Head of High Performance

Colorado Rockies Baseball Club; Denver, Scottsdale (CO, AZ); On-site; USD 250,000 - 325,000; Full time

Job summary

The Colorado Rockies Baseball Club is seeking a Head of High Performance to lead Athletic Training, Rehabilitation and Conditioning, Mental Skills, Nutrition, and Performance Science. You will build a coordinated, year-round development system from Dominican Academy to the Majors to keep players healthy in our altitude environment.

You will set processes, review results, and ensure cross-department collaboration, while guiding staff to deliver consistent, data-driven plans tailored to individual

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in exercise science, kinesiology, sports science, athletic training, physical therapy, nutrition, or related field.
• At least eight years supporting high-level athletes, including three years leading staff or programs.
• Ability to integrate performance training, sports science, rehab, and nutrition across teams.
• Knowledge of training, workload management, recovery, injury risk, and return-to-performance.
• Experience hiring, developing staff; managing budgets and vendors; and setting standards.
• Ability to translate research/data into practical recommendations for players and staff.
• Discretion, trust-building, and handling confidential information.

Responsibilities

• Lead Athletic Training, Rehabilitation, Conditioning, Mental Skills, Nutrition, and Performance Science.
• Build a year-round physical development system from academy to Major League.
• Set processes and standards for player-specific development plans.
• Coordinate cross-department communication and annual program reviews.
• Oversee health, recovery, readiness, and movement programs across disciplines.
• Define digital systems requirements and manage data/tech vendors.
• Hire, mentor, and evaluate discipline heads and staff; manage budgets.
• Oversee budgeting, facilities, equipment, and external partnerships.

Skills

Athletic training leadership

Staff development

Data-driven decision making

Communication with coaches and execs

Spanish language proficiency

Education

Bachelor’s degree in exercise science

Eight+ years working with high-level athletes

Tools

Athlete management systems

Force platforms

Motion analysis

Wearable technologies

Player monitoring tools

Job description

The Colorado Rockies Baseball Club is embracing the climb, committed to building a championship-caliber organization on the field, in the clubhouse, and throughout our business operations. Playing at altitude presents unique competitive challenges and opportunities, and we embrace innovation, collaboration, and evidence-based practices to support elite performance.

Rooted in the traditions of America’s pastime, we operate with integrity, service, quality, and trust while striving to create an exceptional experience for our players, staff, and fans.

Position Summary

The Head of High Performance leads Athletic Training, Rehabilitation and Reconditioning, Strength and Conditioning, Mental Skills, Nutrition, Performance Science, and related health and performance services. The role builds a coordinated, year-round physical development system from the Dominican Academy through the Major League level to keep players healthy, support recovery, and maximize physical capabilities and on-field performance in the Rockies' unique environment and circumstances.

Through discipline leaders who manage daily delivery, the Head sets processes and standards for one coordinated, individualized health and physical development plan per player, reviews implementation and results, and holds leaders accountable for coordination and program quality.

Organization Wide Physical Development System

• Establish consistent methodologies, assessment protocols, tools, and programming across staff, affiliates, and complexes.
• Oversee development, documentation, and review of player plans based on individual needs, development stage, and baseball goals, with clear decision responsibilities and resolution of competing recommendations.
• Ensure programming addresses altitude, home-road transitions, travel, and other demands of the Rockies' environment.
• Establish handoffs across levels, locations, development and recovery stages, and outside trainers for year-round continuity, including offseason programming.
• Establish cross-department communication through daily staff meetings, case discussions, and after-action reviews.
• Establish processes for evaluating acquisitions, particularly amateur and international players, and communicating health risks, physical development opportunities, and potential benefits from our programs.

Training and Player Readiness

• Set processes for staff and on-field coaches to align physical development and recovery with baseball training priorities and game demands.
• Ensure training and readiness decisions use data, assessments, workload, player feedback, sleep, nutrition, and recovery information.
• Set expectations for communicating goals, progress, readiness, and limitations to players, coaches, and Baseball Operations leadership.
• Build a positive, progressive environment where players help shape plans, give honest feedback, and understand how staff use data and technology.

Player Health and Performance

• Oversee coordinated health, recovery, readiness, movement, and physical development programs to optimize on-field performance.
• Integrate biomechanics and data science across all health and performance disciplines, combining findings with staff expertise and player feedback to guide assessments, program evaluation, and plans tailored to individual movement profiles.
• Set protocols and progression criteria for treatment, rehabilitation, reconditioning, and return to performance.
• Set research priorities across disciplines and guide evaluation and adoption of advancing technology and modalities through evidence, practical testing, staff education, and review of results in our environment.
• Use player availability, injury patterns and recurrence, rehabilitation outcomes, physical development, and player feedback to improve programming and staff practices.

Data Science and Digital Systems

• Manage priorities, workflows, and product design decisions for data science and software engineering personnel dedicated to High Performance.
• Define requirements for digital systems integrating player information, plans, and reporting across High Performance, Baseball Operations, and coaching.
• Manage relationships with technology and software vendors, consultants, and academic research partners to support department needs and research priorities.

Staff Leadership and Development

• Hire, lead, mentor, and evaluate discipline leaders and staff to build an industry-leading department.
• Support continuing education, knowledge sharing, and collaboration across disciplines and locations.
• Set expectations for staff expertise, care quality, communication, and follow-through on player plans.

Department Planning and Resources

• Set department priorities and own the budget, with discipline leaders and staff developing and managing their budgets and spending.
• Recommend staffing, facility, equipment, technology, and other investments based on player needs and program results.
• Oversee related services and outside specialists, with discipline leaders coordinating player access and alignment with department standards.
• Oversee the management and development of physician services and medical partner relationships.
• Oversee Nutrition's work with food-service staff to ensure meals support player health, recovery, and performance.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Primarily supervises discipline heads, with some Minor League leaders reporting directly and others through their Major League counterparts.
• Provides oversight of all six disciplines and related services across the organization, including staff outside the direct reporting line.

Job Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in exercise science, kinesiology, sports science, athletic training, physical therapy, nutrition, or a related discipline, or an equivalent combination of relevant education and experience.
• At least eight years of progressive experience supporting high-level athletes, including at least three years leading staff, programs, or multidisciplinary services in a professional or elite sports environment.
• Demonstrated ability to integrate performance training, sports science, rehabilitation, and nutrition into coordinated player support across multiple teams or locations.
• Strong working knowledge of physical preparation, workload management, recovery, injury risk factors, and return-to-performance principles, with respect for clinical authority and professional boundaries.
• Experience hiring, developing, and evaluating staff; managing budgets and vendors; and implementing consistent operational standards.
• Ability to assess research and performance data, recognize limitations, and explain practical recommendations to players, coaches, clinicians, and executives.
• Sound judgment, discretion, and the ability to build trust, resolve competing priorities, and handle confidential player information appropriately.
• Any professional services personally delivered must be supported by the required current credentials, licensure, and scope of practice.

Preferred Skills

• Graduate degree in a related field and relevant professional credentials, such as CSCS, CPSS, or an applicable clinical or nutrition credential.
• Experience in Major League Baseball or another professional baseball organization, including collaboration across Major League, Minor League, and international player development environments.
• Experience with athlete management systems, force platforms, motion analysis, wearable technologies, and the practical evaluation of player monitoring tools.
• Experience supporting athletes at altitude and managing the physical demands of extended competitive seasons and frequent travel.
• Spanish language proficiency and experience working with culturally diverse players and staff.

Work Schedule & Location

• This position is based onsite at Coors Field in Denver, Colorado, or at our Spring Training Facility in Scottsdale, Arizona, and works closely with the Major League team while providing oversight throughout the system.
• The schedule follows the needs of professional baseball and requires evenings, weekends, holidays, and extended hours during the season and other key baseball activities.
• Domestic and international travel is required, including visits to Spring Training, affiliate facilities, rehabilitation operations, and international academies, as well as Major League travel as needed.

Physical Job Requirements

• This role operates in office, clubhouse, training, rehabilitation, stadium, and field environments, with exposure to outdoor weather, crowd noise, and active training areas.
• Must be able to move throughout stadiums, training facilities, and fields to observe activities and collaborate with players, staff, with periods of sitting, standing, and walking.
• Must be able to use a computer, review player information and reports, and communicate accurate information in person and through electronic systems.
• Must be able to travel between Club locations and carry customary work materials. Essential functions may be performed with or without reasonable accommodation.

Annual Salary Range: $250,000 to $325,000 a year. This is a regular-status, full-time, exempt position.

As a candidate for this position, your salary and related elements of compensation will be contingent upon your work experience, education, job-related skills, and any other factors the Colorado Rockies consider relevant to the hiring decision for this position.

In addition to the base salary, the Club believes in providing a very competitive and generous compensation and benefits package for its employees. Benefits include but are not limited to Medical, Dental, Vision, 401(k) with employer match, generous vacation and holiday program, employee parking, employer-provided game tickets to home games, onsite fitness classes and experiences, employee discounts on merchandise, and so much more! All benefits are subject to eligibility requirements and the terms of official plan documents, which may be modified or amended at any given time.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Rockies baseball is for everyone! We pride ourselves on hiring, developing, and promoting talent as an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, national origin, gender, age, religion, disability, veteran status, or any other category protected by law. In addition, we will endeavor to provide reasonable accommodation to otherwise qualified job applicants and employees with known physical or mental disabilities in compliance with the ADA. All employment and promotion decisions will be decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business needs.

The Colorado Rockies participate in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the United States.

This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.