TITLE: Performance Therapist
POSITION TYPE: Full Time, Exempt
COMPANY: Sharks Sports and Entertainment, LLC
LOCATION: SAP Center
REPORTS TO: Director of High Performance
Date Posted: April 9, 2026
Pay Range: The pay range for this role is $150,000 - $165,000 per year
This position has an application deadline of May 1st, 2026
Actual base pay will be determined based on permissible factors such as transferable skills, work experience, market demands and primary work location. The base pay range provided is subject to change and may be modified in the future.
Position Overview
The San Jose Sharks Hockey Team is seeking to hire a full-time licensed Physical Therapist who is energetic, growth-minded, and committed to an integrated model of performance and medical care. Preferred candidates would have at least 3-5 years of experience working in high-level sports and experience providing acute rehabilitation, treatment of acute injuries, injury prevention programming, soft tissue and manual therapy, implementation of long-term rehab plans, implement injury prevention strategies with the performance team and corrective exercise prescription. Further details of the job
description are listed below.
The organization will be seeking qualified candidates within the United States and Canada. This position will be required to travel with the team and live in market (San Jose, CA). Those with interest in applying for the position and who have questions should inquire with Mike Potenza, Director of High Performance for the San Jose Sharks.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
- Day-to-day management of all physical therapy and rehabilitation-related issues both on the road and at home
- Provide differential diagnosis on player injury cases
- Assess and treat acute injuries of players
- Provide high-quality manual therapy and soft tissue treatment where necessary
- Provide high-quality movement efficiency assessment and corrective exercise programs
- Develop and maintain evidence based best-practice guidelines for the prevention and management of injuries. Including assistance with defining return to performance (RTP) protocols
- Assist with the implementation and integration of rehab programs for injured players
- Ensure appropriate charting and record keeping of all medical treatments, injury assessments and injury data in a club wide accessible system
- Contribute to the functions of the performance department through Integrated rehabilitation programming, corrective exercise and functional exercise routines
- Be a highly effective conduit of communication and collaboration between the medical staff, performance coaches, nutrition department and hockey coaches to optimize player care
- Assist with acute care coverage at practices, games, and during treatment days
- Assist with concussion screenings, management and rehabilitation
- Assist with all physicals, pre-participation exams and post-season exit interviews
- Assist medical staff with daily maintenance needs; inventory, packing for travel, unloading equipment, and treatment area set up/tear down on road trips, cleaning and organizing of medical and training room areas, record keeping, etc.
- This position will report directly to the Director of High Performance and work side by side with the Head Athletic Trainer, Head Performance Coach and Physical Therapist-Rehab Coordinator
- The candidate must be willing to pursue California state licensure requirements through the California Physical Therapy Association upon accepting the job offer.
- The candidate must be willing to pursue board certification in Orthopedic (OCS) or Sports (SCS) Physical Therapy after accepting the job offer.
- Provide a high-quality, professional, and thorough service across all aspects of your responsibilities
- Provide first responder coverage for on-ice practices and off-ice workouts
- Assist with the collection, processing and reporting of athlete performance testing data and injury monitoring data
- Yearly review of injury management and return to performance protocols with respect to the most recent evidence
- Contribute to player monitoring, injury prevention, and recovery programs as requested
- Provide summaries of relevant information to the group on any conferences or courses attended
Minimum Qualifications
- Undergraduate degree or Graduate degree in Physical Therapy
- 3-5 years of experience working in the Physical Therapy field / Sports Medicine field / Outpatient Orthopedics field
- Highly passionate and experienced skill set in manual therapy
- Experience with sports science technologies, including force plates, Handheld dynamometry, load monitoring, or similar. Data interpretation to collaborate with RTP decisions
- Experience with Therapeutic modalities including Electrical Muscular Stimulation, Laser therapy,
- PEMF, Shockwave Therapy, Ultrasound Therapy, or similar
- State Physical therapy License in California or can easily attain upon hire
- Current professional CPR and AED certification
- Possess personal professional liability insurance
- Current Passport needed for this role – travel nationally and internationally
- Preference will be given to certified candidates with additional credentials in either Athletic Training (ATC) or a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) with a focus and experience in return to sport injury cases
- Board Certification in Orthopedic (OCS) or Sports (SCS) physical therapy preferred
- Elite Sport and Hockey experience highly recommended
- Dry Needling and Blood Flow Restriction qualifications highly recommended
- Must have excellent communication skills and the ability to work within an integrated team of professionals
- Must maintain confidentiality and personal information in efforts to provide a respectful environment for the players and fellow staff
- Strong administrative, organizational and time management skills
- Attendance at all San Jose Sharks home practices, games and road games is required
- Candidates should be willing and able to relocate to the Bay Area within the next 2 months
- Hold sufficient Professional Liability Insurance appropriate for working with elite-level hockey players
Physical Requirements
- Ability to sit, stand and utilize a computer for extended periods of time
- Communicate via phone and email with a variety of individuals
- Ability to bend at the waist, reach overhead and lift up to 15 lbs with or without accommodation
- Physically navigate stairs and catwalks at SSE facilities during normal work hours and events with or without accommodation
- Ability to work unconventional hours, weekends, and holidays
- Traveling domestically and through Canada will be a requirement of this position in order to attend games, conferences, events, and training sessions
- May be required to travel to other company locations
What We Offer
- Competitive compensation (base salary and variable incentive plan)
- Medical/Dental/Vision/Flexible Spending Accounts (all LGBTQ+ friendly)
- Pretax Transportation Benefit
- 401K (pre-tax and Roth options)
- Generous Paid Time Off
- Minimum of 10 Paid Holidays and Wellness Days per year
- Complimentary or discounted sports and event tickets
- Other League & partner discounts
- Central office location in downtown San Jose at the heart of Silicon Valley; convenient access to Caltrain, VTA, major freeways and free parking
- An inclusive culture which values diversity of background and a passion to improve our SSE’s commitment to change with impact on our community and industry
- Potential for flexible scheduling and telework opportunities
- Free access to on-site Volta EV charging stations on non-event days
This position is not eligible for U.S. work authorization sponsorship.
Summary:
Born in 1991, Sharks Sports and Entertainment (“SSE”) has grown into a multi-faceted organization that includes the SAP Center, the NHL San Jose Sharks, the AHL San Jose Barracuda, the Tech CU Arena, three Sharks Ice facilities, and the non-profit Sharks Foundation. Additionally, we are growing our organization through expansion in the Bay Area and surrounding communities in Northern California.
We work and play in the Bay Area, and are deeply influenced by the technology, innovation, diversity, and commitment to excellence that surrounds us. Our culture is transforming to reflect those values, with an eye towards a pioneering, forward-thinking, and inclusive environment in sports and entertainment.
We live, work, and innovate by a set of Pioneering Principles:
T – Team success is more important than individual success
E – Exceptional experience is non-negotiable in everything we do
A – Appreciate others for their diversity and opinions
M – More risk leads to more rewards and expands our comfort zones
T – Trust that all teammates have the best intentions
E – Empower all teammates to make informed decisions
A – Always say what you really mean and do what you say
L – Lead by showing the respect to others you expect from them
We strive to unite people through a shared love of ice sports, entertainment, and our hometown. We are #TealTogether.
Our Commitment to Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging
Here at Team Teal, we recognize and celebrate that individuals come with a wealth of experience and talent well beyond any list of required skills and qualifications – in fact, we believe diversity of backgrounds and skills, combined with passion, are the most important keys to meaningful innovation and excellence. Therefore, we encourage people from all backgrounds to apply to our positions. Please let us know if you require accommodations during the interview process.
Equal Opportunity Employer
Sharks Sports and Entertainment is an equal opportunity employer. We accept our responsibility to make employment decisions without regard to race, religious creed, color, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, national origin, marital status, medical condition as defined by state law (genetic characteristics or cancer), physical or mental disability, military service or veterans’ status, pregnancy, childbirth and related medical conditions, genetic information, or any other classification protected by applicable federal, state, and local laws and ordinances.
Notice to Recruiters and Agencies
SSE recruits candidates directly, rather than through third-party recruiters or agencies. Under no circumstances will SSE pay a fee for candidates submitted or presented without a signed recruiting agreement in place between SSE and the recruiter or agency prior to the submittal; any submittal must be for requisition specifically and individually assigned in writing by SSE’s HR department. In the case of candidate(s) submitted or presented to SSE by a recruiter or agency without a signed agreement AND written assignment by SSE Human Resources, SSE explicitly reserves the right to pursue and hire those candidate(s) with no financial obligation to the recruiter or agency.
