ROLE DESCRIPTION

The New Saints FC
Head of Sports Science and Player Performance
Club History and Tradition
The New Saints FC is the most successful club in Welsh Domestic Football, winning the National CymruPremier League more times than any other club, including consecutively for an eight-season period in2017 and achieving the World Record of consecutive wins, whilst competing in UEFA Competitions every year for over 20 years or more, creating a club structure to the envy of other Welsh DomesticClubs.
Club Vision
To continue to be the most successful club in Welsh Domestic Football and to be the first Welsh club to compete in the group stages of a UEFA Club Competition and sustaining this on regular basis, ensuring that all football industry stakeholders recognise that our Club and our National League inWales is the powerhouse of talent and commands the respect and equality of other national leagues throughout Europe
Club Culture and football philosophy
The New Saints FC will continue to implement game changing systems and leadership in WelshDomestic Football. Historically, the club has led the way - ‘The TNS way’ with a state of the art 3G pitch, player fitness programmes, a clear academy player pathway, internal succession planning for its people, player performance analysis, unique sponsorship funding initiatives and thought leadership programs to ensure each player, coach, manager and staff member reaches their optimum potential.
The club, by recruiting young talented players with potential and by developing coaches and players through the club’s investment in coach education and its player pathway respectively greatly assists the club in implementing our vision. The ultimate aim is to be successful on the UEFA stage by qualifying and progressing to the group stages of a UEFA Club Competition, whilst developing players of real value on the football transfer market or to fully utilise such players within our club in order to fulfil our vision and ambition.
Job Title: Head of Sports Science and Player Performance
Reporting to: Sporting Director, First Team Head Coach
3 month probation period
Overall Purpose of Job:

To lead, manage and deliver the sports science provision for the player performance and development of all players at the club
To act as the Club lead for sports science and ensure the effective operation of the multi-disciplinary team and drive both development and performance outcomes.

Main Responsibilities/Description of Duties:

Create a holistic and consistent approach by ensuring all processes are aligned through the club, by overseeing the physical development programme to all First team and Scholarship players whilst developing a relationship with the Academy Strength and Conditioning lead.
Develop a plan to ensure that the department functions effectively and offer suggestions as to how the department can move forwards.
Delivering the physical development programme to all First team and Scholarship players.
To review all players from a physical perspective. Lead and oversee on individual player physical development programmes.
Plan and oversee the implementation of individual/group strength & conditioning for all players.
Work in collaboration with Physio’s and staff to provide specific physical development training sessions for injured players.
Provide match day fitness support for the first team, for all games home and away.
Work together with the rest of the MDT to provide holistic support for all player development.
Support the coaching staff to maximise physical development outcomes from all training sessions and games.
Implement individual physical development plan programmes for all players in season and out of season ensuring that these are readily available to key staff.
Deliver weekly gym-based injury prevention and strength and conditioning sessions.
Deliver at least two sessions weekly with scholarship players.
Take an active role in developing the Gym environment, in terms of resources.
Undertake delivery of any on-field physical development sessions.
Ensure the monitoring of physical exertion of training using heart rate, GPS and RPE methods and feedback to the coaching staff via verbal communication and visual reports for appropriate groups ensuring that all data is readily available.
Lead on the taking of body fats and the reporting of these.
Contribute to staff CPD programme and attend meetings as and when required.Knowledge, Skills and Qualifications required
Extensive understanding of sport science and related disciplines, including their impact on athletic performance.
Experience as an applied practitioner in sports science and to have experience of a departmental leadership role within elite sport.
Experience in conducting scientifically underpinned assessment, monitoring and evaluation procedures.
Experience of using data management systems to ensure the secure and efficient storage of monitoring and evaluation data.
A confident decision-maker.
Able to communicate clearly and effectively with players and staff at all levels, with absolute discretion.
Strong IT skills with the ability to use e-mail, Microsoft Office and analytical software to a high standard. Able to adapt to the demands of the job and needs of the players and staff.
Committed, enthusiastic and passionate about the athletic development of professional football players.
Dedicated to self-improvement and continuous professional development.
Willing to follow and promote the philosophy of the Club.
Personable and enthusiastic with a strong work ethic.
Good team player who can work on own initiative.
Must have outstanding leadership qualities and an understanding of good discipline protocol.

QUALIFICATIONS

BSc Sports Science/Strength and conditioning degree (essential)
Masters in Sports Science or Strength and Conditioning or working towards (desirable)
Relevant DBS certificate or prepared to undertake the relevant check.
Full UK driving licence.
Good level of IT skills
Experience in using GPS
Experience of nutritional requirements for professional sports people
Further qualifications or accreditation from relevant bodies (UKSCA, BASES, BASEM)
Up to date first aid qualification
Experience of field-based training and testing protocols.
Experience working with coaches, Physiotherapists, and performance sport practitioners from a variety of disciplines.
Excellent communication skills - written, oral and presentation skills and with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders.
An understanding of various sport science disciplines and key performance indicators
A creative and innovative approach to exercise prescription
Ability to deal with conflicting demands without supervision
Confident, self-motivated, and able to work under pressure.

SPECIAL CONDITIONS

Flexibility with working hours required to meet demands of the role.
Under the Disclosure and Barring Service and in accordance with the Club’s own rules regarding Safeguarding the post-holder will be required to meet minimum criteria regarding Safeguarding and a Disclosure and Barring Check will be required in this post. Exceptions Order to Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974 applies.

The document is a guide only and should not be regarded as exclusive or exhaustive. It is intended as an outline indication of the areas of activity and will be amended in the light of changing needs of the organisation.
Equality and Diversity
The New Saints FC is committed to the principle of equal opportunity in employment and its employment policies for recruitment, selection, training, development and promotion are designed to ensure that no job applicant or employee receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of race, colour, nationality, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, age, ethnic and national origin, disability or gender reassignment.
Safer Recruitment
The New Saints FC is committed to safeguarding and promoting the welfare of children, young people and vulnerable adults. The job holder will be required to undertake appropriate safeguarding checks.