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VACANCY - HEAD OF PERFORMANCE
Newcastle Red Bulls are recruiting for the role of head of performance. Please read below for details on the position, and how to apply.
Salary: Competitive (dependent on experience)
Hours: Full-time (including evenings and weekends)
Reporting to: General Manager, Rugby
Based at: Kingston Park Stadium, Newcastle upon Tyne, NE13 8AF
About us:
We are Newcastle Red Bulls, the only Premiership rugby team in the true North of England and one of the fastest evolving high-performance environments in UK sport.
Our vision is to be one of the leading rugby organisations in the UK and Europe; a club that consistently competes at the highest level, develops exceptional people and sets new benchmarks for performance, innovation and professionalism – on and off the pitch.
We are writing a new chapter for professional sport in the region and are seeking an outstanding Head of Performance to play a pivotal role in delivering our ambition.
The Role
The Head of Performance will lead the design, integration and delivery of a world class performance system that maximises athlete availability, robustness and competitive readiness, enabling Newcastle Red Bulls to consistently compete at the highest level.
Sitting at the heart of the rugby programme, this role provides strategic and operational leadership across all performance disciplines, ensuring a fully integrated, evidence-based and athlete centred approach.
Working in close partnership with the Head Coach, rugby leadership team and wider club functions, the Head of Performance will create an environment where players are physically prepared, resilient and ready, and where performance culture, innovation and accountability thrive.
This is a senior, influential role within a dynamic, high-expectation environment and will suit an individual who combines technical excellence with strong leadership, collaboration and a relentless drive for improvement.
Key Responsibilities
- Lead and align all performance support services to deliver maximum impact, optimising athlete health, robustness, readiness and physical performance to enable the club to compete at the top level of the domestic game.
- Lead and integrate sports medicine, physical performance, sports science and nutrition services, enabling specialist leads to deliver best-in-class practice within a unified framework and appropriate governance, policies and procedures to ensure compliance.
- Develop and implement a world-class long-term strategy for athlete health and physical performance that is aligned to the club’s philosophy. Working closely with technical leads to set the vision, department-specific strategies and action plans, support their delivery and ensure that key performance criteria are met through objective evaluation systems.
- Drive sustainable success through an inter-disciplinary and cross-departmental, athlete-centred approach so that best in class programmes and support services are delivered through the daily training environment.
- Work closely with the Head Coach and Coaching Co-ordinator on season long and multi-year periodised planning owning the performance macro-plan and training camp strategy.
- Ensure full compliance with RFU, PRL and Worls Rugby minimum operating standards, including all HIA, IMG and contact training protocols.
- Lead on data science, developing integrated systems for data collection, assimilation and statistical insights through both training and competition metrics, to inform programming and provide decision making support to the Head Coach.
- Generate processes for quantifying measurable improvements in athlete health and physical performance through profiling, benchmarking, monitoring and performance metrics. Develop integrated systems that translate data into actionable insight and competitive advantage for coaches and players.
- Oversee performance budgets, research and innovation initiatives, providing clear reporting, evaluation and functional audits.
- Work in collaboration with the Head of Medical Services to ensure the safe and effective management of all athletes through elite evidence-based practice. Track screening, injury and illness trends to identify injury risks for athletes and implement measures to mitigate against any future risks, overseeing injury prevention strategies and recovery modalities so athletes are best prepared for the demands of the game.
- Work in collaboration with the Head of Athletic Performance to optimise physical potential through bespoke programmes that compliment coaches’ training plans. Monitor acute and chronic responses to training and oversee load management strategies to reduce injury risk and enhance performance.
- Oversee the nutrition strategy for the club to optimise player health and performance through player profiling and personalised interventions.
- Contribute to the future design of the club’s wellbeing strategy and approach.
Leadership & Culture
- Act as a core member of the rugby leadership group, contributing to strategic decision-making, risk management and long-term squad sustainability.
- Create a culture of trust, challenge and accountability, encouraging innovation whilst maintaining clinical and professional rigour.
- Create a performance environment that accelerates learning, adaptability and decision making under pressure, alongside physical readiness.
- Develop people capability through clear expectations, feedback and continuous professional development.
Person Specification:
Qualifications and Experience
- Post-graduate qualification in a relevant discipline (e.g. Sports Science and Medicine, Human Performance, Strength and Conditioning).
- Appropriate accreditation (e.g. HCPC / BASES or equivalent).
- Proven experience leading performance or medical functions in an elite team sport environment.
- Demonstrated ability to design and deliver performance strategy aligned to coaching and organisational objectives.
Skills and Attributes
- Strong leadership capability with high emotional intelligence and credibility across disciplines.
- Strong data literacy and experience of using performance analytics to inform decision-making.
- Understanding of sports medicine, physical performance, sports science and technology, nutrition and the demands of elite level rugby union.
- Ability to work collaboratively across multi-functional departments to drive best practice as well as being competent working independently on projects.
Safeguarding:
Newcastle Red Bulls take safeguarding very seriously and are committed to ensuring that all children and adults at risk are safeguarded at all times when engaging in club activities or services. The club has safeguarding policies and best practice guidelines to support this and expect all employees to adopt such policies and practices at all times. The club adheres to strict guidelines, policies and procedures when recruiting staff who work with children and/or adults at risk and is committed to ensuring staff receive appropriate safeguarding training suitable to their role(s). Successful applicants are expected to share the club’s approach to safeguarding at all times.
Equal Opportunities:
Newcastle Red Bulls are an equal opportunities employer and all applicants for employment will be given equal opportunities irrespective of sex, age, race, religion or belief, marriage or civil partnership, disability, sexual orientation, gender reassignment,
pregnancy or maternity, ethnic or national origin. The post holder’s duties must be carried out in compliance with the club’s Equal Opportunities Policy, with the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and subsequent Health and Safety Legislation. These duties and responsibilities should be regarded as neither exclusive nor exhaustive, and the post holder may be required to undertake other reasonably determined duties and responsibilities within Newcastle Red Bulls, commensurate with the post without changing the character of the post. This post requires an enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS). This post is exempt from the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act (1974). Information on all convictions including spent convictions must be declared, in line with the new Government Filtering System.
If you wish to see our Candidate Privacy Notice click HERE.
Employment is subject to satisfactory professional references, the provision of proof of eligibility to work in the UK as well as a successfully cleared enhanced Disclosure & Barring Service (DBS) check and clearance of RFU safer recruitment procedure.
How to Apply:
If you have a proven track record of delivering excellence in elite performance environments and the drive to build a world-class system within an ambitious club, we would love to hear from you.
Please send a CV and cover letter outlining your relevant experience to:
Dominica O’Neil (Director of HR) at dominica.oneil@newcastleredbulls.com
The closing date for applications is Friday 30 January, however this is subject to change and may be adjusted in line with application volumes.
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