Salary/ ROP Competitive

Deadline 9th November 2025

Who we are:

We are Crystal Palace Football Club, a Premier League Football Club with more than 160 years of proud history. Spread across three different sites – brand new main offices at Selhurst Park Stadium, our London office, and our Training Ground/Academy, we offer the best atmosphere and culture for our fans and our employees.

We strive for excellence in the workplace with a philosophy of high standards, professionalism, and a strong work ethic from our employees. We are constantly trying to grow, diversify and build with not only our team on the pitch, but also our team in the offices and on the ground.

About this role:

The PDP Performance Coach leads the physical performance programme for the Professional Development Phase (PDP) U18s squad. The role is player-facing, responsible for delivering and coordinating gym and pitch-based physical development that prepares players for the demands of the professional game. Working closely with football coaches, performance, and medical staff, this role ensures physical preparation and athletic development are aligned across the academy pathway, bridging the youth and professional phases.

Responsibilities:

Programming and Session Design

• Lead the design and delivery of the U18s gym and pitch-based physical development programme.
• Collaborate with coaches to design appropriately challenging football sessions that meet team and individual physical demands.
• Support the design and delivery of rehabilitation and reconditioning sessions as required.
• Contribute to the evolution of the academy’s physical development model through applied research and innovation.

Delivery

• Deliver daily gym- and pitch-based sessions for the U18s squad.
• Deliver and co-manage physical testing protocols.
• Support the alignment of athletic development methods between the YDP and PDP to ensure a seamless player transition.
• Lead match day protocols.

Monitoring and Analysis

• Lead on the delivery of physical profiling, screening, and monitoring within the U18s squad.
• Manage player workload, wellness, and return-to-play data in collaboration with performance and medical staff.
• Deliver and interpret physical testing data to monitor development and readiness.
• Communicate and present key data insights to coaches and MDT members.
• Complete daily performance and medical reports.

Interdisciplinary Collaboration

• Lead daily performance and medical meetings for the U18s squad, previewing and reviewing physical performance plans.
• Lead performance insights during morning coaches’ meetings to align athletic development with technical and tactical outcomes.
• Work with the Academy Performance Nutritionist to support fuelling and hydration strategies within the PDP schedule.
• Work collaboratively across the MDT to ensure a holistic development approach for every player.
• Contribute to internal and external CPD to evolve and enhance current performance processes.

Management and Leadership

• Mentor undergraduate and postgraduate students within the performance department.
• Support the ongoing education of students in applying the academy’s performance model within the PDP.
• Other duties and responsibilities as required by line manager.
• Upholding and promoting the Club’s policies and procedures, including Health and Safety, Safeguarding and Equal Opportunities policies and procedures.

Experience, Skills and Qualifications:

• Relevant Master’s degree (MRes/MSc) or equivalent qualification.
• Professional accreditation through BASES (or ability to achieve within 6 months).
• Current FA Safeguarding and Emergency Aid certifications.
• Three or more years’ experience working within a professional sport setting.
• Experience delivering programmes at both andragogy and pedagogy levels.
• Experience working with GPS systems and managing load data.
• Demonstrated experience working effectively within a multidisciplinary team.
• Experience coaching or playing within football.
• Passionate about youth athlete development.
• Advanced computer literacy and data management skills.
• Excellent relationship-building and communication skills with players and staff.

Benefits:

• Complimentary match day ticket
• Reward and Discount Scheme through our Tech Scheme and Simple Health app
• Health and Wellbeing benefit scheme
• 20% Discount in our Retail Stores
• Discounts in various gyms through GymFlex
• Volunteering Day – 1 Workday off to support a charity of your choice.
• Travel Season Ticket loan
• Holiday allowance that increases every year of service

Our commitment to Equality

At Crystal Palace Football Club, Equality, Diversity & Inclusion is spirited and continues to grow due to the working environment, which makes all staff feel appreciated and welcomed. Crystal Palace Football Club do this by encouraging good relations and practices towards different groups and are committed to promoting employment opportunities that celebrate diversity.

We are committed to attracting, recruiting, and retaining the most talented candidates and the club intends to ensure that everyone who wishes to engage with the club, whether as matchday fans, staff, players, board members, participants in Foundation programmes and any other person engaged with the club’s activities, has a real and equal opportunity to do so.

Reasonable Adjustment

We are proud to be a Disability Confident Committed employer. We guarantee an interview to all disabled applicants who meet the essential criteria for the role, ensuring equitable opportunities for everyone.

If you require disability-related adjustments during the recruitment process, please contact DLO@cpfc.co.uk (DLO inbox is for disability-related queries only, if you wish to gain further information regarding this vacancy, please contact cpfc. recruitment@cpfc.co.uk ). We are here to help you through the whole recruitment process including trying to apply for a vacancy, getting in touch with us through the process, and/or helping with access in case you are required to come in for an interview.

Safeguarding

Crystal Palace Football Club is committed to safeguarding and ensuring the welfare and protection of children and vulnerable people and expects all staff to share this commitment. As such, the post holder will be required to undergo any relevant security checks, including a comprehensive background check, Enhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) to ensure the safety and protection of children and vulnerable individuals.