Organisation
Stadium MK
Location
Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire
Salary Range
N/A
Contract Type
Full Time
Closing Date
28 April 2023
Job Description
Job purpose: To plan, deliver, and review a comprehensive, cohesive, and evidence-based sports science programme to facilitate high performance within MK Dons Academy.
Role Competencies:
Planning Timescales:
• To plan, deliver and review individualised and periodised off-season, pre-season and in-season fitness and strength and conditioning strategies to optimise player preparation, athletic development and availability.
• To plan, deliver and review evidence-based preparation and injury prevention strategies to prepare players for training/matches and reduce injury risk, In collaboration with sports science and medicine colleagues.
• To plan, deliver and review individualised load management strategies to minimise injury and maximise player availability, in collaboration with sports science and medicine colleagues
• To plan deliver and review individualised recovery strategies to minimise injury and maximise recovery and player availability, in collaboration with sports science and medicine colleagues,
• To plan, deliver and review regular, evidence-based and individualised, football-specific fitness and strength and conditioning assessments, to accurately monitor athletic performance and development.
Decision Making:
• To utilise a wide range of subjective and objective data to provide key insights to players and staff and to inform athletic development decisions, and load management strategies.
• To regularly review all fitness, conditioning, and sports science strategies through audit processes to inform decision-making in process development.
• Ensure the sports science programme is delivered in accordance with the Clubs philosophy, vision, and values, the Elite Player Performance Plan and any Governing Body requirements.
Impact & Influence:
• To actively contribute to the creation of a high-performance environment by ensuring all duties are completed with pride, consistency and to the best of your ability.
• To advise Academy staff on a variety of issues in relation to player performance, load, and any other areas related to your discipline.
• Advise and interact with players, parents, and staff on a variety of issues in relation to athletic development and other areas related to your discipline. The provision of educational workshops and presentations will be an important aspect of this role.
• Maintain high standards of professionalism while acting as an ambassador for the Academy and Sports Science and Medicine Department and Milton Keynes Dons Football Club.
Skill Level:
• Possess a sound understanding of sports science strategies to maximise performance with an emphasis on long term athletic development, including the ability to apply a wide range of reasoned methods and strategies.
• Possess excellent organisational, logistical and time management skills with ability to meet stringent deadlines.
• Have the ability to work within the scope of your practice while recognising the need to refer for further assistance or input from Sports Science and Medicine Staff.
• Excellent IT skills including MS Excel, Word and PowerPoint.
Communication:
• To provide status reports to the Academy Manager, Academy Sports Science and Medicine Coordinator, Performance Director, coaching staff and other key staff on a regular basis and as required.
• Excellent communication skills with an ability to liaise with players, coaches, management, medical staff and any such individuals in a personable and professional manner.
Budget Management:
• Ensure any financial actions are within the remit of the role and the agreed budget.
Lead & Develop:
• Remain up to date with advances in the fields of Sports Science and Medicine through regular CPD activities including, contributing to Departmental CPD and attending any courses required by the PL, EFL and FA.
• Maintain all legal and professional qualifications, and a comprehensive knowledge of relevant policies, procedures, and regulations as required by the Club, FA, EFL, PL and any other appropriate bodies.
Operating Parameters:
• Enhance and support a high level of athletic development and performance through an in depth understanding of the needs of a young elite athletes.
• Develop and deliver robust, evidence based and age-appropriate physical assessment, screening, and monitoring processes across the Academy.
• Collect, analyse, and report on a wide range of subjective and objective data to provide key insights and inform sports science strategies.
• Develop and implement a long-term athletic development pathway including the delivery of individualised and evidence-based strategies.
• Develop and implement player preparation sessions ahead of training sessions and matches.
• Plan and deliver fitness, strength and conditioning, rehabilitation, and recovery sessions.
• Implement nutritional strategies to maximize and support player development and recovery.
• Implement a variety of evidence informed preventative strategies to reduce injury risk.
• Implement and optimise load monitoring strategies across the Academy.
• Cover U23’s/ development matches from a sports science and strength and conditioning prospective including physical preparation, load monitoring, post-match conditioning and recovery.
• Ensure all player interactions are recorded and stored in line with current data protection, Club, FA, EFL and other Governing Body regulations and Club policies.
• Assist with Academy logistical operations such as travel arrangements and food provisions.
• Assist with any other reasonable duties as directed by management staff.
Essential & Desirable Job Criteria:
Education
• BSc in a Sport Science/Strength & Conditioning or equivalent qualification.
• Relevant post-graduate CPD Portfolio within the field of Sport Science/ Strength and Conditioning.
• FA Emergency First Aid or equivalent or higher qualification.
Experience
• Ability to demonstrate experience of sports science and strength and conditioning delivery in a team sport environment.
• Knowledge and understanding of policies, procedures and regulations relating to your role.
Personal Qualities
• An ability to work in a high-pressured environment with a flexible approach, to dedicate time to the programme as the schedule determines.
• A strong ‘can do’ attitude.
• The ability to adapt to different, changing and challenging situations.
• Possess the drive and enthusiasm to set high standards and lead by example while achieving agreed objectives.
• High self- motivation.
• The ability to work independently under your own initiative and as part of an extensive high-performance team.
• Honest and trustworthy with a high level of confidentiality and exceptional personal integrity.
Desirable
• A full driving license.
• MSc Sports Science/Strength and Conditioning or equivalent degree or working towards.
• Working knowledge, of Benchmark 54, PMA, VALD and Catapult software/hardware.
• Experience of delivery of strength and conditioning programs to youth and professional footballers.
• Accreditation with UKSCA, BASES or equivalent or working towards.
To ensure that equality, diversity and inclusion is maintained and developed across all programmes and areas of the business.
Role Competencies:
Planning Timescales:
• To plan, deliver and review individualised and periodised off-season, pre-season and in-season fitness and strength and conditioning strategies to optimise player preparation, athletic development and availability.
• To plan, deliver and review evidence-based preparation and injury prevention strategies to prepare players for training/matches and reduce injury risk, In collaboration with sports science and medicine colleagues.
• To plan, deliver and review individualised load management strategies to minimise injury and maximise player availability, in collaboration with sports science and medicine colleagues
• To plan deliver and review individualised recovery strategies to minimise injury and maximise recovery and player availability, in collaboration with sports science and medicine colleagues,
• To plan, deliver and review regular, evidence-based and individualised, football-specific fitness and strength and conditioning assessments, to accurately monitor athletic performance and development.
Decision Making:
• To utilise a wide range of subjective and objective data to provide key insights to players and staff and to inform athletic development decisions, and load management strategies.
• To regularly review all fitness, conditioning, and sports science strategies through audit processes to inform decision-making in process development.
• Ensure the sports science programme is delivered in accordance with the Clubs philosophy, vision, and values, the Elite Player Performance Plan and any Governing Body requirements.
Impact & Influence:
• To actively contribute to the creation of a high-performance environment by ensuring all duties are completed with pride, consistency and to the best of your ability.
• To advise Academy staff on a variety of issues in relation to player performance, load, and any other areas related to your discipline.
• Advise and interact with players, parents, and staff on a variety of issues in relation to athletic development and other areas related to your discipline. The provision of educational workshops and presentations will be an important aspect of this role.
• Maintain high standards of professionalism while acting as an ambassador for the Academy and Sports Science and Medicine Department and Milton Keynes Dons Football Club.
Skill Level:
• Possess a sound understanding of sports science strategies to maximise performance with an emphasis on long term athletic development, including the ability to apply a wide range of reasoned methods and strategies.
• Possess excellent organisational, logistical and time management skills with ability to meet stringent deadlines.
• Have the ability to work within the scope of your practice while recognising the need to refer for further assistance or input from Sports Science and Medicine Staff.
• Excellent IT skills including MS Excel, Word and PowerPoint.
Communication:
• To provide status reports to the Academy Manager, Academy Sports Science and Medicine Coordinator, Performance Director, coaching staff and other key staff on a regular basis and as required.
• Excellent communication skills with an ability to liaise with players, coaches, management, medical staff and any such individuals in a personable and professional manner.
Budget Management:
• Ensure any financial actions are within the remit of the role and the agreed budget.
Lead & Develop:
• Remain up to date with advances in the fields of Sports Science and Medicine through regular CPD activities including, contributing to Departmental CPD and attending any courses required by the PL, EFL and FA.
• Maintain all legal and professional qualifications, and a comprehensive knowledge of relevant policies, procedures, and regulations as required by the Club, FA, EFL, PL and any other appropriate bodies.
Operating Parameters:
• Enhance and support a high level of athletic development and performance through an in depth understanding of the needs of a young elite athletes.
• Develop and deliver robust, evidence based and age-appropriate physical assessment, screening, and monitoring processes across the Academy.
• Collect, analyse, and report on a wide range of subjective and objective data to provide key insights and inform sports science strategies.
• Develop and implement a long-term athletic development pathway including the delivery of individualised and evidence-based strategies.
• Develop and implement player preparation sessions ahead of training sessions and matches.
• Plan and deliver fitness, strength and conditioning, rehabilitation, and recovery sessions.
• Implement nutritional strategies to maximize and support player development and recovery.
• Implement a variety of evidence informed preventative strategies to reduce injury risk.
• Implement and optimise load monitoring strategies across the Academy.
• Cover U23’s/ development matches from a sports science and strength and conditioning prospective including physical preparation, load monitoring, post-match conditioning and recovery.
• Ensure all player interactions are recorded and stored in line with current data protection, Club, FA, EFL and other Governing Body regulations and Club policies.
• Assist with Academy logistical operations such as travel arrangements and food provisions.
• Assist with any other reasonable duties as directed by management staff.
Essential & Desirable Job Criteria:
Education
• BSc in a Sport Science/Strength & Conditioning or equivalent qualification.
• Relevant post-graduate CPD Portfolio within the field of Sport Science/ Strength and Conditioning.
• FA Emergency First Aid or equivalent or higher qualification.
Experience
• Ability to demonstrate experience of sports science and strength and conditioning delivery in a team sport environment.
• Knowledge and understanding of policies, procedures and regulations relating to your role.
Personal Qualities
• An ability to work in a high-pressured environment with a flexible approach, to dedicate time to the programme as the schedule determines.
• A strong ‘can do’ attitude.
• The ability to adapt to different, changing and challenging situations.
• Possess the drive and enthusiasm to set high standards and lead by example while achieving agreed objectives.
• High self- motivation.
• The ability to work independently under your own initiative and as part of an extensive high-performance team.
• Honest and trustworthy with a high level of confidentiality and exceptional personal integrity.
Desirable
• A full driving license.
• MSc Sports Science/Strength and Conditioning or equivalent degree or working towards.
• Working knowledge, of Benchmark 54, PMA, VALD and Catapult software/hardware.
• Experience of delivery of strength and conditioning programs to youth and professional footballers.
• Accreditation with UKSCA, BASES or equivalent or working towards.
To ensure that equality, diversity and inclusion is maintained and developed across all programmes and areas of the business.
To Apply
https://www.stadiummk.com/careers/