1st Team Head of Performance (Women)

About the Role

The role provides strategic leadership across the medical, rehabilitation and physical development functions within the women's team. It works closely with the Head Coach, coaching, medical, analysis and operations teams, and leads the performance team to develop and implement an integrated performance strategy. The role leads performance provision for the First Team while ensuring clear communication and alignment between the medical and physical development departments. A key focus is establishing a high-performance culture and environment that prioritises player availability, physical development and performance while maintaining a player-centred approach to individual needs and development.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the design, implementation and review of the club's annual performance strategy, ensuring alignment with football objectives and player development priorities.
• Provide strategic oversight of performance services for the First Team, including medical, physical development and nutrition, and develop an integrated approach across physical development, medical, rehabilitation and football performance that promotes best practice in women's football.
• Work closely with the Physical Development Coach to ensure physical preparation reflects the demands of the team's playing style and competition level.
• Create and maintain clear processes for sharing medical and performance information with the Head Coach to support training and selection decisions, and oversee monitoring and reporting of performance, wellness, training load and injury data to support evidence-based decision making.
• Line manage performance department staff, supporting ongoing professional development, and conduct regular performance reviews, objective setting and professional development planning.
• Work closely with the Lead Physio and wider medical team to ensure high standards of player care and wellbeing, promote effective communication between Medical, Physical Development, Coaching and Analysis, and ensure appropriate communication between medical staff coaching staff and players regarding player availability and restrictions.
• Serve as an active member of the Women's Management Team (WMT), contributing to the development of departmental strategy, standards and culture, and contribute to staff meetings, planning meetings and multidisciplinary player reviews as directed by the Head Coach.
• Establish effective processes for injury prevention, assessment, treatment, rehabilitation and return to play, and support the development and implementation of return-to-training and return-to-play protocols.
• Ensure appropriate medical records, screening data and performance information are maintained in line with club policies and professional standards, and oversee the effective delivery of physical preparation programmes during pre-season, in-season and transition periods.
• Ensure all performance practices comply with relevant club policies, professional standards, Football Association regulations, Women's National League requirements and any future competition regulations.

Required Experience & Qualifications

• Hold an undergraduate degree in Sports Science, Strength & Conditioning, or a closely related field.
• Have a Professional Accreditation from a recognised body (e.g., UKSCA, NSCA-CSCS, or BASES).
• Have the FA Introduction to First Aid in Football certificate (valid and in date).
• Have the FA Safeguarding Certificate (valid and in date).
• Have excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build positive relationships with players, colleagues and key stakeholders.
• Have experience managing teams of people towards desired strategic outcomes.
• Have experience working within elite female sports programmes and/or elite football environments.
• Show an ability to work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary team, whilst also working independently when required.
• Demonstrate excellent organisational skills, with strong attention to detail and consistently high professional standards.
• Have the ability to appropriately challenge, support, and motivate colleagues and players.

Preferred Skills

• Master's degree in Sports Science, Strength & Conditioning, or a closely related field.
• Have their UEFA B Licence (or currently working towards).
• Demonstrate experience working with elite female footballers.
• Have experience using HUDL/WIMU, Kitman Labs, Teamworks.
• Have the ability to make effective decisions under pressure.
• Demonstrate resilience, accountability and ownership in challenging situations.

Workplace

• Working commitment: 3.5 days (28 hours) per week.

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