First Team Lead Physiotherapist in Exeter

As an integral part of our dynamic team, you will play a crucial role in upholding our organization's commitment to sustainability. Regardless of your specific role in marketing, HR, procurement, or any other department, we expect all employees to actively embrace and adhere to our sustainability policies. Your dedication to environmentally conscious practices, resource efficiency, and ethical considerations will contribute to our collective efforts in fostering a responsible and sustainable workplace.

Exeter City Football Club seeks to ensure the safety, safeguarding and wellbeing of all children, young people and adults at risk who engage in its activities. We are seeking an experienced, highly motivated and progressive First Team Lead Physiotherapist to lead the delivery of elite physiotherapy services within a high-performance football environment. The successful candidate will be responsible for the assessment, diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation and return-to-play management of first-team players, while providing leadership across the medical team.

Who are we? Exeter City Football Club is a special club with over 20 years of Supporters’ Trust ownership something we are very proud of. Our ownership model places our supporters and community engagement at the forefront of everything we do and we are proud to have a special place in the heart of the community. Trust ownership is reflected in our commitment to balancing on-field success with long-term sustainability and we have a remarkable track record of nurturing talent through our Academy, promoting players to the first team, and maximising their performance.

In addition to the success of our Academy and men’s team, Exeter City Women successfully transitioned into being fully managed by the Club in 2024 and were promoted to the third tier of women’s football in the FA Women’s National League Southern Premier Division in 2024.

Culture: We recognise the advantages of having a diverse workforce with a broad range of skills, diversity of experiences and perspectives and we embrace the creativity and innovation this brings. We pride ourselves on having an inclusive culture and a workplace that brings opportunity, development and growth. We embrace a culture of accountability where we set clear expectations and goals, open lines of communication and strong leadership.

Role: This is an exciting opportunity to lead the delivery of a high-performance medical service for the first team, with a primary focus on maximising player availability, health and performance. Overseeing the assessment, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of injuries, ensuring evidence-based return to train and return to play processes form part of this role.

As First Team Lead Physiotherapist you will be responsible for developing and implementing injury prevention, player monitoring, recovery and performance support strategies, working collaboratively with coaching, sports science, strength & conditioning, and medical staff. Providing daily medical support at training sessions and fixtures, including pitch-side cover, emergency medical planning, and player care during travel and congested fixture schedules.

Leading the collection and analysis of medical and performance data to inform decision-making, monitoring key performance indicators and providing regular reporting on squad health and injury trends. Support player recruitment through medical screening and due diligence, while managing and developing the medical team to ensure the highest standards of practice, continuous improvement, and alignment across first-team and academy pathways.

Maintaining effective communication with players, coaches and multidisciplinary staff regarding injury status, rehabilitation progress and player availability is critical. Another critical element is compliance with all relevant clinical governance standards, maintaining accurate medical records, coordinating specialist referrals and completing medical administration.

This is a full-time position on a fixed term, 2 year contract. Prior to commencing work a right to work document(s) must be presented and references and an enhanced DBS Check will need to be undertaken. Please see our website for the Job Description and Person Specification. If you wish to apply for this position please follow the link and apply via our HR platform, People HR. Only completed applications that are submitted through People HR will be accepted. Any applications after the closing date will not be accepted. The closing date is: 13th June 2026. Interview date: W/C 15th & 22nd June 2026. All candidates will require a DBS Check and must be able to prove their eligibility to work within the UK. ECFC is an equal opportunities employer and committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and young people and expects all staff and employees to share this commitment.