Director, Physiology (1238)

Job Purpose

Strategic Leadership & Department Development

• Develop and implement the vision, strategy, and operational framework for the Physiology function, aligned with the department’s objectives and the wider SOTC performance strategy.
• Establish department policies, testing standards, workflows, athlete monitoring approaches, and quality assurance procedures.
• Build a high-performance culture centered on innovation, athlete health, performance optimization, and scientific excellence.
• Contribute to integrated athlete support by collaborating with medical, nutrition, strength & conditioning, biomechanics, psychology, performance analysis, and coaching colleagues.
• Contribute physiological input to Olympic and international competition performance planning.
• Develop annual operational plans, budgets, staffing plans, and performance KPIs for the function.

Physiology Laboratory – Establishment (Build Phase)

• Lead the technical development of a high-performance physiology laboratory, in coordination with Procurement and Facilities, including:
• + Defining technical requirements, workflow layouts, and operational specifications for exercise physiology testing, recovery and monitoring spaces, athlete assessment areas, data analysis, and mobile testing capability.
• + Providing technical input to the procurement strategy and leading the technical evaluation of physiology equipment and systems, in coordination with Procurement.
• + Developing technical specifications to support tender documentation, and contributing to the evaluation and selection of local and international suppliers and technology partners.
• + Overseeing the installation, calibration, validation, and commissioning of laboratory systems from a technical standpoint.
• Provide technical oversight of the procurement and implementation of systems including:
• + VO2 max and metabolic carts, lactate analyzers, and cardiopulmonary exercise testing systems (with clinical/diagnostic elements coordinated with Medical Services).
• + Wearable athlete monitoring technologies and recovery monitoring systems.
• + Heat and altitude simulation, environmental chamber technologies, and sleep monitoring technologies.
• + Data management and athlete performance platforms, in alignment with the Performance Analysis function.

Environmental Chamber – Establishment (Build Phase)

• Lead the technical design and operational set-up of an environmental chamber facility – in coordination with Procurement, Facilities, and Medical Services – capable of heat acclimation, altitude simulation, humidity control, environmental stress testing, and competition preparation simulations. This includes:
• + Developing safety protocols, emergency procedures, and operational standards for the facility.
• + Establishing athlete monitoring procedures during environmental exposure testing and interventions.
• + Coordinating integration with medical and emergency response services.

Applied Physiology Services

• Deliver physiological testing, monitoring, and performance diagnostics for Olympic and elite athletes.
• Design individualized physiological profiling and performance optimization programs.
• Provide evidence-based recommendations across aerobic and anaerobic development, training-load monitoring, recovery optimization, heat adaptation, altitude preparation, fatigue management, sleep, and competition readiness – coordinating with S&C, Nutrition, and Medical Services where responsibilities intersect.
• Support training camps and international competition environments.

Team Leadership & Development

• Lead and develop the physiology team (3 positions), with responsibility for:
• + Workforce planning, role design, recruitment, and onboarding.
• + Mentorship, professional development, and performance management.
• + Scheduling and service-delivery oversight across SOTC locations.
• + Building a continuing-education and applied-research culture within the team.

Research, Innovation & Partnerships

• Establish research partnerships with hospitals and third parties, universities, Olympic institutes, and international high-performance centers.
• Lead applied research initiatives relevant to elite sport performance in Saudi Arabia.
• Keep the function aligned with emerging technologies and international best practice.
• Share findings internally and, where appropriate, at relevant professional forums.

Governance, Compliance & Safety

• Ensure the function complies with:
• + International athlete testing standards and applicable medical governance frameworks (under the oversight of Medical Services).
• + Laboratory safety regulations and ethical and data-privacy requirements.
• + Develop standard operating procedures for physiology testing, and oversee equipment maintenance schedules, calibration, and accreditation standards.

Our Commitment