.
• Work with the Performance Support Director on performance-related matters to optimise readiness, resilience and sustain elite performance.
• Produce reports for the PGMO Leadership Team and Board, providing clear insight on performance, standards and development priorities.
• Support the CRO in engaging with leagues and clubs and other stakeholders, including attending meetings and visits, to strengthen relationships and confidence in officiating standards.
• Provide communications support as needed.
• Contribute to the organisational goal of improving diverse representation in match officiating by helping create opportunity where high performance and potential merit progression.
• Attend and support the content for the annual PGMO conference and contribute to the wider development and profile of the organisation.
• Maintain the highest professional standards when representing PGMO.

Requirements

• Proven experience in high-level football officiating.
• Track record of educating sports officials with strong presentation and facilitation skills
• Track record of identifying and developing talent
• Strong ability to build and maintain effective working relationships.
• Good understanding of VAR procedures.
• Excellent communication and organisational skills.
• Flexible approach to work, with willingness to travel regularly and to work ‘unsocial’ hours reflecting the football calendar (weekends, evenings)
• Solution focussed, collaborative
• Resilient and positive in approach
• High professional and personal standards

Benefits

PGMOL is committed to safeguarding and ensuring the welfare and protection of children and vulnerable people and expects all staff to share this commitment. As such, the post holder will be subject to any relevant security checks as required.