Lead Physical Development Coach (AVWFC)

paper with the IUSCA; Birmingham; Hybrid; GBP 41,000 - 50,000; Full time

Job summary

Aston Villa Women is seeking an experienced Strength and Conditioning professional to design, deliver and evaluate individualized physical development programmes for the First Team and academy players. The role will lead gym-based training sessions, support goalkeeper-specific preparation and return-to-play work, and align with the club’s performance philosophy.

You will monitor and profile players’ physical qualities, use performance data to inform development plans, and drive progression from

Qualifications

• Bachelor-level degree in sport science or related field is required.
• S&C accreditation and professional sport experience are essential.
• Emergency first aid in football required; UKAD Clean Sport Advisor status preferred.
• Proven ability to design, deliver, monitor and evaluate individualized strength and conditioning programmes.

Responsibilities

• Design, deliver and evaluate individualized strength and physical development programmes for First Team and Academy players.
• Lead gym-based training sessions and goalkeeper-specific physical preparation.
• Monitor and profile players’ physical qualities; use performance data to inform development plans.
• Drive progression from Academy to First Team and support return-to-play pathways.

Skills

Strength & Conditioning knowledge

Performance data interpretation

Return-to-play planning

Gym-based training delivery

Goalkeeper-specific physical dev.

Emergency first aid in football

UKAD Clean Sport Advisor status

Education

BSc in Sport Science or related field

Tools

S&C accreditation

First aid in football

Job description

This role supports Aston Villa Women’s First Team and wider player development pathway through individualised physical development provision. The post holder will design, deliver, and evaluate strength and physical development programmes aligned with the club’s performance philosophy and playing model, lead gym-based training sessions, support goalkeeper-specific physical preparation and return-to-play work, monitor and profile players’ physical qualities, use performance data to inform individual development plans, and lead physical development progression for Academy and transition players into the First Team.

This role appears to align most closely with IQF Level 6, as it involves designing, delivering, monitoring, and evaluating individualised strength and physical development programmes within a professional football environment. The role includes gym-based training, strength, power, movement quality, injury resilience, goalkeeper-specific physical development, return-to-play support, player profiling, monitoring, data interpretation, individual performance planning, and rehabilitation record keeping.

There are some Level 7-facing elements, particularly through leading the physical development pathway for Academy and transition players and overseeing physical performance monitoring processes. However, the advert does not clearly describe staff line management, departmental strategy, budget responsibility, or primary responsibility for the decision quality of other practitioners, so Level 6 appears the most proportionate classification.

Associated IUSCA IQF Certification

IUSCA IQF Level 6 Accredited International Strength and Conditioning Practitioner (aISCP)

Salary and Role Alignment

Grey. Salary is not disclosed, so full salary and role alignment cannot be assessed. However, the role appears to require Level 6 professional capability, including a BSc in Sport Science or a related field, S&C accreditation, emergency first aid in football, UKAD Clean Sport Advisor status, professional sport experience, return-to-performance delivery, gym-based strength training, physical preparation, monitoring, profiling, and fast decision-making in a professional football environment.

IUSCA recommended minimum salary: £45,000 per year

This minimum recommendation reflects the Level 6 classification, the professional women’s football environment, the lead physical development title, the requirement for degree-level knowledge and professional accreditation, the responsibility for individualised programming, return-to-play support, monitoring processes, Academy-to-First-Team transition, and regular evening, weekend, and matchday work. A higher salary may be appropriate if the role includes substantial ownership of the physical development strategy, staff leadership, budget responsibility, or wider departmental decision-making.

This role has been classified by IUSCA based on publicly available information. The classification is intended to support professional transparency and help practitioners and employers understand the relationship between role scope, responsibility, autonomy, qualification expectations, and salary alignment. Applicants should review the original advert before applying.