Assistant, Strength & Conditioning

Since 1878, Western University has been committed to serving our communities through the pursuit of academic excellence and by providing students, faculty, and community members with life-long opportunities for intellectual, social, and cultural growth. We seek excellent students, faculty, and staff to join us in what has become known as the "Western Experience" - an opportunity to contribute to a better world through the development of new knowledge, new abilities, new connections, and new ways to make a difference.

Student Experience fosters equitable learning environments in which all students can thrive to their full potential. Through our commitment to integrating research, theory, and practice across all of the programs, resources, and supports we provide, Student Experience leads an ecosystem of people, places, and spaces that empower student thriving. Our vision is for all Mustangs to discover their personalized pathway through Western’s rich, wholistic learning environment; engage in brave conversations with our diverse community on and off campus, and develop the courage to be uncomfortable without fear of failure in order to thrive throughout their degree and after graduation. At Western, the Student Experience portfolio is organized into three inter-dependent pillars that provide the programmes and supports that inspire Western Students to discover themselves; engage with their communities and thrive as learners. These pillars are: Wellness & Wellbeing (comprised of the following departments: Health & Wellness, Student Support & Case Management and Wellness & Equity Education), Sport & Recreation (comprised of the following departments: Recreation & Active Well-being, Sport and Spirit & Connection), and Leadership & Learning (comprised of the following departments: Academic Support & Engagement and Careers & Experience). Professional and student staff working across these three pillars collaborate with student organizations and academic and administrative leaders throughout campus to foster inclusive and wholistic learning environments that maximize the potential of each student.

The Sport & Recreation pillar collectively works to enrich student thriving through a focus on developing leadership and success in sport and recreation. With a commitment to diversity and inclusion we engage Mustangs in active-wellbeing and inspire spirit and tradition in order to strengthen the bonds of the Western community. Our vision is for students to discover balance in their lives and pursue challenges without fear of failure, ultimately enhancing their ability to thrive.

Sport provides a broad spectrum of high-level athletic programme opportunities that coincide with the goal of providing all students with the best student experience. Support for these programmes (leadership, coaching, therapy, strength training, mental conditioning, academic support) are continually reviewed against the current trends in sport, and we align our sport model with the various provincial and national governing bodies that offer competition with other Universities. The current sport model provides a flexible sport structure that includes opportunities for all students to participate in different ways, including trying out and competing for OUA championships, U SPORTS championships, and affiliations to provincial sport organizations, which offer recognition opportunities at the league, provincial and national championship level.

Purpose of Role:

The Assistant, Strength & Conditioning will be charged with implementing the Strength & Conditioning programming for the Western Mustangs' varsity sports. This includes managing training schedules and ensuring each student-athlete is trained safely, effectively and within the programming outline. The responsibilities encompass the implementation of a comprehensive athlete development model, the provision of holistic performance support, and the development of programs beneficial to all stakeholders. By assisting coaches, this role will aid in positioning our teams competitively, ultimately enhancing the reputation of the Western Mustangs.

Responsibilities:

• Assist in the design and execute tailored strength and conditioning programs for each sports team, ensuring alignment with the strategies developed by the S&C team.
• Conduct hands-on training sessions with varsity teams, emphasizing the enhancement of athlete performance. Monitor and adapt training methods to meet individual athlete needs.
• Stay informed about the latest trends and evidence-based practices in strength and conditioning. Suggest and incorporate innovative training interventions and tools to enhance athlete performance.
• Work closely with athletic therapy teams to provide a seamless training experience for athletes. Share relevant information about injuries, performance, and athlete needs to ensure comprehensive care.
• Contribute to integrating additional aspects such as sport nutrition and mental performance into the strength & conditioning programs.
• Maintain regular communication with sports coaching staff and other relevant stakeholders. Ensure that training methodologies and objectives are aligned and effectively implemented.
• Play a key role in transitioning varsity sports to a centralized strength & conditioning model, as outlined in the multi-year plan.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Undergraduate Degree in Sport Performance, Kinesiology (or in progress)
• Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist (or in progress)
• Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology – Certified Personal Training
• First Aid/CPR Certification

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Knowledge of the sport performance, strength & conditioning requirements and programming necessary with success in national, provincial and university-level sports
• Advanced understanding of the use of sport science and sport performance to improve performance and the ability to develop and manage the collection of high-performance data and collate to show specific outcomes and metrics
• Strong background and technical/practical experience in performance coaching
• Knowledge and understanding of strength & conditioning equipment and maintenance of high-performance equipment and facilities
• Working knowledge of sport performance, including strength & conditioning, athlete therapy, mental performance, nutrition and sport medicine
• In-depth understanding of the approaches necessary to be successful at high performance sport at the university level
• Proven ability to work with student-athletes, high-performance teams and the ability to work with coaches to design, implement, evaluate and assess sport performance programs for a variety of sports
• Strong problem-solving skills, including the ability to change priorities and outcomes as needed under constraints
• Demonstrated ability to develop strategy and align policies and procedures to meet goals
• Demonstrated ability to collaborate, facilitate and communicate with various multiple levels of stakeholders
• Strong computer skills and competencies with spreadsheets, software’s and office suite
• Demonstrated abilities to produce reports and communicate outcomes best suited to the sport performance programs

Experience

• 1-3 years’ experience as a strength & conditioning coach
• Strong technical background and practical experience in highly competitive environments.
• Experience in Sports & Recreation fields, that could include athletic therapy, strength & conditioning, fitness and wellness, administration, risk management etc.

Western offers a broad and exciting variety of part-time and temporary employment opportunities with ample room for job exploration and growth. Within our beautiful campus, you are part of a progressive work environment that promotes work/life balance including access to our state-of-the-art recreation centre. Apply for an opportunity to be part of the Western community and contribute to its success!

Please note, successful applicants may be required to produce current record check(s) (e.g. vulnerable sector, criminal record and police information) from a police service prior to commencing employment.

To ensure that your application is given full consideration, please complete all relevant sections of the application. In addition, you can choose to supplement your application with a cover letter and current resume.

Consideration of applicants will include an assessment of previous performance, experience, and qualifications. Applicants should have oral communication skills in English.

The University invites applications from all qualified individuals. Western is committed to employment equity and diversity in the workplace and welcomes applications from women, members of racialized groups/visible minorities, Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, persons of any sexual orientation, and persons of any gender identity or gender expression.

Accommodations are available for applicants with disabilities throughout the recruitment process. If you require accommodations for interviews or other meetings, please contact Human Resources or phone 519-661-2194.

We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those chosen for an interview will be contacted.