Job Description:
Summary:
The New York Mets Director, MiLB Rehab leads rehabilitation strategy, staff, and clinical quality across domestic affiliates and the Dominican Republic Academy. Based at the newly constructed Port St. Lucie complex, the Director oversees rehabilitation delivery and provides selected direct care for complex MLB rehab assignments in Florida, as well as priority or complex rehab cases involving prospects and MiLB players. This role builds a coordinated system that restores player readiness, uses time away from competition to improve physical capacity, and supports long-term development. The Director also collaborates closely with other Performance staff members to bridge clinical rehabilitation and performance training, ensuring players receive world-class rehabilitation services.
Essential Duties & Responsibilities:
System Leadership and Staff Management
- Own the design, implementation, and review of the MiLB rehabilitation system. Establish annual priorities and measurable objectives for approval by the Director, MiLB Health and Performance
- Directly supervise, mentor, and evaluate the MiLB Rehabilitation Coordinator and other full-time MiLB Physical Therapists. Set clear responsibilities, development plans, and performance expectations; address concerns promptly
- Delegate daily complex rehabilitation scheduling and plan execution to the Rehabilitation Coordinator while retaining accountability for staffing, caseload priorities, and clinical quality
- Lead rehabilitation staffing and onboarding with department leadership. Organize case reviews, continuing education, and structured mentorship for rehabilitation staff, fellows, and interns
- Manage approved rehabilitation resources and staff coverage. Recommend staffing, equipment, technology, and education investments; ensure equipment maintenance and continuity during absences or player transitions
Clinical Leadership and Return to Play
- Lead the development and implementation of evaluation, treatment, loading, testing, and return-to-play standards, incorporating team physician guidance and input from medical and performance colleagues
- Ensure individualized plans define goals, progression and regression criteria, objective checkpoints, and baseball demands. Integrate clinical findings, player feedback, injury history, and response to workload
- Oversee complex, short-term, long-term, and post-surgical cases. Provide consultation and selected hands-on care for priority prospects and assigned MLB players in coordination with MLB rehabilitation staff
- Integrate rehabilitation with strength and conditioning, Performance Technology, nutrition, mental performance, and coaching. Align throwing, hitting, running, and fielding progressions with reconditioning and opportunities to improve physical capacity
- Lead regular reviews of complex or stalled cases; adjust plans and escalate setbacks or material changes promptly to team physicians and the Director, MiLB Health and Performance
- Coordinate readiness recommendations and documented transitions back to training and competition. Ensure decisions follow physician guidance, medical clearance requirements, and organizational return-to-play procedures
Collaboration and Continuity of Care
- Partner directly with the MiLB Medical Coordinator and Latin American Medical Coordinator on rehabilitation standards, case priorities, and clinician support. Coordinate implementation through each coordinator’s medical operation and established reporting relationships
- Ensure clear handoffs of athlete care from the developmental complex to affiliates, Dominican Republic Academy, MLB and approved outside providers. Create clarity in documentation of restrictions, testing, workload, next milestones, and follow-up
- Oversee timely daily rehabilitation status reporting and proactive leadership updates throughout the year. Communicate readiness, anticipated timelines, uncertainty, and changes that affect player care or estimated game return
- Explain plans and expectations clearly to players, invite feedback, and check understanding. Adapt communication to language and cultural needs, using translation support when needed
- Support the Medical Coordinators and MLB staff with free-agent medical reviews and physicals, draft assessments, spring training evaluations, and related activities within the professional scope
Data and Quality Improvement
- Ensure accurate, timely rehabilitation records and consistent testing through routine audits with medical leadership and Performance Technology. Protect confidential information in approved systems
- Review milestones, setbacks, reinjury, physical readiness, and sustained availability after return, accounting for injury severity and case complexity. Use case reviews and research to improve standards, evaluate technologies, and verify implementation across sites
Qualifications & Requirements:
Essential
- Current U.S. physical therapy licensure, athletic training certification (ATC), or Ph.D. equivalent; eligibility for the applicable Florida license before providing clinical care. Maintain credentials and practice within professional scope
- At least eight years of clinical rehabilitation experience in professional baseball or high-level sport, including complex and post-surgical cases involving elite athletes
- Demonstrated success managing and developing clinicians, delegating effectively, and implementing rehabilitation standards across multiple locations
- Strong clinical reasoning and understanding of baseball movement demands, reconditioning, and progression from rehabilitation to competitive performance
- Ability to interpret objective testing and workload data; proficiency with electronic medical records and athlete management systems
- Clear communication, sound judgment, cultural awareness, and effective collaboration across medical, performance, coaching, and leadership groups
- Ability to travel domestically and internationally and work evenings, weekends, and other unconventional hours throughout the baseball calendar
Desirable
- MiLB or MLB rehabilitation experience and familiarity with organizational player transitions
- Sports or orthopedic specialty certification, such as SCS or OCS where applicable; residency, fellowship, or other advanced clinical training
- Experience using force plates, dynamometry, biomechanics, and workload monitoring to inform rehabilitation; experience leading clinical education
- Ability to communicate in Spanish
Leadership Expectations
- Model integrity, humility, and calm judgment. Build player trust and a team culture where staff raise concerns early, seek input, and learn from setbacks. Empower staff to act within clear expectations while maintaining accountability for follow-through and quality
The above information is intended to describe the general nature, type, and level of work to be performed. The information is not intended to be an exhaustive or complete list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required for this position. Nothing in this job description restricts management’s right to assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time. The individual selected may perform other related duties as assigned or requested.
The New York Mets value the unique qualities individuals with various backgrounds and experiences can offer the organization. Our continued success depends heavily on the quality of our workforce. The Organization is committed to providing employees with the opportunity to develop to their fullest potential.
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