Temporary Athletic Trainer

Appointment: Temporary, full-time (1.0 FTE) position. The anticipated appointment is approximately September through November 2026; exact start and end dates are pending approval. The position has the potential to be a full academic year 2026-2027 position. 

Work Location: 
This position is based in Tacoma, WA, and is an on-campus role only. 

Please note that we generally do not sponsor applicants for work visas for staff positions. Therefore, we generally require applicants for staff positions to be currently authorized to work in the United States on a full-time basis.

Position Summary: 

The anticipated primary sport assignment for this position is with football. The position provides comprehensive athletic health care for assigned student-athletes and department-wide clinical support when needed. The work schedule is determined by practices, competitions, team travel, clinical needs, and departmental coverage requirements and includes variable hours, evenings, and weekends.

The Athletic Training Staff is responsible for providing comprehensive sports medicine services under the direction of designated Team Physicians. These services include the daily operation of the Sports Medicine Facility, daily practice and competition medical coverage for traditional seasons and either on-site presence or on-call availability for non-traditional seasons of the intercollegiate athletic teams.  The Athletic Training Staff is also utilized by student-athletes in their off season for various medical conditions and injuries that may affect their ability to perform off season workouts, injury rehabilitation, or their preparation for the upcoming competitive season.  The Athletic Training Staff is responsible for maintaining medical standards consistent with the best practices set forth by the NCAA Sports Medicine and Safeguards Committee and the National Athletic Trainers' Association.

Essential Job Functions and Responsibilities: 

Specific responsibilities of the Temporary Athletic Trainer include the following but are not limited to:

• Injury and illness prevention and wellness protection. Educate student-athletes and coaches, identify and manage risk, and support safe participation in practices, competitions, training, and rehabilitation.
• Clinical evaluation and care. Evaluate injuries and illnesses, form clinical impressions, determine appropriate courses of action within the athletic trainer¿s scope of practice, and provide immediate and emergency care when needed.
• Treatment and rehabilitation. Develop, implement, and document treatment and rehabilitation plans in coordination with the Team Physician, attending physicians, and other appropriate health care professionals.
• Practice, competition, and travel coverage. Provide on-site medical coverage for assigned football practices and competitions, including travel, and assist with coverage for other intercollegiate teams as operational needs require.
• Emergency preparedness and response. Implement the applicable venue-specific Emergency Action Plan and coordinate timely communication and follow-up after medical incidents.
• Daily clinical operations. Provide injury care, treatment, rehabilitation assistance, and pre-practice and pre-competition preparation for student-athletes using the Sports Medicine Facility.
• Medical documentation. Complete timely, accurate, and confidential injury and illness documentation for assigned student-athletes and, when department coverage requires, student-athletes from other sports.
• Insurance administration. Prepare and file intercollegiate secondary insurance claims and related documentation as needed.
• Care coordination and referrals. Coordinate Team Physician appointments, on-campus clinics, off-campus provider visits, and referrals to appropriate medical and behavioral health professionals.
• Communication. Communicate relevant participation status and care information to student-athletes, coaches, administrators, and health care providers in accordance with professional standards, institutional policy, and applicable privacy requirements.
• Facility and equipment oversight. Inspect the Sports Medicine Facility and related treatment, rehabilitation, and emergency equipment; help maintain a safe, organized, and functional care environment.
• Professional practice. Maintain professional standards, exercise sound clinical judgment, collaborate effectively with the Sports Medicine staff, and perform other related duties consistent with the temporary assignment.

Daily responsibilities include inspecting the Sports Medicine Facility to ensure that all equipment is in safe working order.  Equipment includes treatment modalities, rehabilitation equipment and other related areas that student-athletes utilize for their injury care and treatment.  The Temporary Athletic Trainer will manage all aspects of injury care for student-athletes that come into the facility throughout the day.  This includes supervision and active assistance in rehabilitation programs, pre-practice/competition taping needs, pre-practice/competition injury treatment needs, etc.  These daily responsibilities also include timely and thorough medical documentation of injury/illness notes sustained by student-athletes and appropriate filing of intercollegiate secondary insurance claims as necessary.

Daily responsibilities include supervision of intercollegiate team practices either at the specific venue or on-call in the Sports Medicine Facility based on the risk associated with the particular sport practicing as determined by the Athletic Training Staff on site during the specific time of the practice.  Responsibilities also include on site medical coverage of all home intercollegiate competitions or on-call supervision if there are more events than the Full Time and Part Time Athletic Training Staff can manage.  The Athletic Training Staff is responsible for implementing the appropriate Emergency Action Plan (EAP) specific to the medical condition/emergency and venue at the time of the incident.

The Temporary Athletic Trainer is responsible for coordinating appointments for student-athletes with Team Physicians including on campus clinic visits and visits to off campus provider offices. The Temporary Athletic Trainer is also responsible for referring student-athletes to the appropriate local medical provider including local hospital emergency department, Puget Sound Counseling Health and Wellness Services (CHWS), physicians, specialists, etc.  The Temporary Athletic Trainer is also responsible for monitoring and documenting all medical conditions of student-athletes.

The Temporary Athletic Trainer will communicate with the Puget Sound coaching staff regarding specific medical conditions of student-athletes and make appropriate participation and return to play decisions. 

The Temporary Athletic Trainer is responsible for assisting in the supervision and instruction of 12 student Athletic Training Aides (ATA).  This includes daily supervision of ATA, instruction of ATA with regard to injury treatment techniques, coordinating ATA responsibilities for practice venue and event/competition venue pre and post event sideline and emergency equipment staging and other duties as assigned.

The work load and schedules for this position is dictated by the weekly practice and event schedules of 23 intercollegiate teams that require the Athletic Training Staff to be available five nights during the week and several weekends throughout any given month. This workload is necessary to adequately provide health care services for Puget Sound intercollegiate student-athletes and be available to implement appropriate emergency action plans should it be warranted. The Athletic Training Staff positions are necessary for keeping our student-athletes healthy and allowing them to participate safely in intercollegiate athletics at the same time reducing the risk to the University by utilizing sound medical practices with available resources.

The Temporary Athletic Trainer is responsible for maintaining current Washington State Licensure through the Department of Health and current certification consistent with standards of the BOC including regular documentation of Continuing Education Units (CEU's) and maintaining appropriate CPR and First Aid credentials.

Qualifications: 

The successful candidate will have a master's degree in athletic training, exercise science, or a related field, must be a Certified Athletic Trainer in good standing with the Board of Certification, Inc. and CPR/First Aid/AED certifications. A qualified candidate must also be a Licensed Athletic Trainer (LAT) in Washington State or be eligible for licensure upon hiring. Must have effective organizational and supervisory skills, the ability to establish and maintain effective relationships with diverse constituencies, an understanding of intercollegiate athletics in an academic environment, the ability to move and carry heavy objects, and a commitment to liberal arts education and NCAA Division III philosophy. Two years of athletic training work experience at the collegiate level is preferred. Experience providing athletic training services for football is preferred. Ability to respectfully work, communicate and provide leadership within a diverse campus community is required. 

Compensation and Benefits: 

Career Framework Information:
Job Family: Athletics 
Level: C3
Pay Grade: 6 

The anticipated rate for this position is $30 per hour. Decisions about starting salaries are made based on the extent and relatedness of the candidate's education and experience and on internal equity and market considerations. 

Puget Sound offers a generous benefits package for eligible staff employees, including: 

• Medical, dental, and vision 
• Life insurance and long-term disability 
• Employee Assistance Program 
• Retirement plan options and 403(b) contributions 
• Paid vacation, sick leave, floating holiday, campus holidays and bonus holidays 
• Education benefits, such as full tuition for eligible employees and their families 
• Access to university facilities and entertainment (fitness center, pool, library, concerts, lectures and more!) 

Please note: 
-Positions that work less than .75 FTE (1,560 hours per year) do not qualify for long-term disability or education benefits.
-Positions that work less than .50 FTE (1,040 hours per year) will accrue paid sick leave but are not eligible for additional benefits.
-Temporary positions that work at least .50 FTE (1,040 hours per year) will be eligible for benefits. 

This position is non-exempt from the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act. 

This position is not eligible for benefits; however, employees may make elective deferrals into a retirement plan. 

For the Campus Holiday and Bonus Day Schedule, visit: https://www.pugetsound.edu/human-resources

Application Deadline: 
Review of applications will begin immediately. Search and selection procedures will be closed when a sufficient number of qualified candidates have been identified. 

Required Documents: 

• Resume
• Letter of Interest 
• 3 Professional References (At least 2 supervisors)

Applications submitted without the required attachments will not be considered. 

All offers of employment are contingent on successful completion of all required background checks. 

University Diversity Statement

We Acknowledge:

• The richness of commonalities and differences we share as a university community.
• The intrinsic worth of all who work and study here.
• The investigation and reflection enhance that education upon multiple perspectives.

We Aspire:

• To create respect for and appreciation of all persons as a key characteristic of our campus community.
• To increase the diversity of all parts of our university community through a commitment to diversity in our recruitment and retention efforts.
• To foster a spirit of openness to active engagement among all members of our campus community.

We Act:

• To achieve an environment that welcomes and supports diversity.
• To ensure full educational opportunity for all who teach and learn here.
• To prepare citizen-leaders effectively for a pluralistic world.

Puget Sound is committed to an environment that welcomes and supports diversity. We seek diversity of identity, thought, perspective, and background in our students, faculty, and staff. To learn more please visit: https://pugetsound.edu/about-puget-sound-0/mission-core-values/institutional-equity-diversity 

The University of Puget Sound is an equal opportunity employer.