Physical Performance Scientist

Aston Villa Football Club; Middleton CP; On-site; GBP 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Staff benefits booklet

Job summary

Aston Villa Football Club's Boys Academy, Category One, is seeking a leader to own the Academy’s Physical Performance and Data Analysis strategy at Bodymoor Heath. You will turn complex data into insights that drive player development and MDT decisions, working with a multidisciplinary team in a world-class environment.

This role focuses on benchmarking against Premier League standards, developing visualisation tools, and translating analysis into actionable training and injury-prevention

Qualifications

• Experience in data collection and physical performance analysis with elite youth footballers in a full-time setting.
• Ability to interpret complex data sets and visualise them clearly in tools such as Excel and Power BI.
• Understanding of sport science principles including growth, maturation, injury prevention and rehabilitation.

Responsibilities

• Own the Academy’s Physical Performance and Data Analysis strategy end-to-end – from design and implementation through to review
• Transform complex, multi-source data into clear, compelling insight that shapes MDT decisions in real time and helps protect players from injury
• Benchmark our Elite players against Premier League, Premier League 2 and First Team standards – linking insights to Individual Development Plans
• Build innovative visualisation tools and digital signage that put feedback in front of players and coaches daily
• Connect physical outputs to the technical and tactical context of the game, ensuring training prepares players for match demands
• Periodise the training week alongside the MDT, prescribing loads to keep players fresh and performing
• Help deliver/lead practical on-field sessions with squad Physical Performance Coaches

Skills

Data analysis

Multidisciplinary teamwork

Education

BSc (Hons) in Sport Science or equivalent

MSc in related subject area

Tools

Excel

Power BI

Job description

Department: Football Division - Boys Academy Medical and Sport Science Team

Hours of Work: Full-Time (with flexibility to work during evenings and weekends, including matchdays)

Contract Type: Permanent

Salary: Attractive Remuneration Package depending on experience

Location: Bodymoor Heath Training Ground

Closing Date: Sunday 30 August 2026

The Opportunity

Aston Villa's Boys Academy proudly holds the prestigious Category One status, the highest standard in English youth football, a testament to our commitment to world-class coaching, education, training and facilities. Fresh from previous successful FA Youth Cup and league campaigns, and the club winners of the UEFA Europa League there has never been a more exciting time to help shape the next generation of talent at our world-class Bodymoor Heath Training Ground.

This is a rare chance to own the Academy’s Physical Performance and Data Analysis strategy across our Professional Development Phase – turning complex data into insight that genuinely moves the needle for some of the most promising young players in the country. You will work collaboratively with a talented multidisciplinary team, benchmark our brightest prospects against Premier League, Premier League 2 and First Team standards, and see your analysis translate directly into player development. If you are driven by data, obsessed with its visualisation, and want your work to shape real decisions in an elite environment, this is the role for you.

Your Impact

• Own the Academy’s Physical Performance and Data Analysis strategy end-to-end – from design and implementation through to review
• Transform complex, multi-source data into clear, compelling insight that shapes MDT decisions in real time and helps protect players from injury
• Benchmark our Elite players against Premier League, Premier League 2 and First Team standards – pinpointing exactly where they can develop and linking it to their Individual Development Plans
• Build innovative visualisation tools and digital signage that put meaningful feedback in front of players and coaches every single day
• Connect physical outputs to the technical and tactical context of the game, ensuring training truly prepares players for the demands of the match
• Periodise the training week alongside the MDT, prescribing loads that keep players fresh, protected and performing at their physical peak
• Help deliver/lead practical on-field sessions assisting the squad Physical Performance Coaches

For more information please see the Role Profile.

The Person

To be considered for this role, you will need to hold the following qualifications:

• BSc (Hons) in Sport Science or equivalent (minimum 2:1)
• MSc in a related subject area

You will bring demonstrable experience of data collection and physical performance analysis with elite youth footballers in a full-time capacity within a professional sporting environment, along with a genuine passion for interpreting complex, multi-data sets and visualising them clearly in tools such as Excel and Power BI. A thorough understanding of sport science principles i.e growth and maturation, injury prevention, rehabilitation and physical performance in the context of the game – is essential, as is proven experience of working within interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary teams.

Knowledge of the Elite Player Performance Plan (Category One Academy) and experience within a Professional Development Phase environment would be a real advantage.

Why join us?

There has never been a better time to join Aston Villa Football Club.Our drive to succeed is visible on the global stage, we are building a family ethos and culture to be proud of, and realising our ambitious plans for the expansion and improvement of our world-class facilities. If you are already excited by this challenge and want to play your part in our historic Club, then you'll be pleased to hear about our amazing staff benefits you'll receive whilst working for us! See our Staff Benefits booklet to find out more.

Right to Close Vacancy Posting Early

The Club reserves the right to close any advertised vacancies earlier than the advertised closing date if sufficient applications have been received.

Equality Statement

Aston Villa Football Club celebrates the diversity of its Club and embrace equal opportunities for all.

We welcome applications from all candidates regardless of age, race, disability, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, sexual orientation, marriage and civil partnership, sex and religion or belief.

Safeguarding Statement

Aston Villa Football Club is fully committed to safeguarding children and adults at risk across our Club. As such, we adhere to Safer Recruitment processes and for some roles a satisfactory enhanced disclosure via the Disclosure & Barring Service may be required prior to starting in a role at the Club. For more information, please see Aston Villa Football Club | The official club website | AVFC - Safeguarding