
About the Women's Team:
Our team is committed to fostering a supportive environment that empowers female athletes to showcase their skills and reach their full potential.
We prioritise player development through tailored training programs that focus on technical skills, tactical understanding, and physical fitness.
The SAFC Women’s Football Team benefits from strong collaboration with our Coaching and Analysis teams, ensuring that our strategies and training sessions are informed by the latest insights and best practices.
The Opportunity:
Lead the design, delivery, and monitoring of the Women’s First Team strength and conditioning programme, ensuring all gym and on-field sessions are evidence-informed, periodised, and aligned with training and match demands. Deliver an integrated physical performance programme tailored to the specific needs of elite female footballers throughout the season.
Provide sports science support through the collection, analysis, and interpretation of GPS and physiological monitoring data, sharing key insights with coaching, medical, and performance staff to inform training load management and performance planning. Support physical performance testing, maintain accurate monitoring records, and use data to drive programme development and player progression.
Work collaboratively with the medical team to support rehabilitation and return-to-play processes, while contributing to injury prevention strategies and player education across areas including recovery, hydration, nutrition, and performance habits. Maintain strong communication across the interdisciplinary team, contribute to a positive player environment, and demonstrate a commitment to ongoing professional development and CPD.
What We Ask For:
Candidates should hold a degree in Sports Science or a related discipline and possess, or be working towards, UKSCA Accredited Strength and Conditioning Coach (ASCC) status. Applicants should also hold, or be willing to obtain, the FA Emergency First Aid qualification, and complete the UK Anti-Doping Introduction to Clean Sport and FootballHER courses. Must be in possession of an up-to-date FA Safeguarding qualification.
The successful candidate will demonstrate experience supporting physical performance within elite sport and delivering gym-based strength and conditioning programmes in a team sport environment. They will have a strong understanding of the physical development needs of female athletes, experience using performance monitoring technologies and diagnostics, and the ability to work collaboratively with coaching and multidisciplinary staff to deliver integrated training programmes. Strong organisational skills and the ability to manage competing priorities in a high-performance environment are essential.
You will be required to obtain an Enhanced DBS through SAFC.

Sunderland AFC is rightfully mentioned amongst world football’s oldest and successful names.
Founded in 1879, the club has a proud history and heritage which underpins its role in the regional, national and international footballing community.
The club have been crowned champions of England’s top division on six occasions and won two FA Cups, and the famous faces and events of the past are still held in the highest regard today.
The club's superb home is the Stadium of Light, which opened in 1997 and had a capacity of 49,000.