TITLE: Head of Medical
DEPARTMENT: Performance
REPORTS TO: Director of Rugby
LINE MANAGER TO: Medical team
EMPLOYMENT TYPE: Full time fixed term 24 month |6-month probationary period
LOCATION: Performance training facility | Halliwell Jones Stadium | As per demands of Super League (including regular domestic and some international travel)
REMUNERATION: Competitive salary | Phone allowance| Laptop |Pension | 21 days holiday per year
ABOUT PERFORMANCE AND OUR DIRECTION
As we move through the 30th year of Super League, alongside our 150-year anniversary as a Club, we continue to be committed to creating an exceptional and professionally driven performance environment for both our players and our staff. As one of only five clubs to have remained in Super League since its inception, we are part of an exclusive group that have demonstrated a strong history of player care and clinical return to play management systems. Our ambition is to create one of the leading integrated performance ecosystems in professional sport, where collaboration, innovation and evidence-based practice maximise player availability and enable sustained elite performance.
ABOUT THE ROLE AND WHAT WE ARE LOOKING FOR
Working as part of a wider team of 20 performance staff, The Head of Medical will be responsible for over 30 professional athletes competing in Super League (namely the first team squad). Reporting to the Director of Rugby and working alongside the Head Coach and Head of Performance, you will also be directly responsible for the Medical Team as line manager, ensuring their integration with the wider team and continued professional development. Your core duties will include but are not limited to:
· Lead and develop the club's medical provision, delivering world-class clinical care while operating as an integral member of the wider performance department
· Provide strategic leadership across all medical services, ensuring players receive the highest standards of assessment, treatment, rehabilitation and performance support throughout the performance pathway
· Work collaboratively with coaching, strength & conditioning, sports science and performance staff. You will be required to contribute to an integrated high-performance environment where evidence-based practice, innovation and continuous improvement underpin decision making
· Foster a culture that places player welfare at its core whilst striving to maximise player availability and optimise performance
· Integrate and understand our performance pathway model including Scholars, Academy and Reserves to ensure the requirements of player readiness are recognised prior to player integration with the first team squad
We work in a fast paced, professional and ever evolving environment as the demands of Super League and the season calendar dictate. Primarily based at our performance training facility and Halliwell Jones stadium, we also move cross country and internationally, with the Head of Medical role being critical to ensuring we are successful in every aspect of our planning and delivery. From daily player availability updates and training preparation to leading all aspects of match day player care, we are looking for someone who understands not only our athletes, but the people centred around the entire programme – and the importance of connecting our departments.
If you think this could be the role for you, please read on for the job description and personal specification, including how to apply.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
CLINICAL LEADERSHIP
Lead and oversee all medical services across the first team squad, ensuring the highest standards of clinical care, governance and professional practice. Including but not limited to:
· Medical assessments, diagnosis and treatment
· Rehabilitation planning and progression alongside return-to-performance programmes
· Coordination of player preparation for training and competition
· Liaising with consultants, surgeons and external healthcare providers in relation to player health
· Ensure clinical practice reflects current evidence and best practice within elite sport
PLAYER HEALTH & PERFORMANCE
Work collaboratively with the coaching, strength & conditioning and sports science staff to maximise player health, availability and performance throughout the season via:
· Contributing to multidisciplinary performance meetings, providing evidence-based recommendations regarding player readiness, rehabilitation progression and return-to-performance decisions
· Integrating GPS, athlete monitoring data and clinical assessment into rehabilitation protocol
· Designing and delivering individualised rehabilitation programmes
· Produce regular medical reports detailing player status, rehabilitation progress and projected availability to the Head Coach to inform training and game-based decisions
· Lead the medical development and implementation of injury prevention strategies
DEPARTMENT LEADERSHIP & DEVELOPMENT
Provide leadership, mentorship and support to physiotherapy and medical staff across the club through:
· Fostering a collaborative, accountable and high-performance culture within the medical department that promotes continuous professional development
· Drive the continual development of medical services through innovation, reflection and the implementation of best practice
· Identify opportunities to improve clinical pathways, rehabilitation processes and interdisciplinary collaboration
· Encourage knowledge sharing, case review and collaborative learning across the wider performance department utilising outside partners and leaders of industry
GOVERNANCE & ADMINISTRATION
· Ensure all medical records, injury surveillance data and rehabilitation documentation are accurately maintained using the Club's athlete management systems
· Ensure compliance with Club policies, governing body statutory regulations (RFL) and professional standards
· Lead the planning, delivery and interpretation of the Club's pre-season screening programme, working collaboratively with the performance team to translate findings into individualised injury risk reduction, rehabilitation and performance plans
· Support the management of departmental equipment, consumables and budgets
· Escalate and report player welfare concerns in accordance with safeguarding procedures
· Build and maintain effective working relationships with players, staff, consultants and external healthcare provider
ESSENTIAL REQUIREMENTS
· Proven ability and or track record working collaboratively within an integrated multidisciplinary performance team
· Significant experience in the assessment, diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of elite athletes
· Minimum of five years' full-time experience within a professional sporting environment.
· Advanced practical expertise in musculoskeletal assessment, clinical reasoning and manual therapy techniques
· Strong understanding of applied sports science, athletic development, physical preparation and performance programming
· Demonstrable experience designing, implementing and progressing individualised rehabilitation and return-to-performance programmes
· Experience using objective athlete monitoring technologies (e.g. VALD systems) to inform rehabilitation planning and return-to-performance decision making
· Experience interpreting GPS and external load data to support rehabilitation progression, injury risk management and performance readiness
· Strong understanding of evidence-based practice and its application within elite sport
· Strong IT skills with experience using electronic medical record systems, athlete management systems and performance software
QUALIFICATIONS
· Postgraduate qualification (or equivalent) in Sports Physiotherapy, Sport and Exercise Medicine or a related discipline
· Membership of the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (MCSP)
· Current registration with the Health and Care Professions Council (HCPC)
· Appropriate and evidenced professional indemnity insurance
· Current RFL Immediate Medical Management on the Field of Play (IMMOFP) qualification (or recognised equivalent such as FA, RFU (ATMMiF and PHICIS) for example)
· Current (or working towards) Safeguarding and Protecting Children and Time to Listen
· Current (or in submission) DBS
OUR RECRUITMENT PROCESS
We will offer a 2-stage interview process as detailed below (subject to change). We will also offer any reasonable adjustments if needed:
1. WRITTEN APPLICATION LETTER AND CV
If you would like to apply, please send your CV (no more than 2 pages) and a cover letter (no more than 250 words) as to why you would like to work in the Performance Department in the role of Head of Medical to: [email protected]
2. CULTURE FIT
Those candidates successful in their written application will be invited to a 30-minute culture fit session (online or face to face) as to how you may fit with our team and players
3. INVITE TO COLLABORATE
Those candidates who successfully move through the culture fit will then be invited to a second interview to collaborate with a number of performance staff and first team players at our training and/or matchday facility
ADMINISTRATION
· The application for this role will close on Friday 21st August at 5.00 pm. Applications received after this date will not be considered for this round of interviews
· Due to the expected high volume of applicants, unfortunately we will only be able to respond to those candidates who successfully make it to the interview stage of the process
· Those who are successful in being invited to a first interview should expect a response by Wednesday August 26th at 5.00pm
· If you have any questions about this role, please direct them to [email protected]
· We advise that if you do not meet the essential criteria and qualifications outlined in this role description you should not apply for this post
· This vacancy may close sooner dependent upon applications received before this date.
As an equal opportunities employer, we are committed to the equal treatment of all current and prospective employees and do not condone discrimination on the basis of age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity, race or ethnicity, religion or belief, gender identity, or marriage and civil partnership. We welcome applicants from all backgrounds and communities, and in particular those who are currently under-represented in our workforce.
Work Location: In person
