Women’s Performance Coach

Derby County FC; Derby; On-site; GBP 32,000 - 52,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

10% off DCFC Megastore

Club Pension with Aviva

Discounts with Club partners

Training and development opportunities

Volunteer opportunities with Derby DC

Job summary

Derby County FC Women are seeking a dedicated Women’s Performance Coach to lead the physical performance program for the Senior Women’s team at Moor Farm. You will deliver fitness, conditioning, nutrition and sports science strategies with support from the Academy’s Performance department.

You will oversee testing, GPS data, and ensure peak match readiness, while contributing to the broader Women’s & Girl’s program. Experience in professional sport preferred.

Qualifications

• Experience delivering Strength and Conditioning programmes for football players.
• Ability to plan and implement testing regimes aligned with league requirements.
• Experience with GPS data collection and interpretation is desirable.
• CPD evidenced through recent work in professional sport.

Responsibilities

• Lead Fitness, Strength & Conditioning strategies for the Senior Women’s Team.
• Oversee testing and GPS reporting for the team and staff.
• Collaborate with Women’s Coaching Staff to plan weekly training timetable.
• Support injury rehabilitation and return‑to‑play protocols when required.
• Maintain equipment and contribute to the department’s research in women’s football.

Skills

Strength & Conditioning

Athlete testing

GPS data handling

Team collaboration

Education

BSc Strength and Conditioning

BSc Sports Science

Level 3 Personal Trainer Coach

UKSCA trainer qualification

Job description

Derby County are seeking to recruit a Women’s Performance Coach to join Derby County Football Club Women at Moor Farm Training Centre.

Working for Derby County Football Club offers a unique opportunity to be part of one of England’s most historic and passionately supported clubs. With a proud legacy, a dedicated fan base, and an exciting vision for the future, Derby County offers a dynamic and rewarding work environment both on and off the pitch. Whether you're joining the team in coaching, administration, marketing, or operations, you'll be contributing to a culture rooted in ambition, community, and progress. Employees benefit from a collaborative work environment and opportunities for professional development.

The successful candidate will be responsible for leading the programming and delivery of the Physical Performance program for the Senior Women’s team including fitness, conditioning, nutrition & Sports Science strategies with the support of a “dotted line” to the Academy's Physical Performance Department. You will primarily provide football's best sports science and strength and conditioning support to all Senior Women's Team and staff but also assist the Medical department where relevant for RTT and RTP. You will ensure the Senior Women’s Team players are available and able to play at the highest physical level while maximising their athletic potential. To support pre/post season testing and screening and off-season programs. Where required you will contribute to the overall strategy of the Women’s & Girl’s program at DCFC and Support interns/placement and Junior staff.

Key Role Responsibilities:

Delivery

• To lead the programming and delivery of Fitness, Strength & Conditioning strategies on and off-field to the Senior Women’s Team – ensuring a lens of Women’s specificity.
• Be responsible for all physical and physiological testing for Women's Team players in alignment with League requirements and the DCFC overall Performance strategy – via the Lead Academy Physical Performance Coach.
• Oversee the GPS reporting strategy for the Senior Women’s Team, including reporting and communicating information gained to the Coaching Staff and Medical Team.
• Ensure all Women's Team players maintain high availability to train and play matches at peak performance. Including support to those on RTT, RTP or in off-season.
• In collaboration with the Women’s Coaching Staff, plan the weekly timetable, maximising performance support for players.
• Ensure all Women's individual and team performance testing is performed with data collected and stored.
• Promote a strong understanding of the women’s game and managing female athletes.
• Support any research related to the department and wider Women’s game.
• Maintain and take responsibility for all kit and equipment used with your team.
• Travel as required.

Wider Duties

• Work with the wider medical team to provide an integrated approach to performance enhancement regarding injury rehabilitation and return to training/play criteria.
• Assist the Medical team, when necessary, in delivering athletic rehabilitation to injured players.
• Support and complete duties as required in the off-season and preparation for the in-season.
• Note and record each player's athletic progress and physical development, understanding specific requirements subsequently influencing the programming afterwards. Ensure that documentation is required where necessary, following club/league requirements.
• Enthusiastically commit to the wider coaching staff, sports science and medical team to provide an integrated approach to performance enhancement.
• Understand how to safely maximise the resources available at Derby County Football Club regarding recovery, nutrition, regeneration and Performance education sessions.
• To create successful and professional relationships with staff whilst maintaining professional distance from playing staff at all times.
• Be cognisant of all other staff roles and responsibilities within the club, recognising the importance of everyone at Derby County Football Club, irrespective of job title.
• Recognise the importance of CPD for personal development.
• Attend briefings, courses, and seminars as required by the Club and the FAWNL and commit to continued professional development.
• Keep abreast of current research and the latest Sports Science and Strength and Conditioning practice developments and female athlete health.
• To demonstrate consistently high standards of behaviour and to operate within the parameters of the Laws of the Game, the Rules of the Football Association or the Rules of the FA WNL.
• To support the Head of Academy Medicine and Physical Performance and the wider department with additional duties as requested – with the permission of DCFCW First Team Manager.

General

• To be responsible for the health, safety and welfare of customers and colleagues, complying with health and safety guidance and policy.
• Continuously work to maintain, embed and improve the club’s safeguarding provision, ensuring the highest standards for safeguarding children and adults at risk.
• To uphold and promote organisational policies and procedures, promoting those specifically applicable to this area of work and also including equality, diversity and inclusion.
• To present and promote an appropriate public image in representing the organisation.
• To undertake any other duties as may reasonably be required commensurate with the post.

Personal characteristics and experience:

• Previous experience in providing Strength and Conditioning support to players, athletes or coaches to improve performance.
• Experience in developing, implementing and evaluating strength and conditioning programmes.
• Knowledge of and ability to construct strength, power and endurance-based gym and field-based training programmes.
• Knowledge of and ability to coach and integrate football skills and techniques into strength and conditioning sessions where appropriate.
• Ability to implement innovative ideas, problem solve, make decisions and work under pressure within strict time frames.
• Good IT skills with the ability to use computer-based programmes to fulfil the role of the job.
• Awareness or experience of GPS use (GPS management & loading applied experience – desirable).
• Documented evidence of CPD.
• Previous postgraduate experience in professional sport.
• Strong decision-making skills.
• Excellent communication skills with the ability to communicate effectively across all levels.
• Excellent communication skills.
• Attention to detail.
• Ability to organise, schedule and adapt work tasks to meet conflicting deadlines and respond to changing situations.
• Work using your initiative and as part of a team.

Qualifications:

Essential

• Holds or is enrolled in (or equivalent to) a

o (1) BSc Strength and Conditioning or

o (2) BSc Sports Science AND Level 3 Personal Trainer Coach as set out by the Register of Exercise Professionals or

o (3 ) UKSCA’s trainer qualification.

• Commit to any other EPPP/League qualification or training requirements identified as being necessary for the job role.

Desirable

• ITMMIF or willing to complete

Salary is competitive, dependent on experience.

Excellent spoken and written English is essential for this role, as it involves clear, accurate communication in a fast-paced, high-pressure environment.

Who are Derby County…

Derby County Football Club, established in 1884, is one of the founder members of the English Football League and has a rich and varied history, including two First Division titles in 1972 and 1975 and an FA Cup success in 1946. The club are currently playing in the Sky Bet Championship, the second tier of English Football following their promotion from League One in the 2023/24 season and is under the management of Head Coach John Eustace. The club also boasts a successful and respected Category One Academy, a status which has been held since 2014, and a Women’s side competing in the FA Women’s National League Northern Premier Division. Derby County recently embarked on an exciting new era following the change in ownership to Clowes Developments (UK) Limited, in the summer of 2022. Our track record of producing talent is outstanding, and we intend to protect that proud legacy, investing in key roles within the club to build on the foundations in place for success.

Everything we do as a Club is built around the three pillars of stability, integrity and progress. Our core values are:

• We are proud of who we are and what we do
• We are positive, inspired and passionate
• We are ambitious and driven
• We are prepared, honest and humble
• We are the heartbeat of our community
• We are the club of opportunity

Derby County employee benefits include:

• 10% discount at DCFC Megastore
• Company Pension with Aviva
• Discounts with select Club partners and sponsors
• Training and development opportunities
• Access to programmes and volunteering opportunities with Derby County Community Trust