Lead Academy Strength and Conditioning Coach

Sunderland AFC; Sunderland; On-site; GBP 40,000 - 55,000; Full time

Job summary

Sunderland AFC is seeking a Lead Strength and Conditioning Academy Coach to shape the physical development of our youngest players. You will lead the S&C programme, mentor coaches, and blend hands‑on coaching with performance data to drive growth, speed, and resilience across the Academy pathway.

You will report to the Head of S&C, build a progressive, individualised programme, and collaborate with coaching and medical colleagues to support development, rehabilitation and readiness while putting

Qualifications

• Essential: turn sports science into sessions that advance young players.
• Essential: design, deliver and evaluate S&C programmes in elite youth sport or professional football.
• Essential: lead coaches, develop skills, set clear standards, and guide welfare considerations.
• Desirable: experience leading an S&C team or advancing players to higher levels.
• Desirable: CASES Accreditation or progress on supervision pathways.
• An Enhanced DBS from Sunderland AFC is required.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Strength and Conditioning programme for the Academy.
• Develop and mentor the coaching team and set high coaching standards.
• Deliver hands‑on coaching while integrating performance insights with medical colleagues.
• Support player development, rehabilitation, readiness, and welfare.

Skills

S&C session design

Team leadership

Athlete development

Periodisation

Education

Postgraduate degree

UKSCA accreditation

EFAiF qualification

Job description

About the Performance and MedicineTeam:

Our mission is to support every athlete in reaching peak performance while reducing injury risk.

Through a multi-disciplinary approach that blends sports science, nutrition, medicine, and psychology, we deliver personalised programs tailored to each player’s needs.

We work closely with coaches to balance training loads, guide recovery, and provide insights into player readiness. Mental wellness is also a key focus, with sports psychologists helping athletes build resilience under pressure.

The Opportunity:

Shape the physical development of our next generation. As Lead Strength and Conditionin Academy Coach, you’ll lead our Strength and Conditioning programme, helping players across the Academy pathway fulfil their potential.

Reporting to the Head of S&C, you’ll develop our coaching team and drive a progressive, individualised programme that builds strength, speed and resilience. Combining hands‑on coaching with performance insights, you’ll work closely with coaching and medical colleagues to support player development, rehabilitation and readiness for the demands of football, with welfare and safeguarding at the heart of your approach.

What We Ask For:

Essential: You know how to turn sports science into sessions that help young players progress. You’ll have designed, delivered and evaluated S&C programmes in elite youth sport, ideally professional football, and know how to lead coaches, develop their skills and set clear standards. A relevant postgraduate degree, recognised S&C accreditation (preferably UKSCA, or a Club-accepted equivalent) and current EFAiF qualification are essential. So is a strong grounding in long‑term athletic development, growth and maturation, strength, power, speed, movement, conditioning and periodisation.

Desirable: Led an S&C team or helped players step up to U21 or First Team football? We’d love to hear about it. Significant experience in a Category 1 Academy or similar elite programme would be a plus, as would CASES Accreditation or progress on its Supervised Experience pathway. Hands‑on experience implementing and managing athlete management systems, Premier League PMA, GPS platforms and performance testing technologies would also be welcome.

An Enhanced DBS from Sunderland AFC is required.