Head Athletic Trainer

Head Athletic Trainer

Department: Pro Volleyball Operations

Reports To: Head of Pro Health & Wellness

FLSA Status: Exempt

Location: Assigned Pro City: Los Angeles, CA; Miami, FL; Minneapolis, MN; San Francisco, CA (OctoberApril); Hybrid during off-season

About LOVB (League One Volleyball):

League One Volleyball (LOVB) is reimagining women's sports. Launched in 2019, our company is a mission-led sports performance, training and media enterprise that will change the game of volleyball in the USA and empower new generations of female athletes.

It is a groundbreaking time for volleyball in the US with our historic triple Olympic Gold medals in Women's Indoor, Beach and Sitting Volleyball. Volleyball is already the #1 most played girls' youth sport. There are 38M current and former players today. Of major sports, it's the only one that is women-first (~90% of players are female). But the volleyball market has been almost entirely missed by traditional sports investors, brands, and media.

LOVB is capturing this opportunity by creating a strong club business, and from that built-in audience and fandom, is creating the best Pro League in the world and a digital ecosystem that will connect all aspects of LOVB. This community-up approach will drive participation and fandom, while enabling greater empowerment for girls and young women living this amazing sport. In this role, you will join a mission-driven, roll-up-your-sleeves team of innovators and builders who have come together to change the paradigm of professional volleyball and women's sports.

Job Summary: The Head Athletic Trainer (HAT) is responsible for the overall management and delivery of sports medicine services for an assigned LOVB professional team. Serving as the primary healthcare provider for team athletes, the HAT oversees injury prevention, evaluation, treatment, rehabilitation, and return-to-play protocols to support athlete health, safety, and performance throughout the season.

Working under the direction of the team's Lead Team Physician and LOVB's Head of Health & Wellness, the HAT collaborates closely with coaches, performance staff, physicians, and other healthcare providers to develop and implement comprehensive care plans for athletes. The HAT is responsible for maintaining medical records, coordinating healthcare services, monitoring athlete wellness, and ensuring compliance with league, team, and medical best practices.

This position requires strong clinical expertise, excellent communication skills, sound decision-making abilities, and a commitment to providing high-quality care in a fast-paced professional sports environment. The Head Athletic Trainer serves as a key member of the team's performance and medical staff and plays a critical role in optimizing athlete availability, health, and performance.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Direct and oversee all aspects of player healthcare, including injury prevention, evaluation, treatment, rehabilitation, emergency care, and return-to-play management.
• Coordinate comprehensive medical services for athletes, including referrals, diagnostic testing, specialist consultations, physical examinations, and ongoing healthcare management.
• Monitor and support athlete physical, mental, and overall wellness, collaborating with medical and performance staff to ensure optimal health and performance outcomes.
• Develop and implement injury prevention, rehabilitation, and athlete monitoring programs in partnership with Strength & Conditioning staff, utilizing technologies such as Catapult and VALD.
• Maintain accurate medical documentation, injury reporting, insurance claims, workers' compensation records, and athlete health information within the league's electronic medical record system.
• Manage athletic training facilities, medical equipment, supplies, and pharmaceutical inventories while ensuring compliance with applicable health, safety, and regulatory standards.
• Coordinate and supervise athletic training, physical therapy, massage therapy, chiropractic services, and other healthcare providers supporting the team.
• Communicate effectively with players, coaches, team personnel, medical providers, and league staff regarding athlete health, availability, and participation status.
• Ensure compliance with all applicable professional standards, governing body regulations, league policies, and federal, state, and local laws.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the League, team, or medical leadership.

Required Skills/Abilities:

• Strong knowledge of sports medicine, injury prevention, injury assessment, therapeutic interventions, rehabilitation, and return-to-play protocols.
• Ability to make sound clinical decisions in a fast-paced, high-performance sports environment.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to effectively collaborate with athletes, coaches, physicians, performance staff, and league personnel.
• Strong organizational skills and attention to detail, including the ability to manage multiple priorities and maintain accurate medical documentation.
• Experience utilizing electronic medical records (EMR), athlete monitoring technologies, and other sports medicine software platforms.
• Knowledge of emergency action planning, risk management, and healthcare compliance standards.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise professional judgment in handling sensitive medical information.
• Demonstrated leadership skills and the ability to work independently while contributing to a multidisciplinary performance team.

Education & Experience:

• Bachelor's degree in Athletic Training, Sports Medicine, Exercise Science, Kinesiology, or a related healthcare field required.
• Minimum of three (3) years of professional experience as a Certified Athletic Trainer following Board of Certification (BOC) certification.
• Minimum of two (2) years of experience providing medical care and performance support to elite-level athletes.
• Experience working in a fast-paced, high-performance, and collaborative sports environment.
• Experience as an athletic trainer, healthcare provider, coach, or athlete within professional, Olympic, national team, collegiate, or other elite-level sports organizations, with volleyball experience preferred.

Required Certifications & Licensure:

• Board of Certification (BOC) Certified Athletic Trainer in good standing.
• Licensed, registered, or eligible for licensure as an Athletic Trainer in the state in which the team is based.
• Current CPR/AED certification (BLS or higher).

Preferred Certifications:

• Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS).
• Performance Enhancement Specialist (NASM-PES) and/or Corrective Exercise Specialist (CES).
• Dry Needling Certification.

Work Environment & Physical Requirements:

• Ability to travel extensively and work a flexible schedule in support of team and league activities, including competitions, events, meetings, evenings, weekends, and holidays.
• Ability to stand, walk, kneel, crouch, bend, and move quickly throughout practices, competitions, and training sessions.
• Ability to lift, carry, push, and/or move athletic training equipment, medical supplies, and treatment tables weighing up to 50 pounds.