Lead Sports Scientist & Fitness Coach
Job role insights
Date posted
July 01, 2023
Closing date
Hiring location
Offered salary
Experience
Minimum Qualification
Degree
Quantity
Person
Description
Department Management
Programme Management
Professional Development
Phase Responsibilities
- Assist HoP with production, implementation, and monitoring of the Performance Department Plan in line with the Academy Performance Plan and EPP requirements.
- In collaboration with HoP set, monitor, and review Academy Performance Department targets as it pertains to Sport Science intervention and data insights (including effective data collection, visualisation and informed decision making.
- Support the generation of ongoing training metrics to provide regular feedback, monitor player progress, and support programme adjustment and individualisation.
- Line-manage a selection of Sport Science staff (part and full-time) and placement students, including annual appraisals, monitoring of job descriptions and maintenance of up-to-date qualifications, with support of the HoP.
- Develop a close working relationship with the Data Insights department to optimise impact of sport science contribution to Academy decision making and maximise support.
- Under direction from the HoP, contribute to the implementation of research projects to improve S&C practice for the enhancement of academy players.
- Manage sport science data collection to ensure compliance with GDPR and correct processes and procedures are maintained.
- Support the development of a high-performance environment, attitudes and behaviours in players and staff.
- Ensure all staff in the relevant discipline understand and can clearly convey the philosophy, plans and targets as directed by HoP.
- Collaborate within the SSM team as well as the wider multi-disciplinary team to continually seek evidence and good explanations to justify training practices.
- Support, where required, Academy events including inductions and parent workshops.
- Assist HoP with the recruitment process of new Academy Performance Department staff.
- Assist HoP with Performance Department administrative duties.
Programme Management
- Drive improvements in inter-disciplinary working between the Sport Science and Medical department and all other academy department on a continuous basis.
- Present sport science feedback to multi-disciplinary teams in a way that facilitates knowledge transfer and effective discussion and decision making.
- Attend identified multi-disciplinary meetings on a weekly basis, as well as any additional such meetings required to fulfil the role.
- Co-ordinate with staff across age groups and up to 1st team to appropriately manage the training load of players transitioning between squads.
- Ensure the monitoring of loan player data monitoring and communication.
- Design and evaluate physical and physiological assessment protocols implemented with trialists.
Professional Development
- Drive improved Sport Science support within the Performance Department supporting all relevant members including fitness coaches, sport scientists, rehabilitators, physiotherapists, and placement students.
- Contribute to innovation and support the development of staff within the multi-disciplinary team as it relates to sport science understanding and integration.
- Present sport science feedback to players in a way that supports understanding of performance and progression in relation to training goals and performance expectations.
- Undertake personal continued professional development to ensure all mandatory qualifications are up to date, as well as ensuring critical engagement with progressions in industry practice.
Phase Responsibilities
- Lead the design, delivery and monitoring of individualised strength and conditioning programmes for the U18 squad principally directed at enhancing performance and reducing injury risk.
- Design and deliver pitch-based football specific fitness exercises and sessions that addresses the integration of technical and physical progression and overall workload management based on each player’s individual’s development plan and in collaboration with physiotherapists, football and fitness coaches.
- Support matchday performance including logistics, delivery of warm-ups, monitoring of players physical performance during the match, and post-match conditioning for substitutes.
- Utilise available technology (including but not limited to GPS, accelerometers, cable potentiometers, force plates and other force transducers) to monitor individual players performance and progression and report data with meaningful insights, in compliance with GDPR.
- Provide insights regarding player progression, group and individual performance, and coaching session outcomes with a view to motivating individuals, feeding back on prior actions and informing decision making.
- Provide insights to support the development of 6-weekly players targets and to inform processes of recruitment and succession planning.
- Demonstrate programming content that reflects key aspects of programme philosophy including, but not limited to, player autonomy, honesty, hard work and humility.
- Support the development of an environment that cultivates challenges and fosters growth and progression.
- Build effective working relationships with players to support buy-in and a collaborative view of performance development.
- Inform the MDT to support decision making regarding programme scheduling such as to optimise performance, manage injury risk, and support ongoing training progression and player development.
- Work collaboratively with medical staff to support programming and delivery, both in the gym and on the field, for players returning from injury.
- Monitor and report on trialists to support recruitment decision making.
- Attend identified multi-disciplinary meetings on a weekly basis, as well as any additional such meetings required to fulfil the role.
Skills
- Coaching
- Management
- Methodical
- Development
