Academy Physiotherapist

Organisation: Derby County Football Club
Salary: Competetive
Location: Derby
Contract type: Permanent (Full time)
Closing date: 17 August 2025
Job Description: Derby County are seeking to recruit an Academy Physiotherapist to join the Academy Medicine and Physical Performance department at Moor Farm Training Centre.

Working for Derby County Football Club offers a unique opportunity to be part of one of England’s most historic and passionately supported clubs. With a proud legacy, a dedicated fan base, and an exciting vision for the future, Derby County offers a dynamic and rewarding work environment both on and off the pitch. Whether you're joining the team in coaching, administration, marketing, or operations, you'll be contributing to a culture rooted in ambition, community, and progress. Employees benefit from a collaborative work environment and opportunities for professional development.

The successful candidate will be responsible for leading the assessment, treatment, and rehabilitation of the Youth Development Phases (YDP) and Foundation Phase (FP) and support the PDP Phase and the department where directed.
You will also assist the Head of Academy Medicine and Physical Performance to develop, organise, coordinate and implement the treatment and rehabilitation, medical screening and medical / health education programmes for the U9-U21 Academy players – or any other duties as part of the Academy Performance Plan (APP).
Key Role Responsibilities:
• To be involved in all medical care and health-related matters relating to all Academy players, specifically U9-U16 – including but not limited to all front facing delivery for training and match day for the YDP/FP Phase and guidance to “pre-acad” where required.
• To support the Head of Academy Medicine and Physical Performance and PDP Phase with audit, administration and compliance requirements.
• To assist in assessing and treating Academy players under direction where required. This includes developing, organizing, and implementing treatment and rehabilitation programmes, especially for U9-U16.
• To ensure the upkeep and security of the academy's medical records.
• To assist in completing and securing all medical insurance documentation relating to the U9 - U16 Academy players, including trialist players, through liaising with the Head of Academy Medicine and Physical Performance.
• To ensure that details of all injuries suffered by Academy Players and rehabilitation are recorded and provided to the League and the FA so that the national audit of injury and rehabilitation may be maintained.
• To record the progress and development of each Academy Player under the Medicine and Physical Performance Programme (including the results of tests, full details of injuries, the treatment thereof, and the length and period of rehabilitation) in the Performance Review and Performance Clock.
• To assist the Head of Academy Medicine and Physical Performance and Academy Doctor in coordinating and implementing Fitness to Participate medicals for all new Academy players, including completing all relevant documentation by parents/guardians.
• To assist in coordinating the medical screening for those Academy players (in close conjunction with the Head of Academy Medicine and Physical Performance as designated under the F.A / PFA sponsored scheme as part of the pre-signing medical. This will involve close liaison with the Head of Academy Medicine and Physical Performance, Team Doctors, and the relevant Consultants / Specialists. Then, the results will be interpreted, and the board will receive a pre-signing medical screening report on each player.
• Communicate daily with your age group MDT and the wider MDT.
• To assist in constructing injury profiles on all Academy players and actively implement injury prevention strategies in the form of “pre-habilitation”.
• Monitor longitudinal trends such as weight, body fat, and composition and implement strategies to reach desirable levels for Academy players.
• To organise and deliver medical / health education programmes of training for all Academy players and staff.
• To coordinate and provide (where appropriate) health / medical education briefings for all Academy players’ parents/guardians.
• To be involved in the organisation and conduction of “in service” medical training for Academy coaching and medical staff.
• To support all audits for compliance and player reviews. Along with any other relevant administration required by the Head of the Academy of Medicine and Physical Performance.
• To attend briefings, courses and seminars, as able or as required by the Club, The Premier League, and The Football League and commit to undertake Continued Professional Development.
• In addition to the above, it is expected that there will be a continual attempt to keep abreast of current research and the latest developments in the treatment and prevention of injuries to provide a high duty of care to all playing staff.
• To demonstrate consistently high standards of behaviour and to operate within the parameters of the Laws of the Game, the Rules of the Football Association or the Rules of the FA Premier League.
• To support the delivery and coverage of medical provision across the Academy as directed by the Head of Academy Medicine and Physical Performance.
• General
• To be responsible for the health, safety and welfare of customers and colleagues, complying with health and safety guidance and policy.
• Continuously work to maintain, embed and improve the club’s safeguarding provision, ensuring the highest standards for safeguarding children and adults at risk.
• To uphold and promote organisational policies and procedures, promoting those specifically applicable to this area of work and also including equality, diversity and inclusion.
• To present and promote an appropriate public image in representing the organisation.
• To undertake any other duties as may reasonably be required commensurate with the post.

Personal characteristics and experience:
• Knowledge and experience of working in a professional sports performance setting (desirable).
• Knowledge and experience in clinical professional sports performance work (desirable).
• Documented CPD (desirable).
• Post-graduate professional sports experience (desirable).
• Resilient, self-motivated and driven
• Assertive and confident
• Team player with the ability to carry out independent work
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment
• Committed to high standards

Qualifications:
Essential
• Degree in Physiotherapy or equivalent
• Membership to the Chartered Society of Physiotherapists (CSP)
• Membership to the Health Professions Council (HPC)

Desirable
• Registered with the Disclose and Barring Service (DBS) Update Service

Salary is competitive, dependent on experience.

This is a full-time role, and due to the demands of professional football, there is a requirement for weekend and evening work, as well as regular national travel.

Who are Derby County…

Derby County Football Club, established in 1884, is one of the founder members of the English Football League and has a rich and varied history, including two First Division titles in 1972 and 1975 and an FA Cup success in 1946. The club are currently playing in the Sky Bet Championship, the second tier of English Football following their promotion from League One in the 2023/24 season and is under the management of Head Coach John Eustace. The club also boasts a successful and respected Category One Academy, a status which has been held since 2014, and a Women’s side competing in the FA Women’s National League Northern Premier Division. Derby County recently embarked on an exciting new era following the change in ownership to Clowes Developments (UK) Limited, in the summer of 2022. Our track record of producing talent is outstanding, and we intend to protect that proud legacy, investing in key roles within the club to build on the foundations in place for success.

Everything we do as a Club is built around the three pillars of stability, integrity and progress. Our core values are:

• We are proud of who we are and what we do
• We are positive, inspired and passionate
• We are ambitious and driven
• We are prepared, honest and humble
• We are the heartbeat of our community
• We are the club of opportunity

Derby County employee benefits include:

• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• Two complimentary staff season tickets
• Two complimentary staff away memberships, subject to availability
• 20% discount at DCFC Megastore
• Company Pension with Aviva
• Discounts with select Club partners and sponsors
• Healthshield Cash Health Plan to support employee health and well-being and Perks for great deals and discounts
• Participating in our employee forum, ‘The Herd’ and Staff Events!
• Training and development opportunities
• Access to programmes and volunteering opportunities with Derby County Community Trust
• Subsidised lunchtime meals at Moor Farm

How to apply…

Derby County Football Club is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk, and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment.
As part of the Club's commitment to providing a safe environment for children and young people, applicants should be aware that this post is subject to an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Criminal Record Check.

Derby County Football Club is an Inclusive Club for all and is committed to Equality and Diversity.

To apply for this role, please complete an application form, which can be found HERE.

Alternatively, please copy and paste - http://thera.ms/apply - to your chosen browser.

More information can be found at https://www.dcfc.co.uk/page/jobsandcareers

The closing date for receipt of applications is Sunday 17 August 2025. We reserve the right to close the vacancy early.

Strictly no agencies please.

Derby County Football Club’s Job Applicant Privacy Policy can be found at dcfc.co.uk.
How to apply: How to apply… Derby County Football Club is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk, and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. As part of the Club's commitment to providing a safe environment for children and young people, applicants should be aware that this post is subject to an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Criminal Record Check. Derby County Football Club is an Inclusive Club for all and is committed to Equality and Diversity. To apply for this role, please complete an application form, which can be found HERE. Alternatively, please copy and paste - http://thera.ms/apply - to your chosen browser. More information can be found at https://www.dcfc.co.uk/page/jobsandcareers The closing date for receipt of applications is Sunday 17 August 2025. We reserve the right to close the vacancy early. Strictly no agencies please. Derby County Football Club’s Job Applicant Privacy Policy can be found at dcfc.co.uk.