Academy Performance Analyst Lead

Derby County FC; East Midlands; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

A football club in England is seeking an Academy Performance Analyst Lead to oversee the analysis department, ensuring timely data-driven insights for player development. Requires experience in elite football performance analysis, excellent people management, and strong IT skills. This full-time position involves regular travel and weekend work.

Qualifications

• Experience in performance analysis at an elite football level.
• Ability to manipulate performance data and create visualizations.
• Experience with software such as Hudl, Tactic, and Sportscode.

Responsibilities

• Lead and manage the Academy Performance Analysis team.
• Provide high-quality analysis for U21 and B Team.
• Support player and coaching feedback through performance analysis.

Skills

Performance Analysis

Data Visualization

Coaching Knowledge

Videography Skills

People Management

Education

Undergraduate qualification in Performance Analysis or Sports Science

Postgraduate qualification in Performance Analysis or Sports Science

Tools

Hudl

Power BI

Tactic

Wyscout

Job description

Overview

Derby County are seeking to recruit an Academy Performance Analyst Lead to join our Academy Performance Analyst team at our Category One Academy, at Moor Farm Training Ground.

Working for Derby County Football Club offers a unique opportunity to be part of one of England’s most historic and passionately supported clubs. The club has a proud legacy and a vision for the future, with a dynamic work environment across coaching, administration, marketing, and operations. The role contributes to a culture rooted in ambition, community, and progress, with opportunities for professional development.

The successful candidate will be responsible for leading, managing, and coordinating the Academy Performance Analysis department, ensuring timely and high-quality analysis through video and data for all players across the Academy, and monitoring and tracking player development. You will support the development of the integrated club-wide approach to providing data-driven insights for performance evaluation, player recruitment, sports science and medicine, and will deliver performance analysis specifically for the U21 and B Team.

Responsibilities

• U21 Performance Analyst Responsibilities: Support alignment between U21s and First Team by working closely with the Lead First-Team Analyst.
• Film and analyse the U21 team and individual performances in training and matches.
• Deliver pre-match, live, and post-match analysis to support player and coach feedback.
• Collaborate with coaches to create statistical and video presentations for performance reviews.
• Develop player performance profiles using data and trend analysis.
• Conduct opposition analysis (filming, coding, editing) and provide game insights using telestration tools.
• Maintain a current match/event database and produce motivational and educational video content.
• Share relevant analysis materials with players and staff across platforms.
• Continuously develop skills through training and research, including collaboration with external specialists and academic partners.

• Academy Lead Performance Analyst Responsibilities: Lead and manage the Academy Analysis team in line with the Academy Performance Plan and the manager's directives.
• Oversee all Academy analysis operations from U9–U21, ensuring timely match analysis, feedback, and support.
• Provide detailed opposition analysis and assist coaching staff with performance insights and game planning.
• Ensure accurate use of individual and team data to inform ILPs and key decisions.
• Maintain match/event databases and ensure consistent delivery of analysis and educational content using appropriate tools and methods.
• Report to the Academy Manager and ensure all staff and players have access to high-quality analytical resources.

Essential personal characteristics and experience

• Experience working in a performance analysis role within the football environment at an elite level and/or knowledge of coaching elite players
• Experience as a Head of Performance Analysis in either an elite First Team or Academy setting, with line management responsibility
• Experience of working in a Category 1 Academy is desirable
• Experience in the manipulation of performance data sets and visualisations
• Experienced user of software such as, but not limited to, Tactic / Hudl/ Sportscode /Studio / Wyscout/StatsBomb / BePro with demonstrable knowledge of other performance analysis software
• Advanced coding & visualisation abilities such as R/ Python/ XML/ XSLT / Power BI is desirable
• Demonstrable extensive technical & tactical football knowledge with the ability to contextualise the knowledge for player-facing material
• Excellent IT skills (Mac and PC) and knowledge of databases, SQL and reporting capabilities, and working with raw data files such as XML & CSV
• Robust skills and knowledge of videography, coding, data analytics and animating
• Excellent people management skills

Qualifications

• Essential
• Undergraduate qualification in an appropriate discipline (e.g. Performance Analysis, Sports Science)
• Postgraduate qualification in an appropriate discipline (e.g. Performance Analysis, Sports Science)
• Safeguarding Children Certificate
• Desirable
• UEFA-recognised coaching qualification or overseas equivalent (e.g. B Licence)

Salary is competitive, dependent on experience. This is a full-time role, with weekend and evening work and regular national travel required due to the demands of professional football.

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. The post is subject to an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) 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. Alternatively, copy and paste the following URL into your browser: http://thera.ms/apply. More information can be found at https://www.dcfc.co.uk/page/jobsandcareers. The closing date for receipt of applications is Sunday 12 October 2025. We reserve the right to close the vacancy early. Strictly no agencies. Derby County Football Club’s Job Applicant Privacy Policy can be found at dcfc.co.uk.