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Head of Sports Science
Sydney Roosters
The Sydney Roosters is an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the Eastern Suburbs and inner Sydney including the CBD. The club competes in the National Rugby League competition
Job Posted- 8 Oct 2026
Status- Full Time
Location- Australia
Closing date- 31 Oct 2026
The Opportunity
We are seeking an exceptional, highly analytical Head of Sports Science to lead our athlete tracking, fatigue profiling, and applied performance data protocols.
Reporting directly to the Head of Performance, you will act as the crucial link between our data infrastructure and the training field. Working alongside our dedicated Data Engineering team, you will ensure our central performance databases are fed with clean, high-integrity telemetry. You will translate complex metrics into real-time, actionable insights for the Head Coach, Head of Performance and Performance staff to optimize player physical readiness, support a high-intensity playstyle, and maximize squad availability.
Key Responsibilities:
- Data Translation & Insights: Work closely with our Data Engineering team to translate high-performance football needs into scalable data solutions, acting as the subject matter expert on how performance metrics should flow and be visualized.
- Live Workload Monitoring: Oversee real-time GPS/GNSS tracking during field sessions, actively managing live workloads and advising Head of Performance on micro-cycle thresholds.
- Fatigue & Readiness Profiling: Lead daily neuromuscular fatigue testing (via our Vald Suite) and monitor systemic recovery metrics (HRV, sleep, and wellness logs).
- Coaching Integration: Translate complex acute-to-chronic workload models and physiological data into simple, high-impact visual briefings for the Head Coach and Head of Performance.
- Return-to-Play Frameworks: Partner closely with the medical and rehab staff to build quantitative, objective milestones for athletes returning from injury.
What We Are Looking For:
- Experience: 5+ years operating in a sports science or high-performance data capacity within a tier-one elite sporting environment (NRL, AFL, Super Rugby, Premier League, etc.).
- Data Competency: Advanced proficiency in data manipulation and statistical workflows. While our engineers build the pipelines, you must be highly comfortable handling complex data structures, calculating advanced load models, and using tools like R or Python for custom athletic profiling.
- Technical Literacy: Deep, expert-level mastery of elite athlete tracking hardware (e.g., Catapult), force plate systems (e.g., VALD), and enterprise Athlete Management Systems (AMS).
- Communication: An excellent communicator who can work seamlessly with highly technical engineers on one side, and non-technical coaches and athletes on the other.
- Education & Accreditation: Postgraduate degree (Master’s or PhD highly regarded) in Sports Science, Exercise Science, or a related human movement discipline. ESSA Accredited Sports Scientist (Level 1 or 2).
The Sydney Roosters acknowledge the Traditional Custodians of the land on which we work and play, and pay our respects to Elders past and present. We are committed to meaningful engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and to contributing to positive outcomes through our work and community initiatives.
We are proud to be an inclusive organisation and encourage applications from people of all backgrounds. If you require any reasonable adjustments throughout the recruitment process, please let us know.
Essential Requirements
- Human Movement / Coaching / Exercise / Sports Science Degree
- ESSA Accredited Sports Scientist (Level 1 or 2)
Desirable Criteria
- Relevant Tertiary Qualification
- Python or R experience
- Catapult GPS hardware
- VALD force plate systems
How to Apply
Please click APPLY NOW to begin the application process.