Derby County are seeking to recruit an Academy Performance Coach (Rehab) to join the Academy Coaching Department 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 acting as the vital bridge between the medical and physical performance departments, as well as the crucial link across player pathways (YDP to PDP, and PDP to 1st Team). Reporting to the Head of Academy Medicine and Physical Performance & the Physical Performance Lead, you will spearhead the “Return to Performance” strategy for the Professional Development Phase (PDP).

Your mission is to minimise the disruption to a player’s Long-Term Athletic Development (LTAD) during injury. By utilising comprehensive objective testing and athletic profiling to guide decision-making, you will seamlessly bridge the gap between the physio room and the training ground. You will treat rehabilitation as a strategic developmental window, designing individualised programs that ensure every player returns to the squad not just “fit,” but physically upgraded, highly robust, and perfectly aligned with the club’s long-term athletic strategy.

Key Role Responsibilities:

• Departmental Integration (Medical & Performance): Act as the vital bridge between the physical performance and medical departments. Partner with the Lead Physiotherapist and Lead Physical Performance Coach to design and execute rehabilitation programs that seamlessly blend clinical recovery with athletic development.
• On-Pitch Rehabilitation: Work closely with Physiotherapists & PDP Performance Coaches to deliver early and late-stage on-pitch conditioning, ensuring a seamless and data-backed transition from the treatment room and gym to full team training and match play.
• Pathway Transitions (YDP to PDP & PDP to 1st Team): Act as a critical physical bridge across the club’s pathway. Facilitate the physical “step-up” for players transitioning from the Youth Development Phase (YDP) into the Professional Development Phase (PDP), as well as preparing players for the demanding physical transition from the PDP into the 1st Team environment.
• Objective Decision-Making & Profiling: Utilise comprehensive objective testing and athletic profiling to guide clinical and performance decision-making. Maintain rigorous records and use performance data (e.g., GPS, Force Plates, dynamometry) to deliver objective progress reports to key stakeholders and confidently justify “Return to Play” milestones.
• Strategic LTAD Alignment & Continuity: Ensure that injury minimises the disruption to a player’s Long-Term Athletic Development (LTAD). Utilise rehabilitation phases as “developmental windows” to target alternative long-term physical goals, ensuring rehab outcomes remain strategically aligned with the club’s methodology and the player’s trajectory toward the professional game.
• Proactive Mitigation: Work with the medical team to prescribe individualised performance programs based on injury history, comprehensive biomechanical screening, and predisposition to injury to minimise recurrence rates.
• Performance Delivery: Support the Lead Academy Performance Coach in delivering S&C sessions for the wider PDP squad, ensuring all work remains consistent with the department’s overarching LTAD framework.
• EPPP Compliance: Manage all audit, administration, and compliance requirements for the EPPP as directed by the Head of Academy Medical and Physical Performance.
• Research & Innovation: Stay at the forefront of Sports Science and S&C research, translating new evidence into actionable, impactful practices for the medical team, coaching staff, and parents.
• Professional Standards: Maintain all professional awards and certifications required for the role, demonstrating high standards of behaviour that reflect the values of the Club and the Laws of the Game.

Personal characteristics and experience:

• A minimum of 2 years’ experience providing Strength and Conditioning support within an elite development or professional team sport environment, with a specific focus on late-stage rehabilitation and Return-to-Play (RTP) protocols.
• Experience in developing, implementing, and evaluating strength and conditioning programs.
• Knowledge of and ability to construct strength, power, and endurance-based training programs, both gym and field-based.
• Knowledge of and ability to coach and integrate football skills and techniques into 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 programs.
• Recent and relevant experience in a professional sports performance environment.
• 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.
• Ability to organise, schedule and adapt work tasks to meet conflicting deadlines and respond to changing situations.
• Confident, resilient and self-motivated.
• Excellent presentation skills.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced, target-driven environment.
• Ability to prioritise and manage own workload.
• Work using your initiative and as part of a team.

Qualifications:

Essential

• Undergraduate degree in Sports Therapy, Sports Science or Strength & Conditioning (or other relevant discipline).
• Postgraduate degree in Strength & Conditioning (or other relevant discipline).

Desirable

• UKSCA accreditation (working towards) or industry-recognised equivalent i.e. ASCA. Or have attended workshops run by the UK Strength and Conditioning Association and be able to achieve accreditation (or industry-recognised equivalent) within six months.
• BASES accreditation (or working towards).
• UEFA coaching qualifications.

Salary is competitive, dependent on experience.

This is a full-time role, and due to the demands of professional football, there is a requirement for weekend and evening work, as well as regular national travel.

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:

• 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
• Two complimentary staff season tickets
• Two complimentary staff away memberships, subject to availability
• 20% discount at DCFC Megastore
• Company Pension with Aviva
• Discounts with select Club partners and sponsors
• Healthshield Cash Health Plan to support employee health and well-being and Perks for great deals and discounts
• Participating in our employee forum, ‘The Herd’ and Staff Events!
• Training and development opportunities
• Access to programmes and volunteering opportunities with Derby County Community Trust
• Subsidised lunchtime meals at Moor Farm

How to apply…

Derby County Football Club is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and adults at risk, and expects all staff and volunteers to share this commitment. As part of the Club’s commitment to providing a safe environment for children and young people, applicants should be aware that this post is subject to an Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) Criminal Record Check.

Derby County Football Club is an Inclusive Club for all and is committed to Equality and Diversity.

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The closing date for receipt of applications is Sunday 10 May 2026. We reserve the right to close the vacancy early.

Strictly no agencies please.