Head of Sports Science - Women's Team

Job description

Lead the Physical Performance Programme for West Ham United Women’s First Team

West Ham United Football Club is seeking an experienced and dynamic Head of Sports Science to take a pivotal leadership role within our Women’s First Team. This is a rare opportunity to shape the future of physical performance at a club with ambitious plans for growth, working alongside driven professionals in an elite football environment.

The Impact You’ll Make

In this role, you’ll lead the Women’s First Team physical performance programme, aligning it with the club’s overarching sports science methodology. You’ll be embedded in the heart of the team environment — both on the pitch and in the gym — to integrate physical preparation seamlessly into football training and matchday performance.

Your remit will cover every aspect of performance support, from physical profiling and conditioning to injury prevention and end-stage rehabilitation. You’ll also provide matchday support, ensure smooth performance operations, and play a key role in developing Academy players for First Team readiness.

With direct reports including sports science staff and performance analysts, you’ll be a visible and proactive leader — confident in influencing senior coaches, driving innovation, and fostering high standards of professionalism and culture across the group.

Key Responsibilities

• Design, deliver and oversee the physical performance strategy for the Women’s First Team.
• Lead physical profiling, performance monitoring and conditioning programmes.
• Integrate sports science principles into football training, collaborating closely with coaching staff.
• Deliver warm-ups, activation sessions, and return-to-play plans both on the pitch and in the gym.
• Manage performance logistics and ensure operational excellence.
• Support the transition of Academy players into the First Team environment.
• Contribute to ongoing research projects, including partnerships such as the PhD study with Loughborough University.
• Lead, mentor and develop members of the sports science team.

What We’re Looking For

We are seeking a proactive, organised, and resilient leader who thrives in high-performance environments and can adapt to the demands of elite women’s football.

Essential:

• BSc in Sport Science, Strength & Conditioning, or related field
• UKSCA Accreditation (or working towards)
• Proven experience in an elite sport setting
• Demonstrable ability in both pitch-based and gym-based delivery
• Strong understanding of female athlete development and periodisation
• Leadership skills with the ability to manage up and down effectively

Desirable:

• MSc in Sport Science or related discipline
• BASES Accreditation
• FA Emergency First Aid (EFAiF Level 2)
• Understanding of growth & maturation in youth development
• UKAD Clean Sport Advisor Certification

Attributes:

• Highly organised, disciplined, and punctual
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Comfortable leading in both collaborative and directive scenarios
• Passionate about innovation and continued professional development
• Committed to the club’s values and high-performance culture

Why West Ham United?

West Ham United are building something special in the women’s game. This role offers the opportunity to join a forward-thinking club during an exciting period of growth and investment. You’ll work in a supportive environment that values collaboration, player welfare, and long-term development.

This is a full-time role based at Chadwell Heath Training Ground, with travel required for matches and training camps.

The Executives in Sport Group are retained on behalf of West Ham United Football Club to appoint a Head of Sports Science – Women’s Team. All direct applications and CVs will be forwarded to The Executives in Sport Group.

We ask that applicants complete our diversity monitoring form. You are not obliged to answer any of these questions, but the more information you provide, the more effective our monitoring will be. All information is anonymous and will not be viewed by recruiting managers.

(Please copy and paste into your browser) – https://forms.office.com/e/35vpdcsxq2

Please note that due to the volume of applications received, we are unable to provide specific feedback on unsuccessful applications.

Extra information

Status

Closed

Education Level

Secondary School

Location

London Area

Type of Contract

Casual / Part Time Jobs

Full UK/EU driving license preferred

No

Car Preferred

No

Must be eligible to work in the EU

No

Cover Letter Required

No

Languages

English