Lead Psychologist (Boys Academy) in Birmingham

Lead Psychologist (Boys Academy)

Permanent

Job Description

The Department

Our Boys Academy Department is proud to have achieved the prestigious Category One Academy status which reflects our commitment to delivering excellence across all areas of youth football including coaching, education, training, and facilities.

To continue to deliver our ambitious plans for nurturing, encouraging and developing talent at this level, we have an exciting opportunity for a self‑motivated and proactive Psychologist to join our Boys Academy Performance Psychology Team.

The Role

Working as a Lead Psychologist you will deliver and support the management of a Football Performance Psychology programme for our Boys Academy, specifically with a focus on the U21 squad and players transitioning across squads within the Professional Development Phase.

You will ensure that all players have individual development programmes based on psychological profiling, observations and discussions with players and staff. You will work closely with the Head of Technical and Player Development to provide psychological support to players on the elite player pathway.

Working closely with the Head of Coach Development, you will devise and lead on the Psychology Coach Development programme for coaches across the Academy, including the delivery of Continued Professional Development (CPD) sessions, training support and the creation of educational resources. You will also lead the delivery of all‑staff CPD sessions and multidisciplinary team (MDT) workshops.

You will collaborate with the MDT to enhance the wellbeing and performance of players in the Academy. You will work closely with the Academy Medical and Sport Science Team and play a vital role in supporting rehabilitation programmes and the management of injured players. You will also take a leading role in driving and reinforcing the Academy Culture within our Culture Working Group.

For further information about the Role, please see the Role Profile.

The Person

This is an opportunity to play a key role in the development of our Boys Academy players, supporting them to development to thrive in an elite environment and reach their maximum potential. We are seeking a professional and experienced Psychologist; you will need to hold the following:

• BSc in Psychology or equivalent
• MSc in Sport and Exercise Psychology or equivalent
• British Psychological Society (BPS) accreditation or Chartered Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences (CASES) accreditation
• Registered with the Health Care Professions Council (HCPC) or in the final stages of your training with the BPS or CASES.

You must have demonstrable experience of working in a Category 1 Academy and have strong knowledge of the Elite Player Performance Plan (expectations of a Category 1 Academy), ideally with experience in delivering a psychology coach development programme.

Utilising excellent communication skills which are clear, accurate and engaging, you must have the ability to build rapport and strong professional relationships with a wide range of stakeholders whilst maintaining high professional standards and confidentiality at all times.

Given the nature of this role, you will be able to work flexibly including evenings, weekends and matchdays as and when required in line with the Boys Academy schedule.

Why Join Us?

There has never been a better time to join Aston Villa Football Club. Our drive to succeed is visible on the global stage, we are building a family ethos and culture to be proud of, and realising our ambitious plans for the expansion and improvement of our world‑class facilities. If you are already excited by this challenge and want to play your part in our historic Club, then you’ll be pleased to hear about our amazing staff benefits you’ll receive whilst working for us! See our Staff Benefits booklet to find out more.