Head of Medical - 1st Team in Nailsworth

Location: Forest Green/Nailsworth, Gloucestershire

Salary Details: Competitive

Advertising End Date: 22 May 2026

About The Role

To contribute to the success and achievement of the football club. To lead and strive for excellence within the medical department and provide optimal service to all players at the Club. To provide first class manual and exercise therapy based treatments to first team players. To strive to create and lead a medical department that is viewed as the best in the division in terms of prevention and management of injury. To attend all first team games and tours as required.

Location: Eco Park Training Ground OR The New Lawn Stadium, Nailsworth. You will be expected to travel as is deemed necessary to fulfil your job requirements.

Hours of Work: 40 hours per week. Flexibility in this role is essential – ability to work irregular and unsocial hours as required. Work may be subject to change with less than 24 hours notice on occasions. Work will regularly be required, on evenings, weekends and holidays. Attendance may be required at consultant appointments/special events/dinners/tournaments.

Responsibilities

• Oversee the work of all medical staff across the first team and academy. This will involve delegation of appropriate operational tasks and daily communication regarding any injured players that they are overseeing.
• To oversee the professional development of all staff within the department, jointly setting designated SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Timed) targets for personal development and departmental progression.
• To meet with all staff under your management on a 6 weekly basis to discuss and review their SMART Target progress.
• Deliver first class physiotherapy services to all players in the first team, striving to return players from injury in the most efficient time frame possible.
• Be the ‘clinical lead’ physio in relation to all injured players. This will involve case-managing some injured players but will also require you to have input into the treatment and management plans of all injured players (who may be working with other physios).
• Work alongside the rest of the medical team to strive for best practice in all aspects of our provision.
• Implement evidence-based practice and utilise advanced clinical reasoning skills during the rehabilitation process.
• Demonstrate effective communication with all multi-disciplinary team members to ensure clarity surrounding the management of all injured players.
• Produce an injury management plan for injured players under your care. This will demonstrate the likely evolution of the injury and take account of realistic milestones in the recovery pathway.
• Produce a daily treatment plan for players under your care, this will be aligned with the injury management plan and take account of appropriate functional markers to demonstrate progress.
• To communicate clearly and effectively with the Head Coach and Sporting Director regarding the diagnosis, management plan and anticipated time frames for all injured players.
• To accurately and comprehensively complete medical notes within 24 hours of any treatment on the TrainMyAthlete database.
• To produce a comprehensive end of season injury audit report for dissemination to the Head Coach, Sporting Director and Board of Directors.
• To travel with the team and be available to provide therapy treatments to players both on the evening before and the day of the match as required.
• To attend all home matches and be present as required in the pre-match build up to a game.
• To rehabilitate / treat players at the stadium on the morning of 1st team home matches as required.
• To work in tandem with the assistant 1st team physio to be available at short notice on the day following matches to assess and treat players as required.
• Work towards designated SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Timed) targets for personal development and departmental progression in collaboration with the Performance Consultant.
• Keep a Personal Development Plan (PDP) which highlights areas for development and allows us to afford you the time and resources to work towards these objectives wherever possible.
• To meet with the Performance Consultation 6 weekly basis to discuss and review SMART Targets.
• Undertake the required training in line with league rules (ATMMiF) (this will be funded by the club).
• Take responsibility for your own continued professional development, ensuring that you attend regular courses/conferences and keeping an up to date portfolio of achievements.
• Liaise with the strength and conditioning team on a daily basis in order to have input into decisions relating to individual player availability and readiness to train.
• Work alongside the conditioning team to influence the players’ pre-activation and injury prevention routines.
• Alongside the conditioning team and the assistant 1st team physio, contribute to individualised injury prevention programmes focused on addressing relevant injury risk factors as identified following both screening and analysis of previous injury history.
• Work alongside the rest of medical and sport science team to analyse injury patterns and adjust preventative programmes accordingly in order to mitigate the risk of injury.
• To ensure all players undergo a comprehensive pre-signing medical prior to signing with the Sporting Director notified of any potential injury risks and the level of risk identified (low, moderate or high).
• Accompany players to medical consultations at short notice as required ensuring the player receives optimal care and advice at all times.
• You may at times be required to carry out additional tasks / reasonable duties not outlined in this job description.

About You

Essential Qualifications:

• BSc in Physiotherapy
• MSc (completed or working towards)
• Advanced pitch side first aid qualification (ATMMiF equivalent)
• Full driving licence and car

Essential Experience:

• A minimum of 5 Years experience in the elite sports setting.
• Evidence of developing, implementing and evaluating physiotherapy programmes for elite football players.
• Experience of working within a multi-disciplinary team in a professional sporting environment.
• An understanding of working in the professional football environment.
• Experience of developing and implementing innovative ideas and putting them into practice.
• Experience of clinically assessing, diagnosing and rehabilitating a wide range of neuromuscular and orthopaedic conditions in elite athletes.
• Experience of modifying training and rehabilitation programmes in order to address an individual’s needs, demonstrating advanced clinical reasoning skills.
• Experience of implementing profiling and screening methods for elite athletes.
• Experience of utilising injury prevention strategies in a professional sporting environment.

Essential Personal Disposition:

• Ability to communicate fluently (in English), demonstrating advanced communication skills.
• Highly motivated individual that demonstrates a proactive attitude towards service development and demonstrates a passion for working as part of an MDT in professional sport.
• Excellent problem solving and decision-making skills whilst working in pressurised situations.
• Personal integrity and the ability to invoke trust and respect from others.
• Ability to prioritise own workload and that of colleagues.
• Open minded individual with a view of adopting new practices.
• A positive attitude to information technology.
• Advanced personal commitment to continuous professional development.
• Excellent time keeping and organisational skills.

About Us

We are an equal opportunities employer and committed to ensuring that all are treated fairly and with respect, regardless of their age, disability, gender reassignment, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion and belief, sex or sexual orientation. FGR are committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children and vulnerable people and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment fully. Forest Green is looking to the future – Climate change is an existential threat, and we need to build a more sustainable world. Sustainability is at the core of everything we do at FGR. We’re on a mission to push the boundaries of what is possible in the world of sport, and beyond. Established in 1889, we’re also one of the oldest football clubs in the world. That history continues with every season and every trophy, bolstered by the support of an incredibly passionate, global fanbase. Those moments are only made possible with the right people; those who show courage, tenacity, ambition, dedication to their community, and independent thought. As the world’s first vegan football club, doing things differently is a way of life. We’re looking for like-minded people that can help create the future our planet needs. Let’s change the game.

What's in it for you...

• Healthcare plan, life assurance and generous pension contribution
• Volunteering day
• Hybrid working
• Various company discounts (including shops, days out and events)
• Holiday of 25 days (plus bank holidays) & ability to buy/sell days
• Cycle to work scheme, car pooling and onsite parking available
• As a valued member of the team you will be supporting the Group Environmental policy and its associated targets to make the Green Britain Group net carbon neutral by 2025.

Flexibility statement: The fast moving nature of the company's business means that from time to time you may be asked to perform duties or tasks outside of your original job description on an ad hoc basis. This allows the company to use its people in the best possible way at all times and helps the employees to make their contribution in a changing environment.