About Us

The Carlton Football Club is one of Australia's oldest and most prominent sporting institutions. Founded in 1864, the Club is headquartered at IKON Park in Carlton, where our state-of-the-art facilities support a world-class high-performance environment across our AFL, AFLW and VFL programs.

We are passionate about our contribution to the community and foster an inclusive and welcoming culture where our values are at the core of who we are and what we do.

About the Role

Reporting to the Head of High Performance, the Senior Strength and Conditioning Coach will play an important role in designing strength, speed and power programs for a designated group of 30 to 35 players. Working closely with the broader High Performance Department, the role contributes to establishing a strong philosophy on how Carlton develops and trains its players to be strong, resilient and mobile athletes.

Central to the role is a robust working relationship with the physiotherapy team, ensuring all aspects of individual player needs are channeled into one well-managed program. This position will have a thorough understanding of every piece of training players undertake and look beyond the club environment to understand daily stressors and challenges that need to be well managed in order to train and perform consistently.

The role also includes oversight, support and mentoring of the VFL program, including leading all Strength and Conditioning staff embedded within it. On offer, is a full-time, fixed-term opportunity for an experienced and driven practitioner to make a meaningful contribution within an elite AFL environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Plan, manage and deliver Strength and Conditioning programs for a designated group of 30 to 35 players, including strength, speed-power, allied health and physiology programs, individualised to enhance each player's physical ability relative to the demands of AFL football.
• Work closely with the Head of High Performance to deliver off-field conditioning programs that supplement the Carlton on-field football program and be actively involved in on-field training sessions to coach and enhance each session.
• Collaborate with the Head of High Performance and Strength and Conditioning Coach(s) to build and communicate a strong strength and power development philosophy aligned with the latest modalities being used in elite sport globally.
• Design and implement a battery of physical strength and power tests specific to the demands of the game, providing the High Performance Department with a physical profile of each player to assist with program design, review and player motivation.
• Work closely with physiotherapists to identify key areas players need to address in their physical preparation, using both objective and subjective data in this process.
• Build meaningful relationships with players to influence other aspects of their daily lives, understanding how they train, live and think in order to guide and support genuine behavioural change.
• Lead and manage all Strength and Conditioning staff embedded within the VFL program, taking direct responsibility for the overall delivery and quality of the VFL high-performance program.
• Work closely with VFL coaching staff to formulate rotation strategies prior to each VFL game and facilitate the execution of rotations on match day.
• Where appropriate, facilitate the execution of rotations during VFL mathes by communcating clearly with the bench coach, players and team runner, and accurately set up and update the rotation board throughout the match. 
• Manage approporate VFL High Performance staff, as well as post-match loading and recovery interventions.
• Communicate with High Performance staff following each VFL game to outline any physical or performance concerns to guide ongoing programming.

Experience, Skills and Attributes

• Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Science.
• Masters of High Performance Sport.
• ASCA Level 2 accredited Strength and Conditioning Coach.
• High level technical coaching ability in the areas of strength and power training and speed development.
• High level understanding of training prescription to develop various physical and physiological qualities.
• Knowledge of training management systems including online strength programming platforms, Force Decks and NordBord.
• Strong understanding of injuries and pathologies commonly incurred playing AFL and how to prescribe best practice programs to rehabilitate or mitigate these issues.
• Demonstrated ability to deliver and oversee VFL game day rotation management, including bench communication and post-game recovery protocols.
• Excellent communication skills (verbal, written and listening) and strong planning and organisational ability.
• Highly collaborative, self-motivated and committed to continuous improvement with a high level of attention to detail.
• Valid Victorian Working with Children Check and National Police Check.

Benefits and Culture

Carlton's values underpin how the Club operates, describing how our people work together, interact and behave. The Club is passionate about its culture, focused on cultivating a unique sense of belonging and connection. In addition, we offer our people flexible working, learning and development opportunities, as well as employee benefits such as membership, café and retail discounts, and the opportunity to work in a world-class sporting environment.

How to Apply

Please submit your current resume and cover letter addressed to the Head of High Performance by Sunday 4 October.

The Carlton Football Club is an equal opportunity employer and a place who welcomes all. We encourage people with diverse experiences and backgrounds to apply. We are committed to fostering a workplace environment which is inclusive, safe and flexible. All applicants will be considered based on the relevance of their abilities to the role and their alignment with our Club Values.

The Carlton Football Club is committed to providing a welcoming environment where the safety and wellbeing of all children and young people involved in our programs, services, activities, events, and the broader community, will always be our first priority. All staff must hold (or be willing to obtain) a current Victorian Working with Children Check and valid Police Check as part of their employment with the Club.