JOB TITLE: Head of Performance Science – Women’s
LOCATION: Chelsea FC Training Ground, Cobham and Stamford Bridge Stadium. Match day travel as required.
JOB TYPE: Full time, hours required to complete the role
DIRECT REPORTS: Physical Preparation Coaches x 3, Nutritionist and catering staff.
About the Role
The role is to lead the performance science team to deliver physical performance programmes creating players who can train intensely, recovery quickly, compete physically with the best and repeat the demands of the competition schedule. The role will lead the delivery of physical programming on a group and individual level having a high aptitude and understanding of the requirements of football and the ability to deliver at a world class level both on the pitch and in the gym.
About Chelsea Football Club’s Performance Support Team
We want to deliver Football Performance Sciences and Physical Performance differently. To create and be an integrated, open-minded and performance support focused team behind the team. We seek to empower our staff while driving and maintaining standards that are aligned with our ambitions.
We aim to have something that everyone wants to ‘steal’, being the envy of other performance support departments not only within football but other sporting organisations across the globe. Through the way we are structured, integrated, collaborative and focussed on moving the performance dial forward with a targeted and objective approach to athletic and football development.
This role is a key appointment that gives us the best chance of sustainable success and is a key appointment in establishing best in class physical preparation support that will evolve to be the envy of other teams and organisations.
Your Skills, Experiences and Personal Traits
The successful candidate will have industry recognised qualifications in a combination of sports science, physical preparation and strength and conditioning along with a higher-level degree in sports science or related discipline. Additionally, the successful candidate will have 10 or more years' experience in an elite high-performance sport environment, specifically in football and ideally with experience in a world class environment beyond football. Experience of working closely with technical coaches and having worked directly with female athletes may be beneficial.
We are looking for a leader in their field who will role model behaviours to create followship and look to lead through influence. Will create a safe space for all to step up and speak up and be able to articulate a consistent and aligned philosophy and vision. Someone who is a stickler for standards, recognising which ones are non-negotiable in the quest for us to achieve our ambitions.
The successful candidate will bring extensive experience delivering innovative but practical solutions in elite sporting environments and High-Performance programme delivery with elite athletes. Football/contextual understanding is essential but will equally be comfortable across all realms of physical performance including performance development, periodisation on and off pitch, injury prevention, return to play, recovery, monitoring and profiling.
As a person you will be honest and full of integrity, engaging with people from all different backgrounds and experiences whilst bringing your own perspective to the discussion. Seeing collaboration as a tool to gain competitive advantage, you will be generous in sharing with, and listening to, others, bringing a lens of ‘we not me’. You will be able to build strong and meaningful relationships with wider stakeholders, both internally and externally, collaborating with coaches and creating an effective MDT environment while being comfortable having the difficult conversations.
At Chelsea we recognise that the diversity of our people is one of our greatest strengths and we are taking positive action to ensure our existing colleagues and job applicants can fully be themselves and bring their own unique experiences and perspectives to Chelsea FC. This means giving full and fair consideration to all applicants regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership, and pregnancy and maternity.
If you need reasonable adjustments made to the recruitment process, please reach out to your recruiter, who will be able to advise and support you.
Chelsea FC is fully committed to ensuring the safety and well-being of all children, young people and adults at risk (vulnerable groups). We therefore require all successful applicants to complete a DBS Check prior to starting employment. Depending on the role, successful applicants may also be required to undergo other child protection screening where appropriate.
This Job Description is not intended to be exhaustive; the duties and responsibilities may therefore vary over time according to the changing needs of the Club.
