Director, Physical Development

Washington Nationals; Washington (District of Columbia); On-site; USD 200,000 - 250,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, dental, vision, life and AD&D

Short‑ and long-term disability

Flexible spending accounts

401(k) and pension plan

Complimentary Nationals tickets

Employee discounts

Free onsite fitness center

Job summary

Washington Nationals seek a Director of Physical Development to oversee Major League and Minor League Strength and Conditioning, Rehab Strength and Conditioning, and Nutrition. The role integrates with Medical, Rehabilitation, and skill departments to enhance player performance, availability, and long‑term health.

The position requires excellent communication, effective feedback, and a vision for a high‑performance, player‑centered development model. Based in Washington, D.C.

Qualifications

• CSCS certification required.
• RSCC credential or ability to obtain.
• Bachelor’s degree in a related field.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement the Physical Development vision across Major/Minor League programs.
• Lead Physical Development staff to support MLB and MiLB players and coaches.
• Establish programming, testing, monitoring, and staff development standards.
• Partner with Medical, Rehab, and skills departments for integrated plans.
• Oversee nutrition components of rehabilitation and return‑to‑performance plans.
• Use data and KPIs to evaluate programs and guide decisions.

Skills

Bilingual; Spanish preferred

Education

Bachelor’s Degree in related field

Master’s Degree or doctorate‑level education

Tools

CSCS

RSCC or credential

Job description

Our Vision

To become baseball’s highest performing organization — defined by our relentless pursuit of excellence, strengthened by our connection, and fueled by our positive energy.

• Joy. We want to be around people that like to have fun. We remain optimistic through the ups and downs, we enjoy the process, and we share in something bigger than ourselves.
• Humility. We don’t have all the answers. We lead with curiosity, listen generously, and seek growth from every experience — especially the tough ones. We have gotten over ourselves.
• Integrity. We do the right thing, even when it’s hard. We act with honesty, accountability, and respect for our teammates and ourselves. We treat the custodian like the king.
• Competitiveness. We embrace challenges and thrive in high-stakes environments. We prepare relentlessly. We are energized by the idea of keeping score.

Our Vision

To become baseball’s highest performing organization — defined by our relentless pursuit of excellence, strengthened by our connection, and fueled by our positive energy.

Our Core Values

• Joy. We want to be around people that like to have fun. We remain optimistic through the ups and downs, we enjoy the process, and we share in something bigger than ourselves.
• Humility. We don’t have all the answers. We lead with curiosity, listen generously, and seek growth from every experience — especially the tough ones. We have gotten over ourselves.
• Integrity. We do the right thing, even when it’s hard. We act with honesty, accountability, and respect for our teammates and ourselves. We treat the custodian like the king.
• Competitiveness. We embrace challenges and thrive in high-stakes environments. We prepare relentlessly. We are energized by the idea of keeping score.

Position Summary

The Washington Nationals are seeking a Director of Physical Development to oversee Major League and Minor League Strength and Conditioning, Rehab Strength and Conditioning, and Nutrition. This includes organizational programming, player progressions and regressions, staff development, testing, and data tracking across each area.

This role will serve on the organizational leadership team and ensure Strength and Conditioning, Rehab Strength and Conditioning, and Nutrition are fully integrated with Medical, Rehabilitation, and the skill departments to support player performance, availability, and long-term health. The position requires excellent communication, the ability to provide effective feedback, and the vision to create and implement a high-performance, player-centered development model.

This position will be based in Washington, D.C.

Primary Responsibilities

• Develop and implement the Physical Development vision across Major League and Minor League Strength and Conditioning, Rehab Strength and Conditioning, and Nutrition.
• Lead, align, and develop Physical Development staff to support the needs of Major League and Minor League players and coaches.
• Establish organizational standards for programming, testing, player monitoring, and staff development across each area.
• Partner with Medical, Rehabilitation, and the skill departments to create integrated plans for healthy and injured players.
• Oversee the strength, conditioning, and nutrition components of rehabilitation and return-to-performance plans. Medical will establish diagnosis, restrictions, and clinical readiness.
• Lead the organizational nutrition strategy, including fueling, hydration, supplementation, body composition, and recovery.
• Use data, technology, and key performance indicators to evaluate programs and improve player‑development decisions.
• Develop injury‑risk‑reduction strategies and objective physical‑readiness criteria in collaboration with Medical.
• Establish clear communication, meeting, and feedback processes that maintain alignment and drive staff development.
• Oversee Draft physical‑development evaluations in coordination with Medical and Scouting.
• Manage Physical Development staffing, budgets, resources, and capital planning.
• Maintain evidence‑based best practices and build an external network that supports research, consultation, and staff recruitment.

Qualifications

• Requirements
  • Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist through the NSCA (CSCS)
  • Registered Strength and Conditioning Coach (RSCC) or the ability to obtain the credential
  • Bachelor’s Degree in a related field
• Preferred
  • Licensed Massage Therapist, Doctor of Physical Therapy, Athletic Trainer, or comparable medical licensure
  • Master’s Degree or doctorate‑level education
  • Bilingual; Spanish preferred

Compensation

The projected annual salary range for this position is $200,000 - $250,000 per year. Actual pay is based on several factors, including but not limited to the applicant’s: qualifications, skills, expertise, education/training, certifications, and other organization requirements. Starting salaries for new employees are frequently not at the top of the applicable salary range.

Benefits

The Nationals offer a competitive and comprehensive benefits package that presently includes:

• Medical, dental, vision, life and AD&D insurance
• Short- and long-term disability insurance
• Flexible spending accounts
• 401(k) and pension plan
• Access to complimentary tickets to Nationals home games
• Employee discounts
• Free onsite fitness center

Equal Opportunity Employer

The Nationals are dedicated to offering equal employment and advancement opportunities to all individuals regardless of their race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, family responsibilities, matriculation, political affiliation, genetic information, disability, or any other protected characteristic under applicable law.