POSITION SUMMARY:

Houston Dynamo FC is seeking a qualified candidate for the position of Academy Sports Scientist / Performance Coach to support player development and programming for the academy’s aspiring talents. This position will be part of our club’s Sports Performance department, led by Head of Performance Paul Caffrey. This position will collaborate with the full academy staff to support the individual player and collective team development. This important role will include being part of a team of developers who are highly motivated to continually improve player development programming.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES:

Lead GPS data collection and analysis, in order to provide actionable insights and reports to coaches and staff
Design, implement, and review appropriate strength and conditioning programs for all Academy teams.
Develop periodized training schedules based on individual player needs and collective in-season demands
Lead in designing testing protocol to help ensure long term athletic development.
Produce detailed reports and visualizations to communicate key performance indicators (KPIs) to stakeholders.
Collaborate with medical staff and use data to lead return-to-play protocols, ensuring safe reintegration.
Conduct pre-training warmup activation and injury prevention sessions.
Collect subjective data for all Academy teams utilizing the club’s Athlete Management System.
Develop resources to educate staff, players and parents about benefits of data-driven approach in the academy
Assist Dynamo 2 performance staff when necessary.
Other duties as assigned.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS:

Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science or a related field – required (Master’s degree – preferred)
Minimum of 5 years of experience working with elite/competitive athletes, preferably in soccer
Previous experience coaching athletes at a professional, collegiate or academy level – required
Experience with sports science technology - required
Knowledge of nutritional requirements for athletes is - preferred
NSCA CSCS or CPT and/or NASM PES Certifications - preferred
CPR/AED Certification
Bilingual (English/Spanish) – preferred
Must be available to work long hours, including but not limited to holidays and weekends
Able to travel extensively to away games – required
Proficiency in demonstrating athletic movement both on the field and in the gym

SKILLS, ABILITIES & OTHER ATTRIBUTES:

Passion for soccer and a commitment to the holistic development of young athletes
Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to effectively motivate and communicate with young athletes
Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail to effectively support multiple athletes and teams
Expertise in developing young professional and collegiate soccer players
Ability to exercise sound judgement and discretion

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, gender identity, marital or veteran status, or any other protected class.

Academy Performance Coach