Physical Therapist
Washington Spirit
Full-time
On-site
Leesburg, Virginia, United States
Women's Soccer, Professional Soccer, Physical Therapy
Washington Spirit is seeking a skilled and dynamic Physical Therapist to join our team as the Head of Rehabilitation. The Head of Rehabilitation will have primary responsibility for the screening and rehabilitation of athletes, focusing on ensuring the return-to-play process is safe and effective. This role works in close collaboration with the Director of Medical, Chief Medical Officer, Athletic Trainers, Performance Staff, and other key stakeholders, ensuring athletes’ well-being and performance enhancement through evidence-based practices.
The Physical Therapist will:
- Rehabilitation Leadership: Lead the rehabilitation process for all short-term and long-term injuries, ensuring optimal recovery and performance.
- Collaboration: Work alongside the Director of Medical, Medical and Performance staff, and team physicians to develop and implement health, performance, and wellness strategies.
- Return to Play: Design and refine return-to-play protocols that are evidence-informed and in alignment with club processes. Ensure the athlete’s safety and performance standards are met throughout the process.
- Multidisciplinary Coordination: Participate and contribute in regular meetings to update player statuses, discuss their rehabilitation progress, and determine next steps.
- Performance Evaluation: Utilize contemporary technologies and performance testing to systematically evaluate player progress and modify rehabilitation plans accordingly.
- Research and Development: Share relevant soccer research and advancements with the high-performance staff to enhance the rehabilitation and performance strategies.
- Gym and Conditioning Support: Collaborate with Performance Staff to assist with gym-based strength and conditioning exercises for rehabilitating athletes.
- Medical Coverage: Provide on-site medical coverage for non-travel training sessions and participate in travel assignments as needed.
- Holistic Health Monitoring: Ensure comprehensive monitoring of the athlete’s mental, psychological, and nutritional status throughout the rehabilitation process. Collaborate with team staff and refer to appropriate professionals as necessary.
- Record Keeping: Maintain accurate and up-to-date physical therapy evaluations, progress notes, and discharge records within the NWSL’s EMR system.
- Interpersonal Skills: Demonstrate excellent interpersonal skills when working with players, coaches, medical staff, and NWSL personnel.
- Compliance and Reporting: Ensure compliance with NWSL medical policies and regulations, local, state, and federal laws, and other governing bodies’ standards. Compile necessary reports as required by the NWSL.
- Professional Development: Maintain professional liability insurance and attend NWSL meetings, programs, and activities as required.
- Additional Duties: Perform other duties as assigned by Washington Spirit..
- Work as part of a multidisciplinary team including physicians (CMO), athletic trainers, chiropractor, massage therapists, and performance staff.
- Assist in the development and execution of injury prevention strategies and return-to-play protocols.
The ideal candidate has:
- Licensed Physical Therapist in Virginia, in good standing, with direct access endorsement.
- CPR certification in Basic Life Support for healthcare providers.
- Minimum of 4 years of experience as a Physical Therapist.
- At least 2 years of experience in a similar role in a team sports environment, specifically with elite-level athletes (professional and/or Olympic).
- Experience with mid-end stage on-field return to play, particularly in soccer.
- Bachelor’s degree in Physical Therapy or related field.
- Board Certification as a Sports Clinical Specialist (SCS).
- Orthopedic Clinical Specialist (OCS) Certification.
- Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS).
- Dry needling qualification/certification.
- Background in EXOS methodology.
- Corrective Exercise Specialization (NASM-CES) and/or Performance Enhancement Specialization (NASM-PES).
- Master’s degree in Physical Therapy (MPT) or Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT).
- Strong leadership and communication skills, with the ability to collaborate effectively across a multidisciplinary team.
- Proven ability to manage and execute rehabilitation plans for athletes recovering from injury.
- Commitment to continuing education and professional development.
- Deep understanding of sports science, particularly in the context of soccer performance and rehabilitation.
If you are passionate about sports medicine and thrive in a high-performance environment, we’d love to hear from you. Join us in supporting the health, resilience, and performance of elite female athletes at the Washington Spirit.
ABOUT THE WASHINGTON SPIRIT
The Washington Spirit is a founding club in its 11th season of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) proudly representing the Washington, DC metropolitan area. It is the first franchise to have a minority woman hold a majority stake. A visionary entrepreneur, Michele Kang, is leading a new era for women’s sports with a vision to:
ABOUT THE WASHINGTON SPIRIT
The Washington Spirit is a founding club in its 11th season of the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) proudly representing the Washington, DC metropolitan area. It is the first franchise to have a minority woman hold a majority stake. A visionary entrepreneur, Michele Kang, is leading a new era for women’s sports with a vision to:
- Become the most preeminent sports organization in the world;
- Build a high-performance culture of winning on and off the pitch;
- Train women as women; and
- Motivate and inspire the next generation of girls and women.