High Performance Physiologist
JOB DESCRIPTION
High Performance Physiologist
CLASSIFICATION: Year-round; Full-time
FLSA: Exempt
REPORTS TO: Director of Sport Science
LOCATION: Park City, Utah
TRAVEL: Up to 30%
BENEFITS: Comprehensive health insurance package; 401k with 4% company match; generous flexible time off; industry perks; access to athlete gym; weekly staff lunch on-site
U.S. Ski & Snowboard is seeking a High Performance Physiologist. This is a full-time, beneficial position eligible for our full benefits package including medical insurance and retirement. For inquiries or help with your application, please email [click to reveal email address].
SUMMARY / OBJECTIVE
This role is central to the development and execution of evidence-based training and performance strategies across all phases of the annual training cycle. The High Performance Physiologist will support training planning, performance strategy, and athlete development through consultation on training methodology, physiology, recovery, and performance optimization. The successful candidate will work directly with athletes and coaches to optimize physiological adaptation, monitor athlete readiness, and drive performance outcomes at the national and international level.
ABOUT US
U.S. Ski & Snowboard (USSS) is committed to leading, encouraging, and supporting athletes in achieving excellence and making the United States of America the Best in the World in Olympic skiing and snowboarding. We are committed to fostering, cultivating and maintaining a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion by creating an environment in which diversity is valued, equity is striven for, and inclusion is embraced.
ROLES & RESPONSIBILITIES
- Athlete Experience
- Athlete Testing & Monitoring
- Design and conduct regular physiological assessments
- Implement and support management of athlete monitoring systems to track training performance, readiness, and fatigue
- Maintain a longitudinal database of athlete physiological data and provide trend analysis to coaches and high performance staff
- Conduct sport-specific on-snow and off-snow assessments aligned with competition demands
- Training Support & Programming
- Collaborate with coaches to support the design and periodization of training programs that maximize aerobic capacity, muscular endurance, and sport & discipline-specific power
- Provide physiologically informed guidance on training load, intensity distribution, and recovery
- Support altitude/heat training and advise on acclimatization strategies and training adjustments
- Contribute to individualized athlete development plans in alignment with long-term athletic development frameworks
- Competition Preparation & Support
- Advise on warm-up and pre-competition physiological preparation protocols
- Provide on-site physiological support at national and international competitions as required
- Analyze race and training data post-competition to inform ongoing programming decisions
- Athlete Testing & Monitoring
- Operational Excellence
- Research & Innovation
- Stay current with applied research in endurance sport physiology, particularly cross country skiing and related Nordic disciplines
- Identify and evaluate emerging technologies and methods for performance assessment and monitoring
- Identify and support research opportunities with our HP Partners that will support performance in our endurance athletes.
- Education
- Deliver education sessions to athletes and coaches on physiology, training theory, and recovery
- Communication & Collaboration
- Work with Sport staff, Club programs, and High Performance team to support world-class program focused on athlete health and performance.
- Research & Innovation
- Financial Performance
- Operate within allocated budget
OTHER DUTIES
Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS
Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Successful candidate must be able to repeatedly lift 50 pounds and work in potentially adverse weather conditions outdoors for many hours.
- Ability to travel domestically and internationally for training camps and competitions
COMPETENCIES & EXPERIENCE
- Master's degree or higher in Exercise Physiology, Human Performance, or a closely related field
- Minimum 5 years of experience working with elite endurance athletes
- Demonstrated proficiency in physiological testing, athlete monitoring, and data analysis
- Expertise in endurance training theory and periodization
- Experience with lactate testing, metabolic analysis systems, and athlete monitoring platforms
- Strong understanding and experience applying principles of altitude physiology and heat/cold environment considerations
- Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
Preferred
- Experience working specifically with cross country skiers or other Nordic athletes
- ACSM, CASES, ESSA or equivalent professional certification
- Experience with workload (e.g. GPS, IMU, power) data analysis
- Competency in a statistical or data analysis platform (R, Python, SPSS, or similar)
INTERVIEW PROCESS
- SparkHire: One-way video interview as screener
- Zoom interview with Hiring Manager
- Zoom interview with Team
- Zoom or in-person interview with Department Head
U.S. SKI AND SNOWBOARD EEO STATEMENT
USSS is an Equal Opportunity Employer that does not discriminate on the basis of actual or perceived race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, age, sex or gender (including pregnancy, childbirth and pregnancy-related conditions), gender identity or expression (including transgender status), sexual orientation, marital status, military service and veteran status, physical or mental disability, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state or local laws and ordinances. USSS's management team is dedicated to this policy with respect to recruitment, hiring, placement, promotion, transfer, training, compensation, benefits, employee activities, access to facilities and programs and general treatment during employment.