Head Athletic Trainer

Core Responsibilities

• Injury Prevention & Risk Reduction: Design, implement, and monitor daily screening protocols and individualized injury-mitigation programs.
• Medical Screening & Assessment: Conduct comprehensive acute and chronic musculoskeletal evaluations to detect issues before they impact performance.
• Injury Management & Rehabilitation: Oversee the design and execution of progressive, evidence-based rehabilitation programs for all rostered players.
• Return-to-Play (RTP) Planning: Create and implement strict, objective criteria-based RTP progressions, ensuring safe and efficient transitions back to competitive play.
• Interdisciplinary Communication: Maintain seamless, daily communication with the technical (coaching) and performance staff regarding player health and workload management.
• Performance Integration: Collaborate daily with the Performance Coach and coaching staff to align rehabilitation, training loads, and return-to-play decisions while prioritizing player health and availability.

Professional & Operational Expectations

• Documentation: Maintain meticulous, up-to-date, and legally compliant electronic medical records (EMR) for all athletes.
• Reporting & Forecasting: Deliver daily player status updates and weekly player availability forecasts to key stakeholders.
• Departmental Collaboration: Foster a highly collaborative relationship across all sporting departments (coaching, strength & conditioning, and front office).
• Player Education: Empower athletes by educating them on individualized injury prevention, recovery strategies, and overall wellness.
• Escalation Protocol: Promptly escalate significant medical concerns, diagnostic imaging, and surgical considerations to the Chief Medical Officer/Team Physicians.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

• Player Availability % (Targeting optimal squad depth throughout the season)
• Days Lost to Injury (Minimizing time away from training and competition)
• Re-Injury Rate (Ensuring robust, complete rehabilitation outcomes)
• Return-to-Play Compliance (Adherence to strict medical and physiological benchmarks)
• Reporting Accuracy (Timely and accurate delivery of medical insights and forecasts)

Culture & Values

• Hungry: Continuous learner who seeks out cutting-edge sports science and medicine methodologies to give our team a competitive edge.
• Resilient: Calm, decisive, and adaptable under the pressure of tight schedules, competitive demands, and medical adversity.
• United: A selfless collaborator who prioritizes the collective goals of the club, builds trust with players, and values the expertise of the broader staff.
• Professional: Meticulous, ethical, and acts as a model representative of the organization both on and off the field.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Athletic Training, Sports Medicine, or a related field.
• Certified Athletic Trainer (ATC) in good standing with the Board of Certification (BOC).
• CPR/AED and First Aid for the Professional Rescuer certification.
• 5+ years of experience working in elite/professional sports or collegiate athletics preferred.