Two Roles:

1. Academy Athletic Trainer
2. Academy Strength and Conditioning Coach

Club: Vancouver FC Location: The Stadium at the Langley Events Centre

Department: Sports Science & Performance

1. Role Overview - Academy Athletic Trainer ( Reports to Club Physician) :

The Academy Athletic Trainer is responsible for the prevention, evaluation, treatment, and rehabilitation of injuries for Vancouver FC Academy players across all age groups. This role requires a genuine passion for working with youth athletes and an understanding of the unique physical and developmental demands placed on young players. The successful candidate will work closely with academy coaching, performance, and medical staff to ensure the long-term health and athletic development of our players. The academy typically trains four times a week in the afternoons. The academy season starts in September and concludes in April.

Key Responsibilities:

● Provide on-site athletic training coverage for academy training sessions, home fixtures, and travel for away competitions

● Conduct injury screenings, load monitoring, and wellness checks across all academy age groups

● Design and implement age-appropriate injury prevention programs in collaboration with academy coaching and strength & conditioning staff

● Evaluate and manage acute and chronic musculoskeletal injuries with a focus on long-term athlete development (LTAD) principles

● Develop individualized rehabilitation programs for injured academy players and communicate return-to-play timelines to coaches and parents/guardians

● Maintain accurate medical records for all academy players in compliance with club, league,

and privacy regulations

● Liaise with parents and guardians regarding player health, injury management, and medical referrals

● Coordinate with external physicians, physiotherapists, and specialists as needed

● Manage treatment room supplies, medical kits, and equipment inventory for the academy

● Support pre-season and ongoing player health screenings across academy age groups

● Assist in educating young players on injury prevention, recovery, nutrition, and overall wellness

Qualifications & Experience:

● Bachelor's or Master's degree in Athletic Training, Kinesiology, or a related field

● Certified Athletic Trainer (ATC) designation or equivalent Canadian certification (e.g.,

CAT(C) through CATA)

● Current CPR/AED certification

● Minimum 1–2 years of experience in a sport or high-performance setting, with experience working with youth athletes strongly preferred





● Solid understanding of growth-related injuries and the physical demands of youth soccer players

● Strong communication skills, particularly when working with young athletes, parents, and coaches

● Ability to work flexible hours including evenings and weekends

Key Competencies:

● Experience working within a soccer academy, youth club, or CPL/MLS environment

● Familiarity with Long-Term Athlete Development (LTAD) frameworks and FIFA's youth development medical guidelines

● Additional certifications in manual therapy, dry needling, or sports nutrition are an asset

● Vulnerable Sector Check (required prior to employment)

● Bilingual (English/French) is considered an asset

What We Offer:

● A competitive compensation package commensurate with experience

● The opportunity to shape the health and development of future Canadian soccer stars

● A collaborative, player-first workplace culture

● Professional development opportunities within the Vancouver FC organization

1. Role Overview - Academy Strength and Conditioning Coach (Reports to Head of Sports Science/Club Physician) :

The Strength and Conditioning Coach is responsible for the design and delivery of all physical preparation programs for Vancouver FC's Academy. Working closely with the coaching, sports medicine, and sports science staff, this role ensures players are physically prepared to perform at the highest level. The successful candidate will be an evidence-based practitioner with a passion for elite sport and a team-oriented approach to integrated performance.

The academy typically trains four times a week in the afternoons. The academy season starts in September and concludes in

April.

Key Responsibilities:

● Design, implement, and oversee individualized and group strength and conditioning programs for all academy players across the pre-season, in-season, and off-season periods

● Deliver pitch-based physical preparation sessions in collaboration with the coaching staff,

including warm-ups, activation, and conditioning work

● Monitor and manage player training loads using GPS and heart rate technology to optimize performance and minimize injury risk





● Collaborate closely with the sports medicine team to support the physical rehabilitation and return-to-play progressions of injured players

● Conduct regular physical testing and performance assessments, tracking and reporting on player development and readiness

● Analyze and interpret performance data to inform training decisions and communicate findings to coaching and medical staff

● Oversee the management and maintenance of the gym facility, equipment, and performance technology

● Support the development of individualized player programs addressing specific physical needs, imbalances, or performance targets

● Stay current with applied research and best practices in soccer-specific strength and conditioning

● Travel with the team for away fixtures and camps as required

Qualifications & Experience:

● Bachelor's or Master's degree in Strength and Conditioning, Exercise Science, Kinesiology, or a related field

● Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) through the NSCA or equivalent accreditation

● Minimum 3–5 years of experience in a strength and conditioning role within a professional or high-performance sport environment, preferably soccer

● Demonstrated proficiency with GPS load monitoring systems and heart rate technology

(e.g., Catapult, STATSports, Polar)

● Strong knowledge of periodization, physical preparation methodology, and soccer-specific fitness demands

● Excellent communication and interpersonal skills with the ability to build trust and rapport with players and staff

● Ability to work flexible hours including early afternoons, weekends, and travel for away fixtures

● Current CPR/AED certification

Key Competencies:

● Experience working within a soccer academy, youth club, or CPL/MLS environment

● Familiarity with sports science software and performance reporting platforms

● Additional certifications in sports nutrition, manual therapy, or sports science are an asset

● Experience presenting performance data to coaching and medical staff in a clear and actionable format

● Bilingual (English/French) is considered an asset

What We Offer:

● A competitive compensation package commensurate with experience

● The opportunity to work within an integrated, high-performance professional environment

● Access to modern facilities, GPS technology, and performance tools

● A cooperative and progressive sports science and medical team

● Opportunities for professional development and career growth within the Vancouver FC organization

📌 Academy Athletic Trainer / Academy Strength and Conditioning Coach (Langley)
🏢 Vancouver Football Club
📍 Langley