Graduate Strength and Conditioning Coach

About Us

The University of Derby, a Top 50 UK sporting institution and member of the TASS network, supports student-athletes in their dual career pathway to achieve both academic and athletic success through its athlete-centred approach.

As part of our performance sport programme - comprising several teams and over 60 scholars, the University is seeking a Graduate Strength and Conditioning Coach, who is currently working towards accreditation with the UK Strength and Conditioning Association (UKSCA), to support the delivery of our performance programme and strength and conditioning service provision for the 2026/27 academic year

The successful candidate will be responsible for delivering tailored, evidence-based strength and conditioning support, including individual and team profiling and targeted interventions. They will work closely with Callum Blades, Strength and Conditioning Lead and UKSCA Accredited Strength and Conditioning Coach.

The role is offered on a self-employed basis, invoiced on a monthly basis. The successful applicant will be expected to operate alongside Team Derby staff and within the Universities code of conduct practices including Health and Safety, Equality and Diversity and Financial Regulations as well as General Data Protection Regulation requirements.

Graduate Strength and Conditioning Coach

Hours: Up to 5 hours/week
Contract Value: £2,400 (Self-Employed)
Hourly Rate: £20
Location: University of Derby Sports Centre (some remote work)
Contract Duration: August 2026 – May 2027

Key Responsibilities

• Deliver detailed and accurate strength and conditioning testing for a range of athletes at the University.
• Deliver strength and conditioning training sessions across Tuesday and Thursday evenings.
• Design and deliver strength and conditioning workshops for all student athletes.
• Provide monthly reports on sessions delivered to the Strength and Conditioning Lead on agreed KPIs (to be confirmed at start of contract). 
• Support postgraduate and undergraduate interns.
• Attend MDT meetings once per month to report on progress. 
• Undertake any administrative tasks deemed necessary in the provision and delivery of this service and support of the University of Derby performance sport programme.
• Be available for the pre-season camp on 24 - 26 August 2026

While not included within the paid hours of this contract, the University operates a comprehensive free of charge in-house workshop series, which prepares students for accreditation with the UK Strength and Conditioning Association (UKSCA). There is an expectation that the coach be actively working towards UKSCA accreditation and will therefore voluntarily attend all in-house workshops when their personal circumstances permit.

Qualifications:

Skills and abilities:

Experience:

 Working hours:

How to Apply

To apply for either position, email your CV and a cover letter detailing how you meet the person and service specification to:

Callum Blades
Strength and Conditioning Coach
c.blades@derby.ac.uk

Deadline: Sunday 28 June 2026, 11:59pm
Interview: Thursday 16 July