NUW Academy Physical Performance Lead

Newcastle United Football Club; Newcastle upon Tyne; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 56,000; Full time

Job summary

Newcastle United Football Club is seeking an Academy Physical Performance Lead to design and deliver age-appropriate, evidence-informed athletic development programmes for the NUW Women Academy. You will help enhance physical performance, support long-term development and reduce injury risk across the programme.

Working with coaches, medical staff and a multidisciplinary team, you will create an environment where players maximise potential, develop healthy habits and sustain long-term success

Qualifications

• BSc in Strength & Conditioning, Sport Science or related field.
• UKSCA accreditation or actively working towards it.
• Excellent knowledge of long-term athletic development principles.
• Experience delivering physical development programmes within women’s and girls’ sport.
• Experience in a high-performing multidisciplinary team.
• Strong communication, motivation and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.
• Reflective mindset and commitment to CPD.

Responsibilities

• Design, deliver and review evidence-informed strength and conditioning programmes aligned to the NUW Performance Plan.
• Conduct physical testing and monitor player progression to inform development plans.
• Support rehabilitation, return-to-play and injury prevention with the team.
• Provide physical performance support during training and matchdays.
• Maintain player records and performance databases.
• Educate and support coaches to integrate physical development outcomes.
• Deliver education on nutrition, recovery and healthy lifestyle habits.
• Maintain and develop the Academy’s physical performance monitoring systems.
• Support equipment and facilities management.
• Contribute to departmental projects and continuous improvement initiatives.

Skills

Program design

Interdisciplinary teamwork

Communication

Athletic development

Education

BSc in Strength & Conditioning or Sport Science

Tools

UKSCA accreditation

Job description

Be part of something bigger. Help shape the next generation of players through world-class physical development.

We are the heartbeat of the city, a club with bold ambitions on a global stage and deep roots in our community. If you’re driven to raise the bar, make an impact and contribute to a high-performance culture, you’ll find the platform, the people and the pride to do your best work here.

We work as One Club, with excellence, integrity, accountability and relentless ambition shaping how we work together.

This is a great opportunity to develop, learn and make a real contribution in a fast-paced and exciting environment. You’ll be encouraged to bring curiosity, take ownership, share ideas and keep improving, helping us move Newcastle United forward, together.

About the role

As Academy Physical Performance Lead, you’ll lead the design and delivery of age-appropriate, evidence-informed athletic development programmes for Newcastle United Women Academy players. You’ll play a key role in enhancing physical performance, supporting long-term athletic development and reducing injury risk across the Academy programme.

Working closely with coaches, medical colleagues and the wider multidisciplinary team, you’ll help create an environment where players can maximise their physical potential while developing healthy habits and behaviours that support long-term success.

What you’ll do

• Design, deliver and review evidence-informed strength and conditioning programmes aligned to the NUW Performance Plan.
• Conduct physical testing and monitor player progression to inform individual and group development plans.
• Support rehabilitation, return-to-play and injury prevention programmes in collaboration with the wider multidisciplinary team.
• Provide physical performance support during training sessions and matchdays, both home and away.
• Maintain accurate player records and physical performance databases in line with professional and league standards.
• Educate and support coaches to integrate physical development outcomes into technical programmes.
• Deliver player education on nutrition, recovery and healthy lifestyle habits.
• Maintain and develop the Academy’s physical performance monitoring systems.
• Support the management and development of strength and conditioning equipment and facilities.
• Contribute to departmental projects, meetings, professional development and continuous improvement initiatives.

What you’ll bring

You’ll be passionate about developing young athletes and have experience delivering physical development programmes within women’s and girls’ sport. You’ll enjoy working collaboratively with coaches and practitioners while balancing individual player needs with long-term development objectives.

You’ll also bring:

• A BSc in Strength & Conditioning, Sport Science or a related discipline.
• UKSCA accreditation, or be actively working towards accreditation.
• Excellent knowledge of long-term athletic development principles.
• Experience delivering physical development programmes within women’s and girls’ sport.
• Experience working effectively within a high-performing multidisciplinary team.
• Excellent communication, motivation and interpersonal skills.
• The ability to work independently and collaboratively in a fast-paced environment.
• A reflective mindset and commitment to continuous professional development.

The team

You’ll be part of a friendly, supportive and dedicated team who will help you settle in and succeed. We value curiosity, teamwork and a positive approach, and we’re committed to creating an environment where people feel trusted, included and empowered to do their best work.

We work with high standards and a continuous improvement mindset, supporting each other as One Club and taking pride in doing the right thing.

United As One.

We’re committed to building an inclusive, high-performance culture where everyone feels safe, respected and able to thrive. Equality, diversity and inclusion are central to who we are, and we believe the diversity of our people is one of our greatest strengths.

We work as One Club, reflecting the communities we serve, acting with integrity, and creating an environment where everyone can be their authentic self and achieve their full potential.

Safeguarding

We’re committed to creating an environment where everyone is safe, heard, valued and able to thrive. Safeguarding and welfare are central to the way we work, and we expect everyone to play their part in doing the right thing and upholding the highest standards of care.

This position is UK based and requires proof of the right to live and work in the UK.

All job offers are conditional upon background checks, including reference history, DBS checks, and verification of your eligibility to work. Please note, we do not sponsor applicants without the right to work in the UK.