Grow and strengthen Vikings Rugby’s player pathways by building sustained relationships with schools, delivering engaging rugby development programs and supporting school-aged players to transition into senior rugby with Vikings at around age 18.

Lead the physical preparation and athletic development of Vikings Rugby players, supporting their readiness to train, availability to play and progression through the club’s rugby pathway.

Priority areas

• Athletic performance, physical preparation and player availability
• School engagement, rugby pathways and player transition
• Planning, coordination, administration and reporting

Key responsibilities

1. Athletic performance and strength and conditioning

• Lead the design, delivery and evaluation of strength and conditioning programs for Vikings senior and pathway players.
• Develop coordinated offseason, preseason and in-season programs aligned with the club’s rugby objectives and training schedules.
• Tailor programs to players’ age, training experience, position, physical capabilities and development needs.
• Deliver practical coaching in exercise technique, strength, speed, conditioning and physical preparation.
• Conduct physical testing and maintain records to assess progress and inform programming.
• Work with team coaches to integrate athletic performance activities into rugby training.
• Monitor training loads, recovery and player wellbeing using available resources.
• Coordinate supplementary strength and conditioning staff, students and volunteers.
• Coordinate match-day physical preparation and recovery activities as agreed with the Head Coach.

2. Player availability, rehabilitation and reconditioning

• Work collaboratively with medical staff, physiotherapists and coaches to support player readiness and availability.
• Deliver and monitor rehabilitation and reconditioning activities within the position’s qualifications and in accordance with clinical guidance.
• Coordinate players’ progression back into team training in consultation with treating practitioners and coaches.
• Maintain timely information on injury status, rehabilitation progress and training availability.
• Provide regular availability updates to relevant coaches and team managers.
• Identify emerging physical preparation or workload concerns and coordinate an appropriate response.
• Support consistent preparation, recovery and injury-management processes across club teams.

3. Pathway player development

• Develop and maintain strong relationships with private and public schools, particularly those serving Tuggeranong and the wider Canberra region.
• Work with school rugby coaches, sports coordinators and teachers to identify opportunities for rugby participation, skills development and physical preparation.
• Design and deliver school-based rugby sessions, clinics and development activities in partnership with schools and the Director of Coaching.
• Establish a clear pathway connecting school rugby, Vikings development programs and senior club participation.
• Build trusted relationships with prospective players and their families, maintaining regular contact throughout their development.
• Help players understand training expectations, preparation habits and progress into senior rugby.
• Work with coaches to provide appropriate opportunities for pathway players to participate in club training and development activities.
• Support boys’ and girls’ pathways into Vikings men’s and women’s rugby.
• Coordinate physical preparation support for school leavers transitioning into Vikings senior teams.

4. Individual Development Plans

• Work with the Head Coach to implement the Vikings Player Individual Development Plan (IDP) framework across senior and pathway players.
• Contribute physical assessments, development priorities and measurable athletic performance goals to player IDPs.
• Translate agreed physical development goals into practical training programs.
• Monitor progress and review programs with players and relevant coaches.
• Maintain continuity of physical development as players move through pathway programs and into senior teams.
• Provide concise progress updates to inform coaching decisions and player-development discussions.

The Head Coach will lead the overall rugby development framework; this position will lead its athletic performance component.

5. School engagement and emerging programs

• Support the Head Coach and General Manager–Rugby as they establish relationships with private and public schools.
• Coordinate and deliver Vikings Gen Red, academy and development programs
• Provide technical input on athletic development opportunities for identified school talent aged 15 and over.
• Participate in school meetings, visits and agreed activities where performance expertise will assist engagement.
• Help connect identified school players with Vikings physical development and pathway opportunities.
• Contribute to the design and delivery of school-based programs once their scope, staffing, budget and responsibilities have been approved.
• Monitor participation, player engagement, retention and progression into senior rugby.

6. Planning, communication and administration

• Prepare an annual work plan aligned with athletic performance and pathway-development priorities.
• Maintain accurate player assessments, programs, and progress records.
• Provide regular reports on player availability, physical development, pathway participation and program delivery.
• Coordinate approved staffing, equipment and expenditure within delegated authority.
• Communicate effectively with players, families, coaches, medical staff and club management.
• Follow club policies, safeguarding expectations and requirements for handling player information.

Selection criteria

Essential

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• Relevant strength and conditioning qualifications, or equivalent demonstrated capability, supported by practical program-design and delivery experience.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to engage young players, senior players and families.
• Experience preparing athletes for rugby or another comparable team sport.
• The ability to develop adolescent athletes through age-appropriate physical preparation.
• Experience using physical assessments and individual development goals to guide training.
• The ability to collaborate with coaches and medical professionals on player preparation, rehabilitation and reconditioning.
• Strong planning, recordkeeping and communication skills.
• A commitment to safe, inclusive and development-focused environments.
• Availability for evening training, weekend matches and agreed school or pathway activities.
• Current ACT Working With Vulnerable People registration, maintained throughout employment.

Desirable

• Relevant tertiary qualifications in sport science, exercise science or a related discipline.
• Rugby coaching or player-development experience.
• Experience implementing athlete IDPs.
• Experience using GPS, training-load and athlete-monitoring systems.
• Experience supporting women’s and girls’ rugby.
• Current first aid qualifications.

Employment details

• Full-time role (approx. 38 hours per week, with additional hours as required)
• Initial 2-year term with potential 12-month extension.
• Competitive salary and benefits commensurate with experience and skills.