Description

Job Description: Head Athletic Trainer
Position Title: Head Athletic Trainer

Department: Athletics / Sports Medicine

Reports To: Athletic Director

Employment Term: Full-Time 210 Day Contract

FLSA Status: Exempt

Job Summary
The Head Athletic Trainer coordinates and administers comprehensive sports medicine and athletic training services for student-athletes in grades 7–12. Responsibilities encompass the prevention, recognition, emergency care, evaluation, management, and rehabilitation of athletic injuries sustained during school-sanctioned activities. The Head Athletic Trainer ensures absolute compliance with all district policies, Arkansas Department of Education (ADE) guidelines, and Arkansas Activities Association (AAA) rules.

Performance Responsibilities & Essential Duties

1. 
    Injury Prevention & Medical Care
   Emergency Response: Provide immediate first aid, emergency medical care, and life-support evaluation for student-athletes during practices, scrimmages, and home/away athletic contests as assigned.
   Proactive Prevention: Design and execute injury-prevention protocols, including the correct fitting of protective equipment, bracing, and athletic taping/wrapping techniques.
   Environmental Monitoring: Monitor weather and environmental factors (e.g., heat index using Wet Bulb Globe Temperature devices) in compliance with AAA guidelines to prevent heat-related illnesses.
   Evaluation & Treatment: Assess acute and chronic musculoskeletal injuries and illnesses, establishing appropriate clinical treatments or managing referrals to physicians and specialized healthcare professionals.
   Rehabilitation: Formulate, implement, and document individualized therapeutic exercise and rehabilitation programs to safely guide student-athletes through recovery.
2. 
   Administration & Compliance
   Documentation: Maintain meticulously accurate and strictly confidential Electronic Medical Records (EMR) detailing pre-participation physicals, insurance details, daily treatment logs, evaluations, and doctor referrals.
   Concussion Management: Enforce the mandated Arkansas Return-to-Learn and Return-to-Play protocols for student-athletes diagnosed with concussions.
   Emergency Action Plans (EAP): Review, update, and practice site-specific Emergency Action Plans annually for all district athletic facilities.
   Budgeting & Supplies: Manage the inventory, maintenance, procurement, and sanitization of sports medicine equipment and training room supplies within budget.
   Stakeholder Liaison: Serve as the central communication hub between student-athletes, parents/guardians, coaching staffs, building administration, and the team physician/orthopedic outreach partners.
   Job Specifications & Qualifications
   Required Education & Certifications
   Degree: Minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in Athletic Training from a CAATE-accredited program (Master’s degree preferred).
   Arkansas Licensure: Current, valid license from the Arkansas State Board of Athletic Trainers (or immediately eligible to obtain upon hire).
   Emergency Care: Current Basic Life Support (BLS) or CPR/AED for Healthcare Providers certification.
   Background Clearances: Must successfully pass a criminal background check, child maltreatment central registry check, and FBI fingerprinting as mandated by Arkansas law for public school employees.
   Preferred Qualifications
   A valid Arkansas Teaching License (highly preferred if the position is tied to a classroom teaching block or a CTE Sports Medicine program).
   1–3 years of clinical experience in a high school or collegiate setting.
   Physical Demands & Work Environment
   Physical Stamina: Requires frequent standing, walking, running, bending, kneeling, and the ability to lift/carry equipment or assist in moving injured athletes weighing up to 50 lbs or more.
   Working Conditions: Requires extended hours outside standard school operational times, including evenings, weekends, and holidays.
   
   

Requirements

Head Athletic Trainer to provide comprehensive prevention, evaluation, treatment, and rehabilitation for athletic injuries.