Head of Medical

The successful candidate will lead the Club's medical department, overseeing the delivery of outstanding medical provision to the First Team while providing leadership, guidance and support to the Academy and Women's Team medical staff. Working collaboratively with coaching, sports science and performance personnel, you will be responsible for maximising player availability and implementing evidence-based medical and sports medicine practices that contribute directly to team success.

This role requires a strong leader who can build high-performing teams, drive professional standards and create an environment centred on excellence, accountability and continuous improvement.

Key Responsibilities

Medical Leadership & Department Management

• Lead, organise and develop all medical services across AFC Fylde.
• Provide leadership, support and professional supervision to medical staff across the First Team, Academy and Women's programme.
• Foster a culture of excellence, innovation and continuous professional development.
• Act as a trusted advisor to coaches, performance staff and senior leadership on all medical matters.
• Serve as an ambassador for AFC Fylde, building strong relationships with players, staff, healthcare providers and external stakeholders.

Injury Prevention & Player Availability

• Conduct annual injury audits and analyse trends to identify areas for improvement.
• Design and implement evidence-based injury prevention strategies.
• Plan and deliver annual screening and physical assessment programmes for players.
• Develop ongoing management plans for players with significant injury histories to minimise recurrence risk.
• Play an active role in player load management alongside coaching and sports science staff.

Clinical Assessment & Rehabilitation

• Deliver accurate diagnosis, prognosis and treatment of player injuries.
• Develop and oversee individual rehabilitation plans with clear objective milestones and return-to-play criteria.
• Provide regular injury status updates to relevant stakeholders.
• Coordinate referrals, investigations, imaging and specialist consultations where required.
• Deliver and oversee world-class treatment and rehabilitation services.
• Design and implement daily rehabilitation programmes, including pitch-based rehabilitation.
• Ensure players receive the highest standards of care throughout every stage of recovery.

Performance Support & Matchday Medical Cover

• Provide daily maintenance and treatment programmes for all players.
• Develop and implement effective recovery protocols and performance enhancement strategies.
• Oversee soft tissue therapy provision for First Team players.
• Provide pitch-side medical cover for all First Team fixtures.
• Ensure all medical facilities, equipment and supplies are maintained to the highest standard and compliant with relevant regulations.

About You

You will be an experienced football medical professional who combines outstanding clinical expertise with strong leadership capabilities. You will thrive in a high-performance environment and be passionate about helping players perform at their best while safeguarding their long-term health and wellbeing.

Essential Requirements

• Previous experience working as a Physiotherapist within men's professional football.
• Excellent injury assessment, treatment and rehabilitation skills.
• Strong understanding of athlete monitoring, load management and injury prevention.
• Outstanding communication and stakeholder management abilities.
• Proven ability to work effectively within a multidisciplinary performance team.
• A proactive, professional and solutions-focused approach.

Desirable Requirements

• Previous experience as a Head Physiotherapist or Head of Medical within professional football.
• Experience overseeing and leading multidisciplinary medical teams.
• Advanced knowledge of contemporary sports medicine and performance practices.

Why AFC Fylde?

This is a unique opportunity to shape and lead the medical provision of an ambitious football club with a clear vision for success. You will have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact across all areas of the football programme, working alongside dedicated professionals in a high-performance environment where player welfare and excellence are at the heart of everything we do.

If you are an exceptional medical practitioner with the expertise, leadership and drive to elevate our medical department, we would love to hear from you.

Apply now and become part of the AFC Fylde journey.