Head of Sport Science

Strava, Inc.; San Francisco (CA); Hybrid; USD 180,000 - 240,000; Full time

Job summary

Strava is seeking a Head of Sport Science to oversee scientific validation and safety for our fitness products, and to drive the applied research agenda behind them.

You will manage and grow academic partnerships, define data strategies for defensible insights, and build a team over time, collaborating with Data Science, AI/ML, Product, Public Policy, and Legal.

Qualifications

• MD, PhD or equivalent applied track record in exercise physiology or sports science.
• Experience translating research into product decisions in industry or elite sport.
• Proven ability to manage academic or clinical partnerships with multi-institution governance.

Responsibilities

• Own scientific validation and safety review of Strava's and Runna's fitness products.
• Define data and label strategy to support defensible model insights.
• Manage and grow academic partnerships (Stanford, Loughborough) and scope new alliances.
• Collaborate with Data Science, AI/ML, Product, Public Policy and Legal on research questions.
• Build and lead the Sport Science team and external advisory council.
• Represent Strava's scientific credibility in external settings, including research and conferences.

Skills

Exercise physiology

Sports science

Academic partnerships

Data collaboration

Team leadership

Education

MD/PhD or equivalent

Job description

About Strava

Strava is the app for active people. With over 200 million athletes in more than 185 countries, it’s more than tracking workouts—it’s where people make progress together, from new habits to new personal bests. No matter your sport or how you track it, Strava’s got you covered. Find your crew, crush your goals, and make every effort count. Start your journey with Strava today.

Our mission is simple: to motivate people to live their best active lives. We believe in the power of movement to connect and drive people forward.

About This Role

Sport Science sits outside Product, Tech, and Runna, reporting directly to the CEO. The team is responsible for the ongoing scientific validation and safety of Strava's and Runna's fitness products, and for the applied research agenda that pushes forward the science of sport and fitness.

As Head of Sport Science, you'll own two things at once: the ongoing scientific validation and safety review of Runna's and Strava's fitness products, and the applied research agenda behind them. You'll manage and grow academic partnerships, define the data and benchmarks needed to make our models' insights scientifically defensible, and grow a team over time. You'll work closely with the coaching team, AI/ML, Data Science, Product, Public Policy, and Legal.

We follow a flexible hybrid model that translates to more than half of your time on-site in our San Francisco office, three days per week.

What You'll Do:

• Own the ongoing scientific validation and safety review of Runna's and Strava's fitness products, starting with the open items in an active academic audit

• Manage and grow academic partnerships with Stanford University and Loughborough University, and scope new partnerships as needed

• Define the data and label strategy, such as perceived exertion, injury history, and sleep, that makes our models' insights scientifically defensible, partnering closely with Data Science and AI/ML

• Partner with Runna's coaching team on a recurring review cadence, serving as the scientific authority on disputed questions about the application of science in coaching

• Build out the Sport Science team, plus an external academic advisory council, over time

• Represent Strava's scientific credibility in external settings, from published research to occasional conference talks.

What You'll Bring to the Team:

• An MD, PhD, or equivalent applied track record in exercise physiology, sports science, biomechanics, sports medicine, or a closely related field

• Substantial experience combining peer-reviewed research with applied work in industry, elite sport, or a research-focused sports medicine setting, translating science into product decisions

• A track record of managing external academic or clinical partnerships, including agreements, multi-institution collaborations, and ethics-related governance

• Comfort partnering with data science and ML teams to translate research questions into model and data requirements is a plus, though you won't need to write code yourself

• Experience building a team or function from its first hire is a plus

• A track record of representing scientific work externally, such as a paper, a conference talk, or a podcast, is a plus

• Endurance or running-specific research experience is a plus, though not required

Why Join Us?

Movement brings us together. At Strava, we’re building the world’s largest community of active people, helping them stay motivated and achieve their goals.

Our global team is passionate about making movement fun, meaningful, and accessible to everyone. Whether you’re shaping the technology, growing our community, or driving innovation, your work at Strava makes an impact.

When you join Strava, you’re not just joining a company—you’re joining a movement. If you’re ready to bring your energy, ideas, and drive, let’s build something incredible together.

Strava builds software that makes the best part of our athletes’ days even better. Just as we’re deeply committed to unlocking their potential, we’re dedicated to providing a world-class, inclusive workplace where our employees can grow and thrive, too. We’re backed by Sequoia Capital, TCV, Madrone Partners and Jackson Square Ventures, and we’re expanding in order to exceed the needs of our growing community of global athletes. Our culture reflects our community. We are continuously striving to hire and engage teammates from all backgrounds, experiences and perspectives because we know we are a stronger team together.

Strava is an equal opportunity employer. In keeping with the values of Strava, we make all employment decisions including hiring, evaluation, termination, promotional and training opportunities, without regard to race, religion, color, sex, age, national origin, ancestry, sexual orientation, physical handicap, mental disability, medical condition, disability, gender or identity or expression, pregnancy or pregnancy-related condition, marital status, height and/or weight.

We will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and to receive other benefits and privileges of employment. Please contact us to request accommodation.

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