Women’s First Team Physiotherapist

Sunderland-Association-Football-Club; Sunderland; On-site; GBP 42,000 - 62,000; Full time

Job summary

Sunderland AFC Women’s Team is seeking an experienced Physiotherapist to support player health, wellbeing and performance across training and matchdays. You will perform clinical assessments, treatment and rehabilitation, while leading return-to-play programs and ensuring top-level medical governance within a high-performance environment.

You will collaborate with players, coaches and the medical team, contribute to pre-season testing and education, and manage medical resources with external

Qualifications

• HCPC-registered Chartered Physiotherapist with professional standards.
• Minimum two seasons' experience in professional sport.
• Experience providing pitch-side injury assessment and emergency care.
• Experience coordinating referrals to external providers and imaging.
• Commitment to safeguarding, health and safety and governance.
• Excellent communication and prioritisation skills.

Responsibilities

• Provide high-quality clinical assessment, treatment, rehabilitation and pitch-side care across training and match environments.
• Lead management of injuries from initial assessment to safe return to play using evidence-informed practice.
• Support pre-season testing, injury-risk reduction and player education.
• Maintain accurate medical records, emergency action plans and governance standards.
• Liaise with external medical providers and manage referrals, imaging and equipment as needed.
• Contribute to safeguarding and high-performance medical governance within a multi-disciplinary team.

Skills

Pitch-side assessment

Emergency care

HCPC registered

ATMIFF AED level 5

FootballHER training

Professional sport experience

Medical governance

Communication skills

Education

HCPC registered Chartered Physiotherapist

Level 5 ATMIFF Advanced Emergency Aid

FootballHER training (course)

Job description

About the Women's Team:

Our team is committed to fostering a supportive environment that empowers female athletes to showcase their skills and reach their full potential.

We prioritise player development through tailored training programs that focus on technical skills, tactical understanding, and physical fitness.

The SAFC Women's Football Team benefits from strong collaboration with our Coaching and Analysis teams, ensuring that our strategies and training sessions are informed by the latest insights and best practices.

The Opportunity:

This is an exciting opportunity for an experienced and motivated Physiotherapist to play a key role in supporting the health, wellbeing and performance of Sunderland AFC players.

You will provide high-quality clinical assessment, treatment, rehabilitation and pitch-side emergency care across training and matchday environments. Working closely with players, coaches and the wider performance and medical team, you will lead the management of injuries from initial assessment through to a safe and effective return to play, using evidence-informed practice throughout.

The role will also involve supporting pre-season testing, player education and injury-risk reduction, alongside maintaining accurate medical records, emergency action plans and the highest standards of medical governance. You will liaise with external medical providers where required and contribute to the effective management of medical resources, including referrals, scans, treatment and equipment.

As part of an integrated, player-centred environment, you will build trusted relationships with players and colleagues while helping to deliver a consistent and supportive approach to physical and mental wellbeing. This is an opportunity to make a genuine impact within a high-performance setting and contribute to the continued development of the Club's player care provision.

What We Ask For:

We are looking for a qualified and experienced Physiotherapist with a strong clinical background, ideally gained within professional football or elite sport. You will be a chartered Physiotherapist registered with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC), with a current Level 5 ATMIFF Advanced Emergency Aid qualification. You will also have completed, or be willing to complete, the UK Anti-Doping Introduction to Clean Sport course and FootballHER training.

You will have at least two seasons' experience working as a Physiotherapist in professional sport and be confident providing pitch-side injury assessment and emergency care. You will have experience of managing injuries from initial assessment through to rehabilitation and return to play, working collaboratively with performance and coaching colleagues within a multi-disciplinary team.

You will be organised, professional and committed to maintaining accurate clinical records, high clinical standards and full compliance with safeguarding, health and safety and governing body requirements. Experience of medical governance, audits and coordinating referrals to external providers, including imaging, surgical consultations and specialist rehabilitation services, will be important.

Excellent communication skills, sound judgement and the ability to manage competing priorities are essential. You will build trusted relationships with players, remain calm and effective in a fast-paced environment, and demonstrate a genuine commitment to player welfare and ongoing professional development.

This position is subject to an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring (DBS) check and the successful candidate must be in possession of up-to-date FA Safeguarding Qualification.