USA Rugby
HEAD OF ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE - WOMEN’S 15’s
USA Rugby - Director
Remote / Tour Based · CO · Hybrid
Strength and Conditioning / Fitness
$70,000 - $80,000 / year
1
2
hours ago
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.
Vision: Inspire the Rugby World the American Way
Mission: To enhance the capability of our coaches and athletes to strive for international success to ensure we
Vision: Inspire the Rugby World the American Way
Mission: To enhance the capability of our coaches and athletes to strive for international success to ensure we
win when it matters
Philosophy: Performance driven, coach-led and player centered environment
Success Measures:
Philosophy: Performance driven, coach-led and player centered environment
Success Measures:
- Performance - Winning Medals at Olympics and become consistently competitive at Rugby World Cups
- People - Highly engaged coaches, athletes and staff that deliver a focused environment that produces better athletes and better people
- System - Performances on and off the field provide a positive influence on retaining and growing our rugby community, fans, sponsors and philanthropists to grow and sustain our game
Reporting: This position reports direct to the Head of Women’s High Performance
Title: Head of Athletic Performance - W15s
Title: Head of Athletic Performance - W15s
Reports To: Head Women’s High Performance
Department: High Performance
W15’s Functions Overseen: Strength & Conditioning, Nutrition & Medical support
Classification: 30 weeks/year (15 on site / campaigns, ~15 weeks of remote work)
Location: Remote and with Women's National Team
Salary Range: $70k - $80k USD per year
Closing Date: 7th June 2026
Submit application (CV & Cover letter) to: [email protected]
Submit application (CV & Cover letter) to: [email protected]
ROLE PURPOSE
- Create the overall High Performance physical strategy, policies and procedures for the USA Eagles Women’s 15s Team.
- Responsible for designing, delivering, and evaluating High Performance physical preparation programs that support the USA Eagles Women’s 15s players in achieving world-class performances at the 2029 and 2033 Rugby World Cups.
- Ensure players are physically prepared for International competition through evidence based training, robust monitoring systems, and collaborative integration with the wider performance and coaching staff.
PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Lead the development and implementation of annual, seasonal, and weekly strength & conditioning programs aligned with the Eagles 15s National team’s performance model and game demands.
- Deliver high-quality strength, power, speed, conditioning, and recovery sessions during training camps, competitions, and remote phases.
- Integrate female-specific performance considerations, including menstrual cycle awareness, long-term athlete health, and female specific injury mitigation strategies.
- Work alongside the Head Coach,Head of Women’s High Performance and technical staff to support and maximise athletic potential of players leading into the 2029 and 2033 Rugby World Cups.
- Lead and support the multidisciplinary functions including nutrition, recovery, sleep, wellness, mental preparation, strength & conditioning, and collaborate with experts in each field to ensure world class support for players.
- Remotely support players within their current Daily Training Environments on a 1-1 basis both in person and remotely to ensure world class programming and day to day support.
- Work in alignment with the USA Eagles National Women’s 7s program to ensure players are supported and aligned across both programs, and manage the transition between 7s & 15s game demands on players.
- Lead and role model high performance behaviors and a winning mindset, while embedding values and standards that unite and inspire the USA Eagles and the broader rugby community.
KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS
Team Specific:
Team Specific:
- Interpret player data from both International and domestic matches building detailed analysis on performance to positively impact training requirements.
- Manage the upkeep of performance training, sport science, and sport medicine equipment and technology.
- Working in conjunction with a range of teams to maximise physical progress of all players (USA & overseas)
- Travel with the National team for camps, tours, and major competitions.
- Deliver warm-ups and match-day physical preparation for Test matches and tournaments.
- Manage recovery strategies during International competition schedules.
Athlete Management and Monitoring Performance:
- Develop rugby-oriented practical solutions based on individual and team data-analysis (GPS, wellness, testing).
- Oversee physical testing and profiling systems to track athlete development in areas such as strength, power, speed, aerobic/anaerobic capacity, and neuromuscular readiness.
- Monitor training load, wellness, and long-term athlete health using sports science tools and athlete-management systems.
- Work with medical staff to progress injured athletes through return-to-train and return-to-play protocols.
People:
- Develop meaningful partnerships and working relationships with coaches, medical staff and performance professionals in relevant domestic clubs to ensure each player is supported (both in the USA and overseas).
- Collaborate with the Head Coach, medical team, nutritionists, analysts, and sport psychology staff to ensure an integrated approach to performance.
- Contribute S&C insights to game-plan preparation, player rotation strategies, and match-day performance management.
- Provide education to athletes and staff on strength training, recovery strategies, travel management, and female athlete performance.
GENERAL DUTIES:
- Attend and actively participate in meetings and events as required.
- Uphold and foster a culture of high performance, excellence, and continuous improvement within USA Rugby.
- Conduct thorough self-checks of information and documentation to ensure accuracy.
- Maintain project files and ensure all documentation is organized and up-to-date.
- Adopt continuous learning and improvement in all aspects of the role.
- Implement, participate in, and promote the Safe Sport Framework, including its values, policies, processes, and procedures.
QUALIFICATIONS, EXPERIENCE & COMPETENCIES
Ideal Qualifications:
- Tertiary qualifications in Strength & Conditioning (or similar field).
- Possess an NSCA - Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) certification or European equivalent (UKSCA) and BASES (British Association of Sport and Exercise Science) Accreditation.
Ideal Experience & Competences:
- Demonstrated experience and previous role at an international level, and/or in professional club rugby (e.g, PWR, Super Rugby Pacific, Premiership).
- Extensive strength & conditioning experience with a high performance team in a significant global competition cycle or professional league.
- A balance of theoretical and applied experiences across strength & conditioning and sport science.
- Proficiency in using performance analysis tools and techniques to assess team and player performance (GPS, athlete management systems, testing protocols, video editing).
- Demonstrated success in working alongside multi disciplinary professionals and other performance staff in designing and developing high performance rugby programs.
- A comprehensive and deep understanding of women’s rugby, with the ability to enhance and develop high-performance female athletes.
- Extensive knowledge and expertise in the game demands of the international women’s 15s game.
- Strong planning skills, with a high level of organisation, data collection and proven communication abilities.
Job Questions:
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