Lead Physiotherapist (Boys Academy) in Heath

Our Boys Academy is a Premier League Category One environment, built on delivering consistent, high-performance support across every stage of the player pathway. Operating at the intersection of development and elite performance, our Sport Science and Medicine Department plays a critical role in preparing players for the demands of First Team football. We work closely with the Loans and Emerging Talent and First Team multi-disciplinary team to ensure players progress with the robustness, availability and performance capacity required to succeed at the highest level.

This is a senior leadership role within the Academy performance structure, where you will lead the physiotherapy provision and directly influence the development of players progressing towards First Team Football. You will deliver high-level clinical support and set the direction, standards and expectations for physiotherapy across the pathway.

The Opportunity

• Lead the Physiotherapy Service across all Academy age groups (U9 – U21’S)
• Set and drive return-to-performance standards aligned to department expectations
• Maximise player health, robustness, and availability
• Develop, mentor and challenge staff to consistently raise standards across the pathway

Your Impact

• Lead rehabilitation and return-to-performance planning and delivery
• Oversee injury audit and availability tracking to inform practice
• Contribute to athletic development and injury prevention frameworks
• Provide clear multi-disciplinary team communication

The Person

To be considered for this role, you will need to hold the following qualifications:

• BSc (Hons) in Physiotherapy (minimum 2:1)
• MSc in Physiotherapy (or equivalent)
• Membership to the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP)
• Registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)

You should have experience delivering physiotherapy support to high-level athletes, ideally within a professional development phase, with exposure to First Team environments. You are confident managing complex injuries and making clear, informed decisions in fast-paced settings, using strong clinical reasoning to return players to a higher level of performance. You understand the demands of developing players across growth and maturation, injury prevention and athletic development, and take pride in building robust, available athletes ready for the next level. You thrive in a high-performing MDT, building strong relationships and influencing across disciplines to ensure the player remains central, with stakeholders consistently aligned and informed. Experience within a Category One Academy (EPPP), First Team environments, and mentoring practitioners would be advantageous.

Equality Statement

Aston Villa Football Club celebrates diversity and embraces equal opportunities for all. We welcome applications from all candidates regardless of age, race, disability, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership, sex and religion or belief.

Safeguarding Statement

Aston Villa Football Club is fully committed to safeguarding children and adults at risk across our Club. As such, we adhere to Safer Recruitment processes and for some roles a satisfactory enhanced disclosure via the Disclosure & Barring Service may be required prior to starting in a role at the Club.