JOB OVERVIEW
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SALARY & CONTRACT TERMS
SALARY
The full-time equivalent salary for this position is £50,823 per annum, equating to £35,576 per annum for this part-time role.
Salaries are reviewed in August each year when any cost-of-living increases are made. No salary changes are made until after successful completion of a probationary period.
CONTRACT TERMS
This is a 12-month, fixed-term, maternity cover contract. This is a part-time position (equivalent to 28 hours per week). These hours are inclusive of a one-hour paid lunch break each day. Your hours of work will be agreed with the line manager.
Whilst in the one academic term (or 4 months) probationary period the notice period will be two weeks. Once this period is successfully completed the post holder will be confirmed in the post and the notice period will be one academic term or 4 months.
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CLOSING DATE
The application closing date is Mon 12 Jan 2026 at 12:00pm (noon).We reserve the right to close applications early depending on the volume of applications we receive and so we advise it is better to apply early.
Please note that our office will be closed from Mon 22 Dec 2025 until Mon 05 Jan 2026 and so only automatic responses will be sent out to applicants during this period.
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INTERVIEW DATES
We anticipate that interviews will be conducted during the week commencing 19 Jan 2026 either in person at The Place or remotely via Microsoft Teams (or similar platform as necessary). Interview dates may be subject to change.
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PERSON SPECIFICATION
ESSENTIAL CRITERIA
KNOWLEDGE
* Comprehensive understanding of Dance Science principles, including injury prevention, physical conditioning, workload management, safe dance practice and the application of Periodisation within dance training environments.
* In-depth understanding of musculoskeletal injury processes and return-to-dance pathways for contemporary dancers or comparable performers.
* Strong understanding of the physical and psychological health and wellbeing needs of pre-professional dance students, including RED-S, eating disorders and other health issues common in dance training, and appropriate multidisciplinary care pathways.
* Knowledge of safeguarding processes and professional boundaries relating to physical and mental health in a Higher Education context.
SKILLS
* Strong leadership, team-management and coordination skills, with experience leading or coordinating multidisciplinary practitioners across multiple specialisms.
* Effective decision-making, communication and relationship-building skills, including injury triage, case management, referral pathways and collaborative working with academic, support and clinical teams.
* Strong organisational and project-management skills, including coordinating operational processes, data collection, reporting and case documentation, while maintaining confidentiality and GDPR compliance.
EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS
* Significant experience working in a Dance Science, clinical, or performance-science context with dancers or comparable performers, including managing injury cases, rehabilitation processes and multidisciplinary care.
* Experience contributing to student support processes and organisational planning, including reasonable adjustments, well-being pathways, screening, fitness profiling and other health-monitoring protocols.
* Sound understanding of professional and safeguarding requirements, and holding an Enhanced DBS, First Aid and/or Mental Health First Aid qualification, and Designated Safeguarding Officer certification (or willingness to obtain).
DESIRABLE CRITERIA
KNOWLEDGE
* Familiarity with contemporary dance practices and their technical and creative demands.
* Understanding of the Higher Education landscape and learning-centred curriculum design.
SKILLS
* Ability to analyse and report on injury, profiling or wellbeing data for internal stakeholders.
* Experience designing or delivering training, CPD or knowledge-exchange activities.
* Confidence using institutional systems such as student records or digital learning platforms.
EXPERIENCE AND QUALIFICATIONS
* Experience working in Higher Education or a conservatoire/professional training environment.
* Fellowship of Advance HE (AFHEA/FHEA) or willingness to work towards this.
ATTRIBUTES AND PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS
* Interest in contributing to research, knowledge exchange or innovation in health, well-being or dance science.
* Confidence representing the institution externally at meetings or professional networks.
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LCDS Studio Class Image | 2025 | Photo by Henry Curtis
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
GENERAL RESPONSIBILITES
* Strategically embed Dance Science principles across London Contemporary Dance School (LCDS) to support students in developing individualised and sustainable practices.
* Liaise with the Head of Learning and Teaching, Course Directors, Year Group Coordinators and Unit Leaders regarding the implementation of Periodisation, Dance Science and Safe Dance Practice.
* Attend and contribute to relevant committees and faculty meetings.
* Line manage and support the professional development of the Physical Support Advisor/Strength & Conditioning Rehabilitation Coach and Physical Support Team.
* Coordinate regularly with the Lecturer in Physical Development (Strength & Conditioning) and meet weekly with the Student Support Team to represent Physical Support.
* Support The Place Safeguarding Team and join rota as Designated Safeguarding Officer.
* Manage all work experience, educational placement and shadowing requests related to dance science or physical support.
* Oversee student cases involving eating disorders and RED-S, liaising with Student Support Team colleagues.
* Any other duties that can be reasonably requested by the Director of Student Lifecycle and Well-Being.
PHYSICAL SUPPORT
* Lead and manage the Physical Support Team (physiotherapist, osteopath, strength and conditioning coaches, soft tissue therapist, injury psychologist and nutritionist) and oversee the Physical Support Team budget.
* Chair weekly Physical Support meetings to review student cases and ensure continuity of care.
* Oversee the collection, analysis and use of health and wellbeing information from offer holders to identify student support needs.
* Organise and deliver pre-participation screening and induction week health and wellbeing activities, ensuring timely feedback to students.
* Triage new injuries and coordinate onward appointments.
* Manage referrals for specialist imaging or private treatment and ensure findings are integrated into care plans.
* Oversee all Learning Agreements and Care Plans for students requiring physical health–related reasonable adjustments.
* Oversee student injury cases and return-to-dance pathways, coordinating both internal and external support and liaising with faculty as needed.
* Oversee student participation in athletic development programmes and promote engagement for proactive injury risk reduction.
* Manage the Physical Support database and all student injury/medical records.
* Produce and disseminate termly injury reports for senior management.
KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE
* Oversee the scheduling, delivery and reporting of fitness profiling three times per year for undergraduate students.
* Lead on the implementation of Periodisation across the undergraduate curriculum and produce internal and external progress reports.
* Support the Head of Learning and Teaching with class intensity planning across undergraduate programmes.
* Lead on the organisation and/or delivery of LCDS staff CPD (continuing professional development) related to health and well-being.
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HEADER PHOTO CREDIT
Title | YYYY | Photo by PHOTOGRAPHER