Instructor - Certified Athletic Trainer, Professional Sports Partnerships

Job Summary:

The University of Colorado Anschutz Department of Orthopedics is seeking an experienced Certified Athletic Trainer to serve as the central clinical and operational liaison between CU Sports Medicine, UCHealth, and our professional sports partners, including the Kroenke Sports & Entertainment (KSE) franchises (Colorado Avalanche, Denver Nuggets, Colorado Mammoth, and Colorado Rapids, including Rapids Academy) and the Colorado Rockies.

This position serves as the primary point of contact for coordinating care, connecting players, coaches, and team personnel with orthopedic and primary care sports medicine team physicians, subspecialty providers, and UCHealth Executive Health. The role focuses on relationship management and care coordination rather than sideline coverage, including anticipating team needs, coordinating large-scale events such as team physicals, and developing workflows for a growing professional sports medicine program. This is not a traditional 9-to-5 position and requires flexibility to respond to urgent needs outside regular business hours.

Key Responsibilities:

Team Partnership and Relationship Management

• Serve as the primary operational contact for each team's athletic trainers and medical staff, learning their workflows and checking in proactively to anticipate needs and resolve concerns.
• Build close relationships with team physicians (orthopedics and primary care sports medicine), their athletic trainers, and clinic personnel to streamline communication and care.

Clinical Care Coordination and Executive Health Partnership

• Coordinate appointments, imaging, consultations, and testing for players, coaches, staff, and affiliates, with timely follow-through on urgent requests.
• Interface with subspecialty providers across CU and UCHealth (e.g., Cardiology, ENT, OB/GYN) to facilitate timely, appropriate care.
• Use Epic to pend orders that expedite care (no order sign-off authority).
• Coordinate care for team-affiliated workers' compensation cases, particularly for Colorado Mammoth players and Rapids Academy athletes.
• Serve as the point of contact with UCHealth Executive Health for urgent needs of team-affiliated individuals and lead the transition of professional sports coordination into this role without disruption to service.

Team Physicals and Large-Scale Events

• Plan and run preseason physicals, medical testing, and other large-scale team events, from scheduling and staffing to logistics and communication.

Operations, Billing, and Process Improvement

• Coordinate billing, documentation, and administrative processes with Executive Health, physician practices, and finance; identify inefficiencies and build standardized workflows that continuously improve service and team satisfaction.

Availability and Program Growth

• Respond to urgent team needs during evenings, weekends, and holidays, and take on new initiatives and responsibilities as team partnerships and the program grow.

What Success Looks Like

Success in this role will be reflected in strong working relationships with each team and physician group, timely and reliable coordination of clinical services, well-executed team physicals and events, and continued improvement in team satisfaction and operational efficiency.

Work Location:

Hybrid - this role is eligible for a hybrid schedule. # of days per week in person to be determined as the role evolves.

Why Join Us:

This position offers the opportunity to work alongside experienced orthopedic and sports medicine physicians at an academic medical center while partnering closely with the medical staff of Colorado's professional sports teams. As a newly dedicated role, the individual will help establish the workflows, relationships, and standards that guide how CU Sports Medicine and UCHealth support these teams as the program grows.

Why work for the University?

We have AMAZING benefits and offer exceptional amounts of holiday, vacation and sick leave! The University of Colorado offers an excellent benefits package including:

• Medical: Multiple plan options
• Dental: Multiple plan options
• Additional Insurance: Disability, Life, Vision
• Retirement 401(a) Plan: Employer contributes 10% of your gross pay
• Paid Time Off: Accruals over the year (based on percentage of time)
• Vacation Days: 22/year (maximum accrual 352 hours)
• Sick Days: 15/year (unlimited maximum accrual)
• Holiday Days: 11/year
• Tuition Benefit: Employees have access to this benefit on all CU campuses
• ECO Pass: Reduced rate RTD Bus and light rail service

There are many additional perks & programs with the CU Advantage.

Qualifications:

Minimum Qualifications:
Applicants must meet minimum qualifications at the time of hire.

• Master's degree in Athletic Training, Exercise Science, Sports Medicine, or related field.

• Certification by the Board of Certification (BOC) for Athletic Trainers.

• Colorado Athletic Trainer licensure or eligibility for licensure.

• Current CPR/BLS certification.

Condition of Employment:

• Willingness to work evenings, weekends, and holidays as needed.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in professional, elite, or collegiate sports medicine settings.

• Familiarity with the Epic electronic health record.

• Experience with workers' compensation, billing, or team physicals.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Knowledge of sports medicine conditions sufficient to triage requests to the right provider.

• Proven ability to build trusted relationships with athletic trainers, physicians, and coaches.

• Excellent organization, communication, and problem-solving across multidisciplinary teams.

• Ability to independently manage competing, time-sensitive priorities.

• Professionalism and discretion when working with high-profile athletes.

• A process-improvement mindset and flexibility as the program evolves.

How to Apply:

For full consideration, please submit the following document(s):

1. A letter of interest describing relevant job experiences as they relate to listed job qualifications and interest in the position

2. Curriculum vitae / Resume

3. Five professional references including name, address, phone number (mobile number if appropriate), and email address

Applications are accepted electronically ONLY at www.cu.edu/cu-careers.

Questions should be directed to: Lindsey Renn; lindsey.renn@cuanschutz.edu

Screening of Applications Begins:

Immediately and continues until position is filled. For best consideration, apply by November 30, 2026.

Anticipated Pay Range:

The starting salary range (or hiring range) for this position has been established as HIRING RANGE:

$60,000 - $90,000

The above salary range (or hiring range) represents the University's good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting. This position is not eligible for overtime compensation unless it is non-exempt.

Your total compensation goes beyond the number on your paycheck. The University of Colorado provides generous leave, health plans and retirement contributions that add to your bottom line.

Total Compensation Calculator: http://www.cu.edu/node/153125

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:

The University of Colorado (CU) is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all applicable federal, state, and local laws governing nondiscrimination in employment. We are committed to creating a workplace where all individuals are treated with respect and dignity, and we encourage individuals from all backgrounds to apply, including protected veterans and individuals with disabilities.

ADA Statement:

The University will provide reasonable accommodations to applicants with disabilities throughout the employment application process. To request an accommodation pursuant to the Americans with Disabilities Act, please contact the Human Resources ADA Coordinator at hr.adacoordinator@ucdenver.edu.

Background Check Statement:

The University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus is dedicated to ensuring a safe and secure environment for our faculty, staff, students and visitors. To assist in achieving that goal, we conduct background investigations for all prospective employees.

Vaccination Statement:

CU Anschutz strongly encourages vaccination against the COVID-19 virus and other vaccine preventable diseases. If you work, visit, or volunteer in healthcare facilities or clinics operated by our affiliated hospital or clinical partners or by CU Anschutz, you will be required to comply with the vaccination and medical surveillance policies of the facilities or clinics where you work, visit, or volunteer, respectively. In addition, if you work in certain research areas or perform certain safety sensitive job duties, you must enroll in the occupational health medical surveillance program.