Position Title: Assistant Sports Performance Coach
Department: Athletics
Position Type: Sessional (8 months per year)
Classification: MPE Band B
Salary Range: $43,660-53,352 (37.5 hours/week) with additional salary enhancements for CSIA training
Posting Date: July 21, 2025
Closing Date: August 1, 2025

Position Description

St. Francis Xavier University, one of Canada’s leading universities and most prominent athletics programs, is seeking an Assistant Sports Performance Coach to support its high-performance varsity athletics program. Reporting to the Head Sports Performance Coach and working closely with the Manager, Varsity Athletics and Communications, the Assistant Sports Performance Coach will assist in delivering and monitoring strength and conditioning programs for varsity athletes across 10 teams and over 300 student-athletes.

This position requires a driven and energetic professional who is committed to athlete development, injury prevention, and enhancing individual and team performance. The successful candidate will be highly organized, detail-oriented, and possess excellent interpersonal and communication skills. They will work collaboratively within the integrated support team to contribute to the continued success of STFX Athletics at the conference and national levels.

The Assistant Sports Performance Coach will support the delivery of sport-specific training programs, assist with data tracking and reporting, and help manage the daily operations of the sports performance space. The Assistant Sports Performance Coach will also play a key role in fostering a positive, inclusive, and professional training environment.

The nature of the work requires non-standard hours, including evenings and weekends.

To address historic inequities in this field, the Athletics department welcomes applications from individuals who self-identify as female or non-binary. We respectfully ask that applications make their self-identification clear to the hiring committee in their cover letter.

Key Responsibilities

Assist in developing and delivering group and individual strength and conditioning programs for STFX varsity teams and student-athletes.
Support the implementation of tailored programs through demonstration of exercises, coaching proper technique, and providing performance feedback.
Track athlete performance metrics and assist in reporting outcomes to coaching staff and the integrated support team.
Work with sports medicine personnel to promote injury prevention and proper return-to-play protocols.
Help manage scheduling, equipment use, and upkeep of the varsity sports performance facility.
Assist in the delivery of strength and conditioning services to identified Canadian Sport Institute Atlantic (CSIA) athletes.
Support community training programs for local youth athletes as part of outreach and engagement.

Qualifications

Bachelor’s Degree in Kinesiology, Human Kinetics, Exercise Science, Physical Education, Sports Sciences, Health Sciences, or a closely related field.
Membership or accreditation with the Canadian Sport & Conditioning Association (CSCA) is strongly preferred or in progress.
Experience in delivering or assisting with strength and conditioning programs, ideally with varsity or high-performance athletes.
Strong communication and motivational skills with an ability to work independently and as part of a team.
Current CPR and First Aid certification.
Successful completion of all STFX and AUS safe sport requirements and certifications.
A flexible schedule with the ability to work evenings and weekends and travel with teams when required

To apply for this opportunity, click the "Apply Now" button and upload your cover letter, resume and references.

StFX is located in Mi’kma’ki, the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq People.

Our institution is committed to upholding the values of equity, diversity, inclusion and accessibility. We encourage applications from members of groups that have been historically disadvantaged and marginalized, including Indigenous persons (especially Mi’kmaq), racialized persons (especially African Nova Scotians), persons with disabilities, those who identify as women and/or 2SLGBTQIA+ and any others who would contribute to the diversity of our community. Please note that all qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, applications from Canadians and permanent residents will be given priority.

We are also committed to the elimination of barriers to participation for persons with disabilities. Should you require an accommodation during the recruitment process, please contact People and Culture at hr@stfx.ca or 902-867-5038.

About St. Francis Xavier University

Established in 1853, St. Francis Xavier University (StFX) is consistently recognized as one of the best universities in Canada. StFX exceeds the needs of today’s undergraduates by providing the very best academic experience -- outstanding teaching, exceptional hands-on research opportunities, and global exchanges -- all within Canada’s most vibrant and inspiring residential campus. Here, the focus is on the academic and personal development of every student, making community and social engagement a large part of the learning experience. Our students are academically strong and highly engaged in every aspect of life, determined to make a positive impact on the world.

In 2022, Maclean's annual university rankings put StFX #1 in student satisfaction and #2 in reputation across Canada in the primarily undergraduate category. For more, visit www.stfx.ca.

About Antigonish, Nova Scotia

The beautiful and historic town of Antigonish is located within the northeastern corner of Nova Scotia. Only a 15-minute drive from the ocean and a two-hour drive to major urban centres, Antigonish is a family-friendly community with a diverse and growing population and provides access to excellent education at all levels. The town is surrounded by rolling countryside and beautiful beaches and is a hotspot for outdoor recreation, sports and other active lifestyle activities. Antigonish supports a vibrant culture in the arts with music, performing arts, visual arts and crafts, and fabulous festivals happening throughout the year. For more information visit www.townofantigonish.ca or www.visitantigonish.ca.