What are the responsibilities and job description for the Lead Physical Performance Coach position at San Diego Wave FC?
WE’D LOVE FOR YOU TO JOIN US!
San Diego Wave Fútbol Club is on a mission to build a world class home for players and fans. We are seeking a dynamic, forward-thinking individual to join our mission to share our story, win championships, increase, and delight our fans. We’re making memories and engaging our community through this beautiful game.
Position Overview:
San Diego Wave FC is seeking an experienced, forward-thinking, and athlete-centered Lead Physical Performance Coach to join our high-performance department. This role will be responsible for designing, delivering, and overseeing elite-level physical preparation for the First Team, ensuring players are optimally conditioned to perform at the highest level of the NWSL.
Working collaboratively with a world-class team of sport science, medical, nutrition, and coaching staff, the Lead Physical Performance Coach will play an essential role in driving a holistic, integrated approach to athlete development, availability, and performance. This position offers the unique opportunity to directly influence the success of one of the most ambitious clubs in women’s professional soccer.
Key Responsibilities:
- In collaboration with the performance director lead the design and implementation of a comprehensive physical performance program for the First Team, including strength, power, speed, conditioning, recovery and readiness.
- Lead the delivery of strength and conditioning provisions for the squad, driving a culture of intent & individual development within the squad.
- Deliver on-field physical preparation sessions, activation, warm ups and individualized performance plans in alignment with the Head Coach’s tactical and technical training objectives.
- Collaborate with the sport scientist to conduct performance testing, data collection, and ongoing analysis to inform training design and prescription.
- Contribute to long-term player development models, seasonal planning, and performance periodization.
- Maintain clear, consistent communication with players and staff to promote understanding of physical performance goals and processes.
- Support internship education, mentorship, and interdisciplinary alignment within the performance department.
- Participate in matchday operations, including warm-ups, monitoring, and post-match recovery strategies.
- Assist with travel logistics and remote performance support for away matches.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science, Strength & Conditioning, Sport Science, or related field (Master’s preferred).
- Minimum of 5 years of elite professional sport experience in strength & conditioning or physical performance; experience in soccer highly preferred.
- Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), UKSCA, or equivalent industry-recognized credential.
- Proven experience designing and delivering high-level training programs for elite athletes.
- Strong understanding of training load monitoring, GPS technology, and performance data interpretation.
- Demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively within an interdisciplinary high-performance environment.
- Excellent communication, leadership, and interpersonal skills.
- Ability to work a flexible schedule, including evenings, weekends, and travel.
Preferred Attributes:
- Experience working in women’s professional or international soccer environments.
- Experience of delivering integrated return-to-play protocols and ensure safe progression back to competition.
- Familiarity with injury reduction strategies, movement quality assessments, and individualized player profiling.
- Competence with sport science tools such as GPS, force plates, RPE systems, and athlete management platforms.
- Bilingual in English and Spanish is a plus.
Why Join San Diego Wave FC?
This is an exceptional opportunity to be part of a progressive, athlete-first performance team within one of the premier clubs in the NWSL. You will play a vital role in shaping the physical performance framework for world-class athletes competing at the highest level, all within a collaborative, innovative, and empowering environment committed to excellence on and off the field.
San Diego Wave FC is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes all qualified candidates to apply.
If you’re passionate about driving athletic performance, maximizing player potential, and contributing to an elite performance culture, we encourage you to join our team.
If you’re passionate about driving athletic performance, maximizing player potential, and contributing to an elite performance culture, we encourage you to join our team.