First Team - Head of Sports Science
Bespoke Builds Training Ground, Oundle Road, Peterborough
Vacancy listed 23/07/2026
Application deadline 06/08/2026
Details
📝 Contract – Full-time, permanent — hours as required around the First Team schedule, including evenings, weekends, and matchdays
💰 Salary - Competitive, dependent on experience
🌟 Benefits - Great career development supported , workplace pension, staff events, great work environment, good annual leave, staff discounts plus lots more
📍 Location – Bespoke Builds Training Ground
🤝 Key relationships - First Team Manager and coaching staff, Head of Medical / Physiotherapists, Performance Analysis, Academy Sports Science staff
🔒 Close date - 6th August 2026 (dependant on application numbers we may close this vacancy earlier than the advertised date)

An opportunity has arisen for a Head of Sports Science to become part of our First Team staff.

The Role
This role is to lead, manage, and deliver the Sports Science provision for the First Team — keeping players available and in optimum physical condition to meet the demands of the First Team Manager's tactical approach.

The role will lead the physical performance department, covering load monitoring, match physical output, injury and availability tracking, and strength & conditioning testing. This is a hands-on role working day-to-day alongside the First Team Manager, medical staff, and coaching group.

The successful candidate will take ownership of the club's GPS and testing systems, translate data into clear, actionable guidance for coaches and players, and continue to develop the department's reporting and analytics infrastructure.

Duties 

Load Monitoring
  • Oversee day-to-day GPS monitoring of training and matches to guide session planning with the First Team Manager
  • Maintain accurate player and squad reference data

Match Performance
  • Analyse match physical output and report trends to coaching staff, informing training prescription and squad rotation

Injury & Availability
  • Maintain injury logs and return-to-play tracking with the medical team
  • Report on squad availability and flag injury risk from training data

S&C Testing & Physical Development
  • Plan and deliver the club's strength & conditioning testing programme
  • Interpret testing data to flag fatigue, asymmetry, and injury risk
  • Design and oversee physical development programmes

Reporting & Systems
  • Produce regular reports and dashboards for coaching staff, players, and club management
  • Maintain and improve the department's data and reporting systems
  • Review and evolve the department's approach as the squad's needs change

Staff Management
  • Line manage and mentor sports science interns

General
  • Follow all Club policies, including Equality & Diversity, Health & Safety, Safeguarding, and GDPR
  • Maintain a strict standard of confidentiality in respect of any information relating to the Club
  • Undertake ongoing CPD and contribute to a positive working culture within the department

Other responsibilities

  • Work flexibly as and when required to meet the needs of the club
  • Be aware of the PUFC policies, procedures & best practise so that concerns of non-compliance can be raised
  • Work within the company policies and processes. Seek advice & guidance if required ensuring employees and processes work seamlessly together
  • Attend meetings, training and professional updating as and when required
  • To adhere to existing working practices, methods, procedures, undertake relevant training and development activities and to respond positively to new and alternative systems.
  • To maintain confidentiality and observe data protection and associated guidelines 
  • Adhere to and support the club’s Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, Health and Safety and Safeguarding policies.

In addition to these responsibilities carry out such duties as may reasonably be required. The above duties are a guide to the nature of the work required & are not intended to reflect all tasks associated within the role.


About You

Qualifications — Essential
  • Degree in Sports Science, Sport & Exercise Science, or related field (or equivalent experience)
  • Full, clean UK driving licence

Qualifications — Desirable
  • Postgraduate qualification in Sports Science, Strength & Conditioning, or a related discipline
  • UKSCA or equivalent S&C accreditation
  • FA First Aid (BFAS) Certificate

Experience — Essential
  • Experience working within a professional football or elite sport environment
  • Practical experience with GPS monitoring and force plate / jump testing systems
  • Strong data analysis skills; confident working with Excel and large datasets
  • Experience working in pressurised situations and to deadlines

Experience — Desirable
  • Programming/scripting experience (e.g. Python) for data processing and reporting
  • Experience managing or mentoring junior staff
  • Existing knowledge of EFL working environments and matchday scheduling

Personal Qualities
  • Excellent communication skills, with the ability to translate data into clear guidance for coaches and players
  • Proactive, with a “can do” attitude and the ability to adapt at short notice
  • Highly organised and comfortable working independently under time pressure on matchdays
  • Strong team ethos and a high level of confidentiality


***HOW TO APPLY: Please complete the Application Form which can be found on our main vacancies page and upload after you click 'apply' below.  If you wish to also upload a CV and cover letter, you can do this also. You can attach each document one at a time. You MUST however complete an Application form.
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