We have an exciting opportunity for an individual to join Oxford United FC as a Senior Rehabilitation Physiotherapist – Men’s First Team.
We are evolving the way that Medical and Performance Services are delivered at Oxford United Football Club. Every player requires an individualised, integrated, outcome focussed team behind them. We are developing as a department, and we are building an innovative, insightful and collaborative team to meet this challenge. Our commitment to excellence on and off the pitch requires a world-class approach to medical services, ensuring our players are in peak physical condition.
We are looking for a highly motivated Senior Rehabilitation Physiotherapist to join our Medical and Performance Department. As part of the Club’s Medical & Rehabilitation strategy, the ideal candidate will have a proven track record of delivering elite-level medical services & rehabilitation in football and possess a relentless drive to achieve world-class standards.
The Senior Rehabilitation Physiotherapist will be responsible for the delivery, coordination and continuous development of rehabilitation and injury-prevention processes for assigned Men’s First Team players. The role will provide expert sports physiotherapy support throughout the entire injury-management pathway, from initial injury through rehabilitation, reconditioning and return to training and competition. Working closely with Sports Medicine, Performance and Sport Science staff, the successful candidate will ensure players receive high-quality clinical care, evidence-based rehabilitation and individualised performance support.
What will you be doing?
Rehabilitation Management
- Assess and clearly communicate individual rehabilitation requirements following medium- and long-term injuries.
- Design, implement and progress individualised rehabilitation programmes from injury onset through to return to team training and competitive match play.
- Take a leading role in the rehabilitation and return-to-performance process for assigned injured players.
- Deliver and supervise both gym-based and pitch-based rehabilitation sessions, ensuring appropriate progression throughout each stage of rehabilitation.
- Guide, monitor and evaluate rehabilitation interventions to ensure safe, effective and evidence-informed progression.
- Measure, analyse and communicate individual player progress throughout the rehabilitation process.
- Utilise objective testing and monitoring systems, including VALD technologies and GPS data, to inform rehabilitation progression and return-to-performance decision-making.
- Implement progressive load-management and football-specific reconditioning strategies to prepare players for the demands of first-team training and competition.
- Work collaboratively with the wider multidisciplinary team to establish appropriate rehabilitation milestones and return-to-training and return-to-competition criteria.
- Ensure rehabilitation programmes address both the immediate injury and any underlying physical deficits that may influence future performance or injury risk.
Physiotherapy Support – Training & Competition
- Deliver high-quality physiotherapy assessment and treatment to injured and available first-team players, including manual therapy, soft tissue and other physiotherapy interventions as part of individual player management plans.
- Support player preparation ahead of training sessions and matches.
- Develop and deliver individual injury-prevention interventions prior to training and competition where required.
- Support daily first-team training operations, including pitch-side physiotherapy provision and emergency injury management.
- Provide sports physiotherapy support across both medical department and on-pitch environments.
- Attend first-team fixtures, training camps and tours as required.
- Contribute to the planning and preparation required for effective first-team medical and rehabilitation provision.
Injury Prevention
- Identify and communicate individual and squad injury-prevention requirements.
- Collect, analyse and interpret relevant medical, physical and performance information to identify potential injury risk factors and physical deficits.
- Design, implement and monitor individualised injury-prevention programmes.
- Educate, support and supervise players throughout injury-prevention interventions.
- Measure and report individual player development and prevention outcomes.
- Contribute to the ongoing development of proactive injury-risk reduction strategies across the Men’s First Team.
Interdisciplinary Collaboration
- Work closely with Physical Performance staff to integrate rehabilitation principles within individual physical development programmes.
- Contribute to multidisciplinary performance recommendations that support individual player athletic development.
- Develop and implement strategies to address physical deficits during both injury-related and non-injury-related interruptions to normal training.
- Work collaboratively with Physical Performance staff to analyse rehabilitation demands, training loads and injury-prevention requirements.
- Contribute to the design and delivery of individual player development programmes incorporating primary, secondary and tertiary injury-prevention principles.
- Maintain close collaboration with Physical Performance staff to ensure rehabilitation and reconditioning processes are aligned with the Club’s wider physical performance methodology.
- Communicate effectively with coaching, medical and performance staff regarding player rehabilitation status, progression and availability.
- Provide clear and timely reporting to the Head of Medical Services regarding player rehabilitation, treatment and return-to-performance progression.
- Actively contribute to multidisciplinary meetings and player-management discussions.
Documentation, Monitoring & System Development
- Maintain accurate, timely and comprehensive documentation across all designated medical and performance platforms.
- Record rehabilitation content, physiotherapy interventions, testing outcomes, player responses and return-to-play milestones.
- Ensure objective rehabilitation and return-to-performance data is clearly communicated and accessible to relevant members of the multidisciplinary team.
- Contribute to the continued development of the Club’s rehabilitation, injury-prevention and return-to-performance processes.
- Support the development and implementation of consistent rehabilitation standards and operating procedures within the Medical and Performance Department.
- Engage with current research and evidence to continually develop rehabilitation practice within the Club.
- Undertake Continued Professional Development personally and through opportunities organised by the Club.