Head of Academy Medicine and Physical Performance

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 a Head of Academy Medicine and Physical Performance to join the Academy Medicine and 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.

We’re looking for a driven professional to lead the delivery of our Medicine & Physical Performance Programme for all Academy players.

In this role, you'll oversee a multidisciplinary team across key areas including sports science, physiotherapy, and medical services—ensuring a high-performance environment that supports player development and wellbeing.

You’ll also provide strategic oversight for sports psychology, nutrition, and physical performance for the Women’s Senior Team and Pre-Academy provision.

This is a unique opportunity to shape the future of elite athletes in a collaborative, forward-thinking environment.

Key Role Responsibilities:
• Lead the design, delivery, and continuous improvement of medical and physical performance programmes for all Academy players (ages 9–21).
• Coordinate injury management, rehabilitation, and recovery pathways, including surgical referrals and return-to-play protocols.
• Oversee physiological and physical testing, screening, and performance monitoring, ensuring age-appropriate delivery and alignment to Academy performance goals.
• Manage the provision of sports science, nutrition, clinical psychology, and physiotherapy across the Academy, with matrix support to the Women’s Senior Team and Pre-Academy.
• Ensure full compliance with Cat 1 Academy audit standards, including documentation, data tracking, and reporting (e.g., injury surveillance, player reviews, PDRs).
• Coordinate medical screening, insurance paperwork, and pre-signing assessments in collaboration with internal and external stakeholders.
• Maintain high standards of record keeping and ensure GDPR compliance in the management of all medical and performance data.
• Support and mentor staff through CPD planning, 1:1 reviews, in-service training, and performance appraisals.
• Manage department budgets, equipment procurement, maintenance, and medical provision for training and matchday environments.
• Lead safeguarding and risk management for medical issues, including cases with potential legal implications.
• Collaborate closely with parents/guardians, coaches, consultants, the Academy doctor, and the wider MDT to ensure holistic support for every player.
• Represent the Club at FA, League, and professional development meetings as required.
• Maintain strong relationships with academic and research partners, including Derby University, to ensure evidence-based practice.

Essential personal characteristics and experience:
• Recent and relevant professional experience in a sports performance environment, including managerial experience in a sports science environment
• Documented evidence of CPD
• Previous post-graduate experience in professional sport
• Previous people management or supervisory experience
• Previous experience of operating in a decision-making capacity within a clinical setting
• Good understanding of sporting injuries and how common sports injuries are avoided
• Strong decision-making skills
• Understanding of current clinical guidelines and relevant legislation
• Knowledge of the Data Protection Act
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to communicate effectively across all levels
• Ability to organise, schedule and adapt work tasks to meet conflicting deadlines and respond to changing situations
• Ability to respond calmly and appropriately when injuries are sustained during games or training sessions
• Experience in professional football is desirable
• Experience working in a Category One Academy is desirable

Qualifications:
Essential
• Degree in Physiotherapy
• Member of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (MCSP)
• Member of the Health Care Professions Council (HCPC)
• FA Level 5 Advanced Trauma Medical Management in Football (ATMMiF) or equivalent (hold or willing to obtain as soon as possible)
•

Desirable
• Registered with the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Update Service
• Postgraduate qualification in Physiotherapy

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, 17th 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: 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, 17th 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.