Head Athletic Therapist

Douglas College; New Westminster; On-site; CAD 48,000 - 58,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Transit-accessible campuses

Hybrid work eligible

Health and dental benefits

Pension plan

Professional development

Fitness centres access

Job summary

Douglas College is seeking a Head Athletic Therapist (AT), Part-Time, Contract Position to provide on-field coverage for eight varsity sports and clinical care for about 175 student-athletes. This role reports to the Manager, Athletics and Recreation Operations and requires strong concussion management and rehabilitation expertise.

Responsibilities include supervising the Athletic Therapy Clinic, coordinating with coaches and Student Trainers, and ensuring compliance with privacy laws.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Athletic Therapy, Kinesiology, or related field.
• Certified Athletic Therapist (CAT) in good standing with CATA.
• First Responder Certification with CPR/BLS.
• Criminal Record Check with Vulnerable Sector Screening.
• 2–3 years of post-secondary athletic therapy experience.
• Experience with concussion management.

Responsibilities

• On-field coverage for eight varsity sports; includes exhibitions.
• Design, implement and monitor injury prevention and rehabilitation programs.
• Maintain confidential digital medical records compliant with privacy laws.
• Collaborate with coaches and staff to optimize workload and recovery.
• Coordinate Student Trainer program and supervise clinic operations.

Skills

Athletic Therapy

Concussion management

Communication skills

First Aid/CPR

Emergency preparedness

Education

Bachelor's degree in Athletic Therapy or Kinesiology

Job description

Location Various Douglas College Campuses/Satellite Campuses

Salary Range

$35 to $42 per hour.

The Opportunity

Douglas College Athletics invites fully qualified candidates to apply for this Head Athletic Therapist (AT), Part-Time, Contract Position. Reporting to the Manager, Athletics and Recreation Operations, the AT is responsible for sideline coverage, including but not limited to league and exhibition competitions, and clinical operations for eight (8) varsity sports teams, comprising approximately 175 student-athletes.

WHO WE ARE

Do what you love. Be good at it. That’s how Douglas College defines a great career. It’s a philosophy that resonates through our classrooms, our offices and our boardrooms. It inspires our students and drives us to make Douglas College one of BC’s Top Employers. We love what we do. And we’re looking for passionate, motivated people to join us in making one of Canada’s best degree-granting colleges even better.

Be a part of an institution where everyone is committed to empowering successful students, creating responsive learning environments, fostering social and environmental responsibility, and supporting healthy learning and work environments.

WHAT WE OFFER

We offer the opportunity to do what you do best in an inclusive, collaborative and collegial environment. At Douglas, our goal is to ensure our people are valued and supported by promoting a healthy work-life balance, professional growth, and development, as well as a safe and respectful workplace.

• Transit-accessible campuses
• Hybrid work arrangements for eligible positions
• Excellent Health and Dental Benefits for eligible positions
• Defined-Benefit Pension Plan for eligible positions
• Professional Development opportunities
• Access to our Fitness Centres and Classes

The Athletic Therapist (AT) is an orthopedic specialist primarily responsible for the acute care, assessment, and management of musculoskeletal injuries, including rehabilitation and Return-to-Play for student-athletes at Douglas College. Reporting to the Manager, Athletics and Recreation Operations. The AT is responsible for on-field coverage, including, but not limited to, sanctioned competitions and clinical treatments for eight (8) varsity sports teams, comprising approximately 175 student-athletes. AT sideline coverage may be required for exhibition competitions. Clinical assessments and treatments (Clinic hours) are scheduled in collaboration with the Manager, Athletics and Recreation Operations at the beginning of the sports calendar year.

RESPONSIBILITIES :

• Collect, review and assess pre-participation medical information, perform physical evaluations as required, and conduct baseline concussion testing for all varsity student-athletes.
• Design, implement, and monitor evidence-based, sports-specific injury prevention, conditioning, and educational programs.
• Develop and execute progressive, individualized physical rehabilitation programs using manual therapeutic techniques, therapeutic modalities, and corrective exercise prescriptions to safely transition athletes back to sport.
• Maintain meticulous, confidential digital medical records, in strict compliance with PIPA / FIPPA privacy legislation, CATA standards, and College policies.
• Collaborate with coaches to optimize workload monitoring, injury metrics, and recovery strategies, always prioritizing student-athlete health over competitive outcomes.
• Foster relationships with Student Affairs services (Counselling, Advisors, Accessibility, etc.), Strength and Conditioning coach, and the Manager to provide a wrap-around approach for student-athlete wellness.
• Liaise with other medical and health practitioners, i.e., Physicians, Physiotherapists, osteopaths, specialists, etc., including external healthcare partners to help facilitate a prioritized and streamlined referral process and build a network of healthcare supports.

• Act as the primary on-site athletic therapist for all assigned home league competitions for all varsity sports; and AT support for exhibition competitions, conference and national championships ( PACWEST / CCAA / NWAC ). Travel for away competitions as required.
• Administer professional athletic therapy techniques, including taping, strapping, bracing/ fitting of athletic equipment, hot/cold therapy, cupping, etc., as required before, during and after league competitions.
• Manage acute concussion protocols, liaise with the Manager and Director to guide a collaborative, multidisciplinary Return-to-Learn and Return-to-Play protocols in alignment with best practices, such as Parachute.ca

• Coordinate the daily operational logistics of the Athletic Therapy Clinic, maintaining equipment safety certifications, ordering clinical supplies, and providing recommendations for the Athletic Therapy supplies budget to the Manager.
• Perform clinical assessments of acute and chronic athletic injuries sustained during sanctioned sport participation.
• Maintain meticulous, confidential digital medical records ensuring absolute compliance with PIPA / FIPPA privacy legislation, CATA standards, Parachute guidelines, and College policies.

• Ensure an understanding of the applicable College’s Standard Operating Policies and Procedures (SOPs), and departmental procedures.
• Foster an ethical environment to ensure a physical and psychological safe, inclusive, and trauma-informed environment free from abuse, harassment, discrimination, or neglect in accordance with Canadian Safe Sport ( SIC ), the values of the College, Sport Integrity Canada ( SIC ), CCAA , PACWEST and NWAC sport governing bodies.
• Provide guidance with the therapeutic use exemptions (TUEs) and banned substance lists in accordance with the Canadian Anti-Doping program ( SIC ).

• Responsible for developing and coordinating the Student Trainer program, including promoting onboarding, training, monitoring, directing, scheduling and mentoring Student Trainers to ensure appropriate injury prevention support coverage for practices (where applicable) and competitions.
• Engage in professional development in order to implement new clinical techniques and recommend therapeutic equipment to continually enhance the quality and delivery of the athletic therapy program.
• Attend all required department meetings, creation of informative education sessions for the Student-Athlete Orientation, attending regularly scheduled 1:1 meetings

Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree in Athletic Therapy, Kinesiology, or a related Sports Science discipline.
• Certified Athletic Therapist ( CAT ) in good standing with the Canadian Athletic Therapists Association ( CATA ).
• First Responder (FS) Certification or higher, e.g., Emergency Medical Responder preferred, a valid CPR Level C, Basic Life Saving ( BLS ) and/or First-Aid Certification. An AED certificate is an asset.
• Successful completion of, or immediate eligibility to clear, a standard Criminal Record Check with Vulnerable Sector Screening.
• Completion of mandated Sport Integrity Canada Training (e.g., Canadian Anti-Doping, Canadian Safe Sport, NCCP Ethical Decision Making.
• Minimum of 2–3 years of clinical and field experience providing athletic therapy coverage at the post-secondary ( CCAA /U SPORTS ) level or within a high-performance sports environment.
• Advanced training in concussion management and soft tissue/manual mobilization techniques.
• Exceptional communication skills with a proven track record of handling high-stress, urgent sport-injury-related scenarios calmly and decisively.
• Demonstrated commitment to a student-centred, holistic approach to wellness that prioritizes physical and emotional well-being.

Additional Information

This contract position is available starting October 1, 2026 and may be renewed yearly based review. We anticipate temporary increases to full-time hours throughout the year to support our athletes during home games. A commitment to being able to work evenings and weekends and travel to and work at multiple locations, including off campus sites throughout the Lower Mainland, British Columbia and Canada is required.

Equity Statement

Douglas College is committed to being a workplace that is free of discrimination, that values diversity and is representative, at all job levels, of the communities we serve.