Elite Soccer Performance Coach - First Team Training

Gotham FC; Whippany (NJ); On-site; USD 100,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, Dental & Vision benefit plans

Employee funded 401(k) option

Job summary

Gotham FC in Whippany, New Jersey, seeks an experienced Performance Coach to support first team physical performance and individualized athlete development. This hands‑on role focuses on gym- and field‑based coaching, collaboration within the Department of Human Performance, and ongoing development of the club’s physical‑performance approach.

This role requires flexible hours, including matchdays and travel up to 100% of the team schedule, with strong emphasis on conditioning, movement quality,

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Exercise Science, Exercise Physiology, Kinesiology, or a closely related field.
• CSCS credential from the National Strength and Conditioning Association.
• Current CPR/AED and First Aid certification.
• Minimum of four years of progressive experience in strength and conditioning within professional soccer or similar high‑performance field‑based environment.
• Demonstrated experience leading team and individual strength, speed, power, conditioning, movement, and physical‑development sessions.
• Experience designing and delivering individualized player programming in collaboration with rehabilitation and other performance practitioners.
• Experience supporting players with low match exposure, modified training participation, or return‑to-performance needs.
• Strong technical coaching ability, including movement analysis, exercise instruction, and appropriate real time coaching adjustments.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build trust with players and collaborate across disciplines.
• Familiarity with GPS/LPS, athlete‑monitoring systems, physical testing, and training‑management platforms.
• Ability to work flexible hours, weekends, matchdays, and travel of up to 100% of the team schedule.

Responsibilities

• Lead and deliver first‑team gym- and field‑based strength, speed, power, movement, activation, mobility, and conditioning sessions.
• Coach exercise technique, movement quality, training intent, and player‑specific modifications.
• Collaborate on the design, delivery, and ongoing improvement of team and individual physical‑development programs within the Director of Human Performance’s plan.
• Lead or support assigned innovation projects at the player and organizational levels, including projects that improve programming, coaching practices, player development and performance workflows.
• Build trusted relationships with players through consistent coaching, clear communication, and practical education.
• Build coordinated individual and supplemental work plans with the physical therapy group and the Performance Fitness Coach, covering exercise selection, physical‑development priorities, and progression within each player’s care plan.
• Own the planning and delivery of approved supplemental programming for low‑minute, non‑rostered, non traveling, and selected development players.
• Deliver individualized strength, speed, power, movement, and conditioning work for assigned players.
• Align programming with the Department of Human Performance and with technical staff so physical work matches player status and team demands.
• Deliver assigned offseason, remote, travel, hotel‑based, and transition‑period programs.
• Collaborate on, support, and deliver assigned gym- and field‑based physical reconditioning for players progressing from rehabilitation into performance training, as assigned case by case by the Director of Human Performance.
• Implement approved conditioning plans, physical‑exposure targets, and soccer‑specific progressions.
• Document completed work, player response, and coaching observations, and share them through the department’s daily handoff process.
• Escalate new symptoms, unexpected training intolerance, or uncertainty about a player’s plan the same day through established departmental processes.
• Use GPS, wearable, testing, and physical‑profile information from the Performance Scientist’s workflow to inform coaching and individual programming.
• Co‑deliver scheduled gym testing and assessments with the Performance Scientist.
• Maintain accurate records of assigned sessions, modifications, and completed supplemental work.

Skills

Strong communication

Movement analysis

Coaching technique

Team collaboration

Education

Master’s degree in Exercise Science or related field

CSCS credential

CPR/AED and First Aid certification

Tools

GPS/LPS familiarity

Performance management platforms

Job description

Gotham FC in Whippany, New Jersey, seeks an experienced Performance Coach to support first team physical performance and individualized athlete development. This hands‑on role focuses on gym- and field‑based coaching, collaboration within the Department of Human Performance, and ongoing development of the club’s physical‑performance approach.

This role requires flexible hours, including matchdays and travel up to 100% of the team schedule, with strong emphasis on conditioning, movement quality,