Sports Medicine and Performance Director

Department: Sports Medicine & Performance

Reports to: Assistant General Manager

Classification: Full Time/Exempt

Summary/Objective

The Director, Sports Medicine & Performance will manage teams tasked with improving player performance. The role’s primary responsibilities will be establishing and implementing the vision for athlete care and development across medical, strength & conditioning, nutrition, and mental health & performance. The work of these groups will impact all other facets of the department, requiring the role to be highly communicative and foster an engaged and inclusive environment.   

Essential Functions & Responsibilities

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Work with departmental leadership to develop the long-term vision for Sports Medicine & Performance, establishing core values and ensuring alignment.  
• Create and implement systems and processes to support the SM&P vision.  
• Manage, set expectations for, and provide performance feedback to Major League SM&P leads and Minor League SM&P coordinators.  
• Work with Player Development, Performance Science, Research & Development, Player Personnel, and Minor League Operations to define, measure, and execute goals for all Astros’ players.  
• Create and maintain relationships with data vendors, technology providers, and our doctors at Houston Methodist and all affiliate locations.   
• Regularly travel through affiliates to support and provide feedback on staff, development techniques, and strategic investments.   
• Lead research initiatives across baseball operations and work to implement findings broadly. 
• Establish an external network of service providers we can leverage to support our SM&P teams.  
• Build and maintain strong relationships throughout baseball operations to understand current organizational processes and identify opportunities for advancement 
• Attend camps (e.g., Spring Training, Instructs), and other necessary events to accomplish departmental objectives. 
• Oversee SM&P resource allocation, managing Training, Medical, and S&C budgets and staffing plans.  
• Participate in and support Baseball Operations leadership initiatives.  
• Be creative and proactive with ideas, and continuously work to improve our processes 
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned. 
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Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in a related field
• Experience working with elite level athletes
• Experience conducting research
• Experience using applied sciences in the field of sports nutrition and dietetics
• Strong communication and leadership skills
• Experience in either sports medicine/rehabilitation or athletic performance development and an understanding of both disciplines
• Experience in a management position requiring a strategic approach, hiring decisions, staff performance management, and budget management
• Master’s level degree in a related field or higher is a plus
• Fluency in Spanish is a plus
• Official certifications related to sports medicine/rehabilitation and or athletic performance is a plus

Work Environment

This job operates in an office, locker room and sometimes outside setting. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, phones, photocopiers, filing cabinets and fax machines.  The noise level is usually moderate but can be loud within the stadium environment. 

Physical Demands

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee frequently is required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle or feel; and reach with hands and arms. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close and focused vision. This role will require the individual to lift and carry up to 25 pounds throughout the day.

Position Type and Expected Hours of Work

This is a full-time position, and hours of work will vary with the season.  Ability to work a flexible schedule, including; extended hours, evenings, weekends and holidays.

Travel

Required travel between our Major League club (Houston, TX), Triple-A affiliate (Sugar Land, TX), Double-A affiliate (Corpus Christi, TX), High-A affiliate (Asheville, NC), Low-A affiliate (Fayetteville, NC), Florida Training Complex (West Palm Beach, FL), and Dominican Academy (San Antonio de Guerra, DR).

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. 

EOE/M/F/Vet/Disability