Head of Academy Performance & First Team Assistant Performance Coach

Location: Halifax, NS, Canada
Employment Status: Full Time 40/h week 
Reports to: Physical Performance Coach & Academy Director

About Us
Halifax Tides FC has officially kicked off its inaugural season as a founding member of the Northern Super League (NSL), Canada’s first professional women’s soccer league. With league play underway as of April 2025, the Tides are proud to represent Halifax on the national stage.

Fuelled by the passion of our East Coast community, Halifax Tides FC is committed to empowering women in sport, creating opportunity, and delivering unforgettable matchday experiences. Our mission goes beyond the pitch—we’re building a culture of inclusion, leadership, and lasting impact.

This is more than soccer. It’s a movement rooted in unity, driven by purpose, and ready to reshape the future of Canadian sport. The tides have turned- and we’re just getting started.

Role Summary:
The Halifax Tides FC is seeking a motivated and enthusiastic Assistant Physical Performance Coach / Head of Academy Performance to join our growing high-performance environment.

This role is an exciting opportunity for an early-career performance professional or graduate student looking to gain hands-on experience working across both professional and youth development environments. The successful candidate will play an active role in supporting the physical preparation and long-term development of athletes at both the First Team and Academy levels.

Working closely with the Club’s performance, coaching, and medical staff, the Assistant Physical Performance Coach / Head of Academy Performance will assist in the delivery of strength and conditioning programs, athlete monitoring, injury prevention strategies, recovery protocols, and day-to-day physical preparation.

Key Responsibilities:
Physical Performance & Strength and Conditioning

  • Lead the development and delivery of physical performance programming within the Halifax Tides Academy, ensuring age and developmentally appropriate practices and supporting the long-term athletic development of youth players.
  • Support the planning and delivery of physical performance programming across all areas of the First Team environment.
  • Assist in the planning and take primary responsibility for the delivery of strength and conditioning programming within the Academy, including warm-ups, cool-downs, activation, recovery, speed, conditioning, and strength training sessions.
  • Assist with physical testing and athlete profiling at key points throughout the season, including pre-season, mid-season, and return-to-play processes.
  • Support the collection and interpretation of performance data, including training load, wellness, readiness, fitness testing, and other relevant monitoring measures.
  • Work collaboratively with the Physical Performance, Medical, and Coaching staff to apply evidence-informed sports science principles to training, recovery, and athlete development.
  • Assist with the development and maintenance of athlete profiles, reports, and other performance resources to support clear communication across the sporting department.
  • Support individual athlete development plans based on performance needs, physical development goals, and long-term objectives.
  • Collaborate within the Integrated Support Team (IST) to support player health, performance, injury prevention, and return-to-performance processes.
  • Assist in the development and monitoring of off-season physical preparation plans for athletes when required.
  • Other duties as assigned by the Head of Physical Performance.

Essential Skills & Traits:

  • Must demonstrate strong people and teamwork skills required to work effectively with players, coaches, and the wider multi-disciplinary team.
  • Exhibit and practice club culture and philosophy on all dealing with staff, coaches & athletes.
  • Have a strong interest in physical performance and athlete development.
  • Eagerness to learn and develop within a professional high-performance environment.
  • Ability to build positive and trusting relationships with athletes across both youth and professional environments.
  • Strong communication and collaboration skills.
  • Comfortable delivering and assisting with field-based and gym-based training sessions.
  • An understanding of fundamental strength and conditioning principles and long-term athlete development.
  • Interest in sports science, athlete monitoring, and using data to support decision-making.
  • Highly organized, proactive, and adaptable.
  • Willingness to take initiative while also being receptive to feedback, mentorship, and professional development.
  • Comfortable working in a fast-paced and evolving environment.

Qualifications (Required):

  • Bachelor's degree in Exercise Science, Kinesiology, Sports Science, or a related field, with an emphasis on physical preparation of athletes
  • NSCA Certified Strength & Conditioning Specialist (CSCS), CSCA Canadian Strength & Conditioning Professional (CSCP), or an equivalent strength & conditioning certification is preferred.
  • Previous experience in strength and conditioning, athletic performance, or high-performance sport is preferred.
  • Experience working with youth athletes and/or team sport athletes
  • A strong interest in working within both youth development and professional sport environments.

Assets:

  • Background as a high-performance athlete, coach, or practitioner.
  • Experience within a professional football or high-performance sporting environment is considered an asset.
  • Football-specific experience is an asset but not required.
  • Experience with athlete monitoring technology and performance data.
  • Comfortable utilizing and assisting with GPS, wellness monitoring, strength testing, and other performance technologies.
  • Previous experience or collaboration with COPSIN is considered an asset.
  • Football-specific physical performance qualifications, such as the UEFA B Fitness Diploma, are considered an asset.

Work Environment

  • Must be able to work extended or irregular hours, including matchdays, weekends, and holidays.
  • Role includes work outdoors in varying weather conditions, and prolonged standing.
  • Must be able to lift up to 20 lbs of equipment.
  • Ability to travel domestically and internationally as needed.
  • Primary role is in-person at Halifax Tides FC facilities and match locations.

Application Process 
Interested candidates are invited to submit a resume and cover letter to our Sporting Operations Coordinator, Lindsey Smith, at Lindsey.smith@tidesfc.ca no later than the application deadline, Friday, September 18, 2026.

We thank all applicants for their interest in joining Halifax Tides FC and for the time and effort invested in their application. All applications will be carefully reviewed; however, only candidates selected to proceed to the interview stage will be contacted.