Sports Scientist

Job Description

The role in brief:

To facilitate data collection that is appropriate and relevant to performance and to manage and report data in a meaningful context to inform other practitioners, coaches, and anyone within the multi-disciplinary team necessary.

The Details:

• Fixed term contract – 8th July 2024 to the 30th of June 2025
• Part-time – 3 days a week (Monday, Tuesday, and Thursday)
• Reporting into the Head of Athletic Performance – Women’s Programme
• Working at our Training Ground at Surrey Sports Park, Guildford.

The General Responsibilities:

• Collect performance-based data in a consistent manner with a robust protocol. Taking into consideration testing methodology and reliability of data testing.
• Operate multiple software systems in relation (and not restricted) to VALD, GPS, Instrumented Mouth Guards.
• Play a key role in the Athletic Performance department to provide context behind data collection and visualise data in a meaningful way.
• Be a key role in conversation and decision making for interventions to better improve individual players outcomes from various data sources.
• Work closely with the medical department in the data collection, management and tracking of key return to performance markers.
• Create, understand, and explain reports that allow the coaching department to make informed decisions for on-field training sessions and match-day preparations.
• Work closely with the analysis department to collate, compare, and run regular diagnostics for main contributors to on-field performance from a squad and individual basis.
• Develop key relationships with external organisations from the club to maintain good communication.

Essential Skills, Experience and Qualifications needed:

• A recognized undergraduate degree (or equivalent qualification) in Sport & Exercise Science, or a related field.
• 2 years’ experience in an athletic performance (Strength & Conditioning) position. Ideally, in a team sport setting, in a total or part time capacity.
• Outstanding people management and communication (verbal and written) skills to work effectively and efficiently within a fast-paced environment and multidisciplinary team.
• Knowledge of and experience in testing, profiling, and screening athletic performance abilities of athletes.
• The ability to manage large databases effectively and efficiently.
• Experience creating and using individual reports across a large scale of athletes.
• Experience implementing reports from training sessions to compare with other training sessions and match days from both and longitudinal and short-time context.
• Knowledge of on-feet training load management and interpreting data (wellness, GPS, menstrual cycle, screening, etc.) to make informed decisions.
• Knowledge around the physical and technical game demands within rugby union.
• Knowledge of aerobic and anaerobic systems and how to develop those systems to benefit athletic performance.
• The ability to interpret data with both players and staff of varying levels of understanding.
• Organised with excellent attention to detail through strong administration skills.
• Excellent computer literacy skills, particularly within excel and other Microsoft software.

Desirable Qualities:

• A recognized postgraduate degree (or equivalent qualification) in Strength & Conditioning, Human Movement, Sports & Exercise Science, or a related field.
• Previous experience working with Power BI, Tableau, or other data visualisation tools.
• Recognised First Aid and CPR certification.

The Culture and Behaviours we look for:

Tempo – Manages their time appropriately to deliver high performance outcomes, but not at individual cost. Knows when to go fast, and when its right to give things time for reflection and consideration.

• Relate – Understands the fundamental role of relationships in driving high performance and keeps this at the heart of everything they do for players, for the team and for themselves.
• Unconventional – Recognises the unconventional in the players they support and the team they work in and understands the benefits this diversity brings to the team and knows how to utilise
  it to drive great outcomes. Adapts what they offer to meet the needs of the individual player.
• Enjoyment – understands the importance of enjoyment in driving great outcomes for players and creates time for this.

How to apply

Please provide a CV and covering letter (combined in 1 document) outlining why you should be considered for the role.