Job Details

Description

Suns Legacy Partners, LLC.

Our mission is to “provide the finest in sports, entertainment and community leadership”, and our goals are to “win championships and create sustained success.”

In all of our operations and in everything we do we seek to be the global leader in our industry in innovation, technology and fan experience.

We are seeking an experienced and highly motivated individual to lead the development and implementation of a strategically-designed performance science and research program.

Director, Performance Science & Research

Basketball Strategy Department within Basketball Operations

Location

On-Site in Phoenix, Arizona

Job Summary:

Suns Legacy Partners includes several companies and many different departments that support the Phoenix Suns, Phoenix Mercury and Footprint Center.

Would you like to win championships and create sustained success? Suns Legacy Partners is looking for individuals that are committed to pursuing excellence and be part of creating memorable experiences.

We are seeking an experienced and highly motivated individual to join our team as a Director, Performance Science & Research with the Basketball Strategy Department. This position will work with contemporary sport science technologies and large datasets of optical tracking and physics-based data to produce research findings pertaining to optimizing athlete and human performance. The Director, Performance Science and Research will collaborate with Phoenix Suns front office members, coaches, athletes, and other external performance specialists to drive innovation and impact through dedicated research.

Suns Legacy Partners (SLP) strives for a work culture that affords employees flexibility, autonomy, and trust. Across our many departments, many SLP employees participate in the SLP Remote Work Program and are able to work remotely in their homes, in offices, and in hoteling spaces. All work, including remote work, should be performed within Arizona.

What Will You Do:

• Develop and implement a comprehensive performance science and research program that has direct application to daily health & performance efforts
• Lead research efforts using contemporary sport science technology and large datasets to optimize athlete and human performance
• Collaborate with coaches, athletes, and other performance specialists to identify areas for research and innovation
• Build and manage a small team of performance scientists and analysts
• Manage the collection, storage, and analysis of performance data using advanced statistical techniques and tools such as R or Python and SQL
• Communicate research findings to front office executives, coaches, athletes, and other stakeholders through reports, presentations, and publications
• Stay up-to-date with emerging trends and best practices in performance science and research
• Assist in the development and implementation of new sport science technologies and initiatives
• Manage relationships with external partners and vendors in the performance science and research field
• Contribute to the overall strategy and decision-making of the Basketball Operations Executives within the performance science space

What We Need From Our Director:

• Strong expertise in contemporary sport science technology and large datasets Proficient in advanced statistical techniques and tools such as R or Python and SQL.
• Experience managing a team of performance scientists and analysts
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, with the ability to translate technical information into layman's terms
• Demonstrated ability to drive innovation and impact through research
• Strong project management skills and ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously
• Knowledge of sport-specific performance factors, training methods, and injury mitigation strategies preferred
• Experience working with elite athletes and coaches is preferred
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team in a fast-paced, dynamic environment

Experience/ Education Requirements:

• Masters in performance science, kinesiology, statistics, data science, or a related field; PhD preferred
• At least 5 years of experience in a leadership role in performance science and research

What You Can Expect:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by a teammate to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Flexible schedule to include weekends, evenings, and some holidays to meet business needs
• Ability to stand, walk, sit for various periods of time
• Occasional travel from time to time for professional development
• This position works mainly indoors, removed from extreme weather; exposure to weather is <5%
• S-Sedentary Work – Exerting up to 10 pounds of force occasionally
• Position is predominately computer-based, requiring the use of a computer monitor
• Must be able to carry on a conversation both on the phone and in-person
• Ability to Read, Write & Speak in English
• Wide range of fulltime benefit options including
• Medical, Dental and Vision coverages
• Life and Disability options
• Vacation, sick and holiday leave programs
• In-arena work requirements with the potential of hybrid schedules based on each role and department.
• Perks:

• • Discounts at Fanatics Team Shop
  • Tickets available for Phoenix Suns, Phoenix Mercury, and Rattlers games

• • Visit our Culture page learn more about our culture and work environment

Suns Legacy Partners, LLC. is committed to employing a diverse workforce. Qualified applicants will receive consideration without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, veteran status, or disability.

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

For questions about this career opportunity, please contact our People & Culture Recruiting team at SLPrecruiting@suns.com