Head of Medical and Performance Huddersfield Town AFC Job Description Post TitleHead of Medical[...]

First Team Medical and Performance department, the Canalside Training Centre. Reports to Sporting Director.

Purpose of the Role

The post holder will lead and manage the Club’s Medical and Performance departments for the First Team, ensuring that working practices, processes, and standards are aligned to the Club’s football identity and performance objectives. The role will be responsible for driving high standards across player availability, rehabilitation, physical performance, recovery, and return-to-play processes, while supporting the delivery of a physically robust squad capable of sustaining the demands of the Club’s playing style. The post holder will work closely with the Sporting Director, Head Coach, and wider football staff to ensure alignment and collaboration across Medical, Performance, Coaching, Player Recruitment, and Football Operations.

Internal Contacts

• Sporting Director
• Head Coach
• Football Administration Manager
• Medical and Performance Team
• Coaching Team
• Staff and Managers throughout the organisation

External Contacts

• Other Clubs’ Medical and Performance Staff
• Premier League and English Football League
• Football Association (FA)
• League Managers Association (LMA)

Key Performance Indicators

The post holder will:

• Maximise player availability throughout the season.
• Use rehabilitation processes consistently returning players to training and competition in an optimal physical condition.
• Ensure physical performance practices align to the demands of the Club’s playing identity.
• Develop effective monitoring and management of player loading, recovery, and physical outputs.
• Improve collaboration and communication across Medical, Performance, and Coaching staff.
• Drive clear and consistent medical and physical input into player recruitment and return-to-play decision making.
• Establish and maintain high standards, behaviours, and accountability across the department.

Role Specific Responsibilities

Leading on First Team Medical and Performance Strategies

The post holder will:

• Lead and manage the effective running of the First Team Medical and Performance departments.
• Drive consistent standards and working practices across all areas of the Medical and Performance departments.
• Line manage all members of the First Team Medical and Performance staff, providing leadership, direction, and accountability across the department.
• Develop greater alignment and collaboration across Medical, Performance, Coaching, and wider Football Operations staff.
• Support the development of a physically robust squad capable of sustaining the demands of the Club’s playing style.
• Provide clear and concise communication to the Sporting Director, Head Coach, and key stakeholders regarding player availability, physical readiness, and injury prognosis.
• Ensure medical and physical performance information is communicated clearly and appropriately to support practical football decision-making across the Club.
• Lead regular planning and review meetings with Medical and Performance staff.
• Ensure return-to-play processes reflect the physical and tactical demands of First Team football.
• Provide day-to-day physiotherapy and performance support services to the Club’s First Team, including training sessions and both home and away fixtures where required.
• Work closely with the Sporting Director and Player Recruitment staff to provide medical and physical performance input on potential signings and player due diligence processes.
• Plan and manage the Medical and Performance budget for the First Team.
• Use performance, availability and injury data to support decision making and continuous improvement across the department.
• Work with the Sporting Director and key stakeholders to develop and review performance-related objectives for all members of the First Team Medical and Performance departments, in line with the annual Performance Development Plan (PDP) process, ensuring these align with wider departmental and Club goals, are regularly reviewed and recorded appropriately.
• Identify areas for staff development and promote continuous professional development across the department.
• Promote a proactive, collaborative, and accountable culture across Medical and Performance staff, in line with the Club’s ‘Everything Together’ ethos and associated values.
• Work with the Human Resources team and other key stakeholders in relation to the recruitment, development, and retention of staff.
• Ensure Service Level Agreements are in place each season in relation to external or third-party medical and performance services, working alongside the Chief Financial Officer and Head of HR and EDI as required, to ensure compliance with UK legislation including IR35.
• Execute additional tasks as required to meet the Club’s changing priorities.

This job description is not intended to be exhaustive, and the post holder will also be required to undertake any other duties as required by the Sporting Director and/or other senior leaders within the Club.