Head Athletic Trainer

About the role

The Head Athletic Trainer will be responsible for overseeing injury prevention, evaluation, treatment, and return-to-play protocols for student-athletes across all sports programs. The ideal candidate will bring a strong background in athletic training, a deep understanding of youth athlete development, and the ability to collaborate effectively with coaches, parents, medical providers, and internal performance staff.

Responsibilities

• Medical Oversight & Care: Serve as the lead healthcare provider for all student-athletes, ensuring high-quality, age-appropriate medical care.
• Design, implement, and manage injury prevention programs, recovery protocols, and acute care standards.
• Develop individualized return-to-play plans in collaboration with physicians, physical therapists, coaches, and performance staff.
• Electronic Medical Records (EMR) & Compliance: Select, implement, and manage an EMR system for documentation of injuries, treatments, and progress tracking.
• Ensure compliance with HIPAA and FERPA regulations and all relevant athletic healthcare standards.
• Maintain up-to-date medical records and ensure accessibility to authorized personnel as needed.
• Staff & Program Management: Build and lead a growing sports medicine team, including athletic trainers and interns.
• Coordinate and provide on-site coverage for practices, games, and events as necessary.
• Serve as the liaison with external healthcare providers, specialists, and hospitals.
• Communication & Collaboration: Maintain consistent, proactive communication with coaches regarding student-athlete health, availability, and return-to-play timelines.
• Educate student-athletes and families on injury management, health best practices, and performance recovery.
• Participate in performance team meetings and collaborate on holistic athlete development plans.
• Infrastructure Development: Build and refine protocols, workflows, and emergency response plans for a high-performance youth sports academy.
• Ensure proper equipment, supplies, and facilities are in place to support safe and effective care delivery.
• Contribute to the strategic vision for sports medicine at The St. James Performance Academy and implement scalable solutions as the Academy grows.

Qualifications

• BOC Certified Athletic Trainer (ATC)
• Eligible for licensure as an Athletic Trainer in Virginia
• Bachelor’s degree in Athletic Training, Kinesiology, or a related field
• Minimum 5 years of professional experience working in sports medicine, preferably in a youth, scholastic, or high-performance environment

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Athletic Training, Exercise Science, or related field
• Experience implementing or managing EMR systems (e.g., Healthy Roster, ATS, etc.)
• CPR/AED and First Aid Instructor certification
• Experience leading a multidisciplinary health or performance team

Schedule

The Head Athletic Trainer must be in-person on-site at The St. James Monday through Friday from 7:30-4:00pm during school days.