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Performance Physiologist
Senior Performance Physiologist
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Athlete Performance Support
Rowing New Zealand, Lake Karapiro High Performance Centre
Athletes, Coaches, NSO’s, Other APS Disciplines
EXCELLENCE – INTEGRITY – COLLABORATION
Functions of High Performance Sport NZ
The core functions of High Performance Sport New Zealand (HPSNZ) are to deliver on key aspects of
the High Performance Strategy. Our vision is to have more New Zealanders winning on the world
stage. To achieve this, we will focus on the following key strategic drivers to ensure we are world
leading:
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People
o Retain, develop and attract people who can provide sustained world leading support to
enhance NSO, coach and athlete performance on the world stage
o Excellence in governance and leadership
High Performance Environment
o Continuously promotes a culture of high performance excellence through our people,
resources and facilities
o Maximising human potential to achieve outcomes that inspire the nation
Planning & Monitoring
o Use world leading needs analysis, planning, monitoring and assessment practices to
enhance performance
Immersion
o Allocate time in sports to understand the best way to deliver what it takes to achieve
performance goals on the world stage
Innovation
o Proactively develop and apply world leading innovations aligned to strategic priorities to
enhance our competitive advantage
Intelligence
o Capture, share and leverage knowledge and world leading best practice across the HP
system
Performance Physiologist
Updated September 2016
Job Purpose
To assist the Senior Performance Physiologist for Rowing in the performance monitoring/physiology
support for Rowing New Zealand’s high performance programme resulting in a positive impact on
athlete performance.
Functions of the role
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Provide coaches with detailed analysis of their athletes training and recovery using the
necessary hardware and software (e.g. heart rate, GPS, power output, TrainingPeaks.com,
Performance Metrics, HRV analysis).
Under the guidance of the lead physiologist, provide regular performance and/or
physiological monitoring support to athletes and coaches at trials and other competitions
when required.
Assist in the development of innovative and evidence-based strategies that improve athlete
monitoring and performance.
Work within professional codes of ethics, conduct and standards and professional
confidentiality.
Communicate effectively and maintain good working relationships with key coaches,
athletes and other Rowing NZ / HPSNZ support staff.
Undertake any other reasonable duties for as requested by the Physiology Manager or Lead
Performance Physiologist.
Assist with the analysis of trends in competition data against other countries.
Alongside the lead performance monitoring physiologist, suggest and assist in conducting
(where HPSNZ considers it appropriate) world-leading research that facilitates the
development of rowing performance monitoring/physiology.
Troubleshoot technology issues and maintain equipment (i.e. GPS and HR equipment) on a
day to day basis.
Experience/ Skills/Knowledge
Essential
 Have worked previously in a high performance sport environment, preferably in rowing.
 Worked effectively with elite coaches for a sustained time period.
 A verifiable record of working effectively with other performance enhancement team
members.
 Proven record in the provision of support to athletes and coaches to improve performance.
 Demonstrated ability to analyse a sport’s physiological needs to develop, implement and
evaluate training programmes for individual athletes.
 Experience in and ability to modify training programmes according to the results of
performance or assessment data, in conjunction with coaches and other support staff.
 An understanding of the needs of elite athletes and coaches in a high performance
environment.
 A thorough understanding of the various sports science and medicine disciplines.
 An understanding of how to critically appraise scientific methodology and data.
 A detailed knowledge of physiology-based support appropriate to the needs of elite athletes
both in training and competition.
 A comprehensive knowledge of the science that supports performance-based measurement.
Desirable
 Experience as a physiologist as recognised by a registered or sports science board.
 Experience with national teams, squads and athletes from Rowing.
Performance Physiologist
Updated September 2016
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Experience in strategic planning, implementation and monitoring of performance to elite
athletes.
Experience in dealing with national high performance programmes within national sport
organisations.
A proven track record in academic or applied research in the field of physiology and/or
performance monitoring.
Experience supporting a team at a major international competition (e.g. Olympic or
Paralympic Games, World Senior or Junior Championships or Commonwealth Games)
Knowledge of current technology used to monitor performance and training in rowing (e.g.
heart rate monitors and GPS).
Advanced skills in Microsoft Excel.
Specific knowledge of performance and physiologically-based assessments appropriate to
Rowing
Qualifications
Essential
 A completed qualification at a higher degree level (MSc or equivalent).
Desirable
 A PhD (or equivalent) in physiology or sports science.
Performance Physiologist
Updated September 2016
General High Performance Competencies
Driven by Achieving Results
 Is competitive and has the will to win
 Seeks and achieves challenging
performance opportunities
 Stays focused to achieve goals
Adaptability
 Tailors behaviour, approach, strategy and
messages appropriately to varying
situations
Self-Awareness
 Continually seeks and takes on feedback from
others
 Understands the impact their behaviour has
on others
 Remains humble
High-Speed Learning
 Challenges their own ability
 Has a fixation for new learning
 Applies learning to achieve results quickly
Role-Specific Competencies
Planning & Prioritising
Problem solving
 Sets crystal clear and realistic outcomes
 Ability to resolve conflict with amicable
agreement between more than one party
 Zeros in on critical aspects and puts the
trivial aside
 Operates positively, proactively and
independently
 Anticipates and adjusts for roadblocks
 Solutions focused
 Evaluates performance against objectives
Building & Maintaining Relationships
Communication
 Able to build rapport quickly through
 Ability to foster mutual trust and respect as a key
approachability and putting others at ease
component of creating honest one-on-one
conversations
 Displays empathy and understands others
 Operates with integrity and maintains
confidentiality when required
 Able to create a safe, supportive
environment that provides ongoing mutual
respect and trust
Passion and energy for high performance sport
 Ability to achieve difficult results through
hard work, perseverance and high energy
 Passion for high performance sport
Performance Physiologist
Updated September 2016