Director, Sports Performance

KC Current; Riverside (KS); On-site; USD 110,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

KC Current is seeking an experienced Director of Sports Performance to lead the club’s physical preparation and performance strategy. This role reports to the VP of Player Health and Performance and integrates strength, conditioning, recovery, and return-to-performance programming to maximize player availability and on-field performance.

The role requires 7+ years in elite settings, collaboration with medical and coaching staff, and relevant certifications.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science or related field; Master’s preferred.
• Minimum 7 years of strength and conditioning or sports performance experience in elite settings.
• Demonstrated experience leading high-performance programs within team sport settings.
• Strong understanding of periodization, load management, recovery, and performance testing.

Responsibilities

• Lead all aspects of the club’s sports performance program including strength, conditioning, recovery, and reconditioning.
• Design and manage annual and seasonal physical preparation plans aligned with demands.
• Collaborate with coaching to integrate performance objectives into training.
• Use athlete monitoring data to inform training loads, recovery, and decisions.
• Work with medical staff on injury prevention and return-to-performance pathways.
• Mentor and develop performance staff and interns.
• Establish performance standards, testing protocols, and benchmarking.
• Ensure athlete safety and long-term performance planning.
• Contribute to performance reporting for leadership and stakeholders.
• Stay current with research and innovations in elite sports performance.

Skills

CSCS

PES

SCCC

CPSS

Leadership

Communication

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science or related field

Master’s degree preferred

Tools

Leader development

Job description

Join the Team.

At KC Current, everything we do is in service of our fans, partners, community, and players. Our employees are stewards of that responsibility, working together to elevate the game and deepen our connection to Kansas City and beyond. With a best-in-class training facility and one of the first stadiums built specifically for a women’s sports team, KC Current is writing the next chapter with world-class talent and ambition.

Join the Team.

At KC Current, everything we do is in service of our fans, partners, community, and players. Our employees are a team of competitive, passionate, and driven people who are dedicated to this sport, this team, and this community. We aim high, embrace challenges, and take action to get it done. We believe great things happen when we are united. We are seeking individuals who want to march on this mission with us as the world’s eyes are watching. We are making history in Kansas City and desire like-minded, high energy, driven individuals to join us on our journey.

Who are we hiring?

We are seeking an experienced, collaborative, and forward-thinking Director of Sports Performance to lead the club’s physical preparation and performance strategy under guidance of the VP of Player health and Performance. This role is responsible for the design, implementation, and oversight of all strength and conditioning, recovery, and return-to-performance programming to maximize player availability, durability, and on-field performance throughout the competitive season.

The Director of Sports Performance will work closely and in collaboration with the VP of Player Health and Performance, coaching, sports science, and medical staff to deliver an integrated, athlete-centered performance program.

What will you do?

• Lead and oversee all aspects of the club’s sports performance program, including strength training, conditioning, recovery, and reconditioning.
• Design and manage annual and seasonal physical preparation plans aligned with technical, tactical, and competition demands.
• Collaborate with coaching staff to integrate performance objectives into daily training and match preparation.
• Partner with sports science staff to utilize athlete monitoring data to inform training loads, recovery strategies, and performance decision-making.
• Work closely with medical and rehabilitation staff to support injury prevention strategies and return-to-performance pathways.
• Supervise, mentor, and develop sports performance staff, interns, and assistants as applicable.
• Establish and maintain performance standards, testing protocols, and benchmarking processes.
• Ensure best practices in athlete safety, physical development, and long-term performance planning.
• Contribute to performance reporting and evaluation for technical leadership and club stakeholders.
• Stay current with research, trends, and innovations in elite sports performance and applied strength and conditioning.

Required

• Bachelor’s degree in Exercise Science, Kinesiology, Sports Performance, or a related field; Master’s degree preferred.
• Minimum of 7 years of strength and conditioning or sports performance experience in elite, collegiate, or professional sport environments.
• Demonstrated experience leading high-performance programs within team sport settings.
• Strong understanding of periodization, load management, recovery, and performance testing.
• Proven ability to collaborate effectively with coaches, medical staff, and sports science professionals.
• Excellent communication, leadership, and organizational skills.
• High level of professionalism, integrity, and athlete-centered mindset.
• Relevant Certifications (1 or more): CSCS (NSCA), PES (NASM), SCCC (CSCCa), CPSS (NSCA)

Preferred

• Experience working in professional soccer and/or women’s high-performance sport.
• Prior leadership experience managing performance staff or departments.

Special Requirements Of The Job

• Must be able to work a flexible schedule, inclusive of weekends, nights (event evenings & overnight operation shifts) and holidays.
• Ability to monitor company communications and respond to time-sensitive matters with senior executives.
• Must be able to stand, walk, and move around the venue for extended periods of time, often during events or facility setup and breakdown.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds as needed for event setup, equipment management, or assisting with operational needs.
• Requires occasional bending, squatting, and reaching overhead to handle various tasks related to facility management, equipment, and event preparation.
• Must be capable of working in physically demanding environments, including navigating stairs, ramps, and elevated platforms during venue conversions.
• Ability to work outdoors continuously for extended periods of time in all weather conditions

We value diversity and seek world-class employees of all backgrounds. The Kansas City Current is an Equal Opportunity Employer and provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, sexual and reproductive health choices, national origin, citizenship, age, genetic information, disability, or veteran status. In addition to federal law mandates, we comply with all applicable state and local laws governing nondiscrimination in all locations and will consider requests for reasonable accommodations as required.