1st Team Head of Physical Performance

Closing Date of Applications – 04/05/2025

Our Story

Manchester City is an English Premier League club whose roots began in East Manchester. From its first incarnation as St Mark’s West Gorton in 1880, the club became Manchester City FC in 1894. Behind each title lies emotion, moments and memories that resonate with millions of supporters around the world. Manchester City fans are known for their commitment and togetherness, as a Club that fights to the end.

Our Winning Team

Manchester City Football Club’s Performance Team aim to create engaging performance environments that maximise team and individual potential. This post will contribute to MCFC success by leading the 1st Team Physical Performance team to provide evidence informed Sport Science & Strength & Conditioning support to produce performances of high skill at high intensity to compete for all major trophies.

The role will provide team leadership, management, quality assurance, and mentoring for a team of Sport Science and Strength & Conditioning practitioners working collaboratively with coaches, players, and the wider multidisciplinary performance team to provide world class performance support in achieving the club’s mission.

The 1st Team Head of Physical Performance will deliver world class physical performance support on and off pitch to optimise team and player physical performance, minimise risk of injury, and enable the delivery of the MCFC game model consistently throughout the season across all competitions.

The successful candidate will be required to work flexible hours.

This is Your City

As part of our team, you will be entitled to 26 days annual leave plus an additional day off for your birthday, private healthcare and a simply health cash plan, an annual discretionary bonus, plus a range of partnership and lifestyle discounts. 

Your Impact

1. Leadership & Management

• Lead and manage the ongoing planning, delivery, and review of a proactive and innovative approach to optimising player physical performance working in collaboration with other MCFC 1st Team Performance Services.
• Supervise & oversee the ongoing planning, delivery, and review of proactive and innovative injury rehab focussed strength & conditioning practices, ensuring an integrated MDT approach that optimises return to play outcomes in partnership with coaches, players, and the wider MDT.
• Lead & line manage the MCFC 1st Team Physical Performance practitioners in aligned with the  MCFC Performance strategy to ensure the MCFC 1st Team programme is supported with world  class sport science & strength & conditioning.
• As a key member of 1st Team Performance Management, proactively contribute to the 1st Team Performance Leadership Team’s collective approach to delivering world class integrated performance support, role modelling an open, collaborative, and psychologically informed approach to your work.
• Working with the 1st Team Director of Performance develop and implement practitioner development plans and ongoing learning opportunities that support the growth and development of a world class Physical Performance workforce aligned to the delivery of the 1st Team Performance strategy.
• Working closely with the 1st Team Director of Performance and MCFC Finance team, contribute to the ongoing management of the 1st Team Physical Performance budget.
• Communicate effectively providing consistent updates to key stakeholders on squad physical performance, individual player responses to load, individual physical development, squad physical profiling, and rehab/return to play progress as required.
• Collaborate with the MCFC/CFG Commercial teams to facilitate current and new partnerships.
•  Work closely with the 1st Team Director of Performance, facilities team, and grounds staff to ensure 1st Team facilities are maintained and continue to evolve to support delivery of world class performance support.

2. Physical Performance Support to 1st Team

• Work in close partnership with the MCFC Fitness Coach to ensure the optimal delivery of MCFC 1st Team preparation & recovery from training & matches.
•  Work in collaboration with the Head of Physiotherapy to ensure innovative and effective integrated and proactive player health & risk mitigation, and recovery & regeneration programmes are in place in-line with the 1st Team Performance Services strategy to optimise player availability, robustness, and readiness to perform.
• Proactively contribute to the development, delivery and review of player Individual Development Plans as required.
• Lead the ongoing development and implementation of evidence-informed holistic workload / player response monitoring systems that provide actionable insights to inform decision making across the multidisciplinary performance team to optimise individual player preparation & recovery.
• Lead the ongoing development & delivery of a system of physical profiling aligned to the Physical Performance Strategy and that informs ‘What it Takes to Win’, individual player support, and rehab/return to play programmes.
• Work in collaboration with key members of the MDT to develop joined up evidence-informed approach to injured player management and rehab/return to play systems and processes.

What we are looking for

Essential

• BSc in Sport Science, Strength & Conditioning or related area.
• A recognised postgraduate qualification (ie MSc) in Sport Science, Strength & Conditioning or related area
• UKSCA Accreditation or equivalent
• Extensive experience working in an elite sporting environment.
• Extensive experience of working effectively within a high-performing interdisciplinary team.
• Significant experience in a ‘lead’ role with responsibility for delivering physical change that impacts performance.
• Significant experience in line management/mentoring of other practitioners.
• Excellent ability to solve performance problems with a collaborative and adaptable approach.
• An advanced ability to develop strong positive relationships with a variety of stakeholders (Players, Coaches, wider staff), across professional disciplines, and influence decision making with and without formal authority.
• An ability to reflect on current working practice & adapt as required.
• An advanced ability to utilise performance related data to inform practice

Desirable

• Experience working in elite professional football.
• Previous coaching/mentoring training.
• Previous leadership and management training.
• BASES accreditation
• Experienced delivering/contributing successful physical change in complex injury rehabilitation/return to play programmes