About Us:

Charlton Athletic Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Charlton, south-east London. The club was founded on June 9th, 1905 and has a very storied history from rising to the top-flight of English Football in the 1930s (First Division) and again in the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s, to winning the FA Cup in 1947 and to leaving their Valley home in the mid-1980s only to make an impassioned return in 1992. Historically, the women's team played under Charlton Athletic from 2000 to 2007 but were released to become an independently run team in 2007 following the men's team's relegation from the Premier League.

The women's team were originally formed as a non-professional team in 1991 and were highly successful in the early 2000s winning The FA Cup, the League Cup, and the Charity Shield, as well as coming runners-up in the top division in multiple seasons. In February 2021, the club acquired the Charlton Athletic Women's team, turning the team full-time professional, and integrating them to become one club again.

Currently, our men's first team competes in League One, the third tier of English football, and our women's team competes in the Women’s Championship, the second highest division of women's football in England. At Charlton, we are ‘one club’ and can be truly described as a ‘family club’.

Role Description:

The role holder will oversee the delivery of an aligned MDT approach to the management of athletic development, considering injury management, player load & development, all aspects of mental performance and all analysis services across the club.

Key Responsibilities:

• Injury management and injury prevention:Co-ordinate the injury management and medical status of all 1st team players, whilst reducing the risk of injury occurrence within the 1st team with the development of appropriate screening and injury prevention strategies. These strategies will be adopted across the Women’s Team and Academy.


• Rehabilitation:Facilitate evidence-based protocols for return to full function of 1st team players and allow them to compete at the highest level while minimising the risk of reoccurrence of injury.


• Player load & development:Manage and lead the development of acute/chronic athletic development ensuring injury risk management & performance enhancement are all part of the same process throughout the football club.


• Performance Analysis & Sport Psychology: Manage and lead data, analysis, and psychology teams to ensure the football club delivers a high-quality service to all its coaches and players.


• To ensure the club is at the cutting edge with respect to research & innovation: To lead a strategy that ensures the club continues to challenge itself in all areas to stay ahead of the competition.


• To maintain detailed records:Ensure all therapy care and performance data is appropriately housed in accordance with relevant legislation, policies, and procedures.


• To create and implement systems, guidelines, and methodologies:To evaluate the success of the performance MDT.


• To manage the budget: For all performance services, ensuring the football club maximises spend in an efficient way that allows each department to be high performing in all areas.

Education/Qualifications/Training:

• An undergraduate degree in a related field


• A postgraduate degree in a related field


• A minimum of 10 years’ experience working in elite sport

Abilities/Skills/Knowledge:

Essential

• An extensive knowledge of athletic development and injury management in elite sports medicine/science.


• An extensive knowledge of medical screening/injury profiling in elite sporting populations.


• Experience in a similar leadership position.


• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills – the ability to communicate effectively with people, challenge staff performance, standards, values & behaviours.


• Be able to work to tight deadlines & be flexible in the expected working pattern.


• Have facilitation skills, including the ability to manage and resolve tensions, disputes, and conflicts.


• Ability to establish relationships and influence key stakeholder groups.


• Managing change and embedding new ways of working.


• Delegation and holding others to account.


• A great ability to reflect on current working practice and change when indicated.


• To lead and inspire by example.


• Taking brave decisions after bold but thought through decision making processes.


• Being able to demonstrate passion and enthusiasm for your work but maintain a high degree of humility in its delivery and when dealing with others.

​Desirable

• Show an ability to communicate in the correct manner to all key stakeholders.


• Understand the requirements of first team football and the associated demands.


• 5yrs previous experience within a similar role.