AFLW Head of Strength

Join to apply for the AFLW Head of Strength & Conditioning role at Essendon Football Club . The Essendon Football Club - “The Bombers” - is a professional sporting organisation in the Australian Football League, home to several teams, including AFL, AFLW, VFL, VFLW and Wheelchair Football programs. But we’re more than the game. At Essendon, unity binds us. We firmly believe that our strength comes from standing together as One Club, embracing our rich diversity, and uniting around a shared purpose. Our passion fuels every kick, every play, and every decision. The essence of the Essendon legacy is deeply woven into the fabric of Australian sporting calendar, through significant events such as the ANZAC Day and Dreamtime clashes, underscoring our commemoration and connection to national identity. Our heritage sets us apart, shaping our ethos and inspiring our journey. We strive to be better every day, pushing the boundaries and relentlessly pursuing excellence. But amidst the intensity of competition, respect remains paramount. We care about our impact on others, whether it's our teammates, opponents, or our community. When we ‘Don the Sash’, we do so with unity, passion, excellence, and respect guiding our every move, Always Striving toward our next triumph on the premiership stage. About the Role Reporting to the General Manager - AFLW, the AFLW Head of Strength and Conditioning is responsible for delivering a world‑class strength & conditioning program for the Essendon Football Club AFLW Team. The role will also work collaboratively within the VFLW and Talent Pathway high performance teams to oversee all Strength & Conditioning requirements. Key Accountabilities Strength and conditioning program delivery Strength training prescription and supervision, cross‑training prescription and supervision, individual player running prescription and supervision, recovery, monitoring of player wellness and freshness/fatigue, contribution to injury prevention and mobility protocols and team travel. Oversee the GPS data collection and use of this data to build effective and appropriate load management for each player’s programming. Provide coaching to players in developing correct techniques within their strength & conditioning programs to both prevent injury and improve performance. Build a strong relationship with players and gain their trust in the strength and conditioning program. Record plans and report on progress using Team Build and any other databases system in use. Work collaboratively with Coaches, Medical Staff and GM Footballs to ensure performance plans are aligned and requirements being met. Consider the welfare and holistic management of a player in the context of the wider football program. Injury Management Provide consultation to Head of Medical Services in the planning and implementation of effective injury management and rehabilitation. Endorse a ‘Return to Perform’ approach to injury management that considers both the physical and psychological demands of AFLW football. Reconditioning Prescribe and implement reconditioning sessions that prepare players to perform at AFLW level. Ensure that injured players use their time to progress on their individual development plans, and that all reconditioning sessions relate back to each player's development plan as well as the demands of the AFLW football. Demonstrate, objectively where possible, that players have returned to AFLW fitness and strength. Apply best practice load management. Reporting and communication Provide regular communication and a high level of transparency with key stakeholders including, but not limited to, the Head of Medical Services, Doctors, Coaches and General Managers within the football department. Notes kept up to date and to a high quality throughout the rehabilitation process. Facility upkeep and gym inductions Undertake close monitoring of physical preparation equipment and maintain the high‑performance equipment register. Make recommendations to the GM - AFLW on equipment maintenance, replacement or acquisitions required for the effective running of the high‑performance program. Talent Pathways Implement regular screening of talent pathway athletes and report to relevant stakeholders around readiness to train, in conjunction with the physiotherapist. Deliver a pre‑training warm up to participating talent pathway athletes, particularly through the James Hird Academy. Ensure safe use of gym equipment by all talent pathway athletes and provide feedback if required. About You Experience working with elite athletes for 3+ years. Evidence of success in Strength and Conditioning program design and practical implementation for elite athletes. Evidence of success in reconditioning, rehabilitation program design and practical implementation for elite athletes. The ability to work collaboratively within a multi‑disciplinary team. Exceptional work ethic and ability to provide a high level of energy in the workplace. Ability to self‑manage effectively to complete tasks to a high standard and work effectively under pressure. Demonstrate strong interpersonal skills and the ability to build strong relationships with both the playing group and other key stakeholders within the organisation. Remain in touch with cutting‑edge and world‑leading S&C, rehabilitation, and sport science practice. Have a good understanding of, and the ability to utilise in practice, current sport science technology to help guide programming. The ability to record professional notes and maintain an effective injury management and strength programming database. Desirable Experience or previous involvement with female athletes and Australian football. Honours or Masters degree in Strength and Conditioning, Exercise, Health or related field specialising in the area of Physical Development. Experience with athlete management systems. Qualifications Bachelor of Exercise Science (or equivalent) Current ESSA or Level 2 ASCA accreditation or international equivalent First Aid and Resuscitation certificate Other Current driver’s licence to travel to and from key stakeholder premises/meetings Current Working with Children Check or ability to obtain one Permanent Residency in Australia, or appropriate visa to work permanently. TO APPLY Please submit your application as soon as possible as shortlisting will commence immediately. Please include in your cover letter why you are a great fit for this role, and why you want to work with Essendon Football Club. Cover letters should be no more than one page, outlining what you can bring to this position. With our commitment to promoting and protecting the safety and wellbeing of children and young people in our care, we undertake several screening processes to ensure this commitment is upheld. This includes ensuring all our people hold a valid employee Working with Children/Vulnerable People check and a satisfactory criminal history record check. All applications will be treated with respect and confidentiality, and we endeavour to provide timely responses. We politely ask not to be approached by recruitment agencies at this time. #J-18808-Ljbffr