Personal Training Specialist at D1 Training — Altoona, IA

Benefits

• Bonus based on performance
• Competitive salary
• Opportunity for advancement

We are seeking a certified and passionate Personal Training Specialist to develop athletes of all ages and ability levels. This role is responsible for assessing each athlete's needs, creating individualized training programs, delivering safe and engaging coaching, and using measurable performance data to demonstrate progress.

Key Responsibilities

• Design individualized training plans based on each athlete's age, skill level, sport, physical abilities, and short- and long-term goals.
• Lead one-on-one and small-group training sessions for youth, adult, recreational, and competitive athletes.
• Conduct initial and ongoing assessments of strength, speed, agility, mobility, endurance, coordination, and sport-specific performance.
• Establish measurable performance benchmarks and use data-driven metrics to monitor progress and adjust programming.
• Maintain accurate records of assessments, attendance, training loads, personal records, and goal achievement.
• Teach proper technique, movement mechanics, recovery habits, and injury-prevention strategies.
• Adapt exercises and coaching methods to suit different ages, developmental stages, experience levels, and physical needs.
• Motivate athletes through positive, professional, and age-appropriate coaching.
• Communicate progress clearly with athletes and, when appropriate, parents, guardians, coaches, or other performance professionals.
• Maintain a safe, organized, and inclusive training environment.
• Stay current with evidence-based practices in strength and conditioning, athletic performance, and youth development.

Required Qualifications

• Current certification from a recognized personal training or strength and conditioning organization, such as NASM, ACE, ACSM, NSCA, ISSA, or an equivalent credential.
• Current CPR/AED and First Aid certification.
• Demonstrated experience training athletes across multiple ages, sports, and skill levels.
• Strong understanding of exercise programming, biomechanics, athletic development, and injury prevention.
• Ability to collect, interpret, and communicate performance data.
• Strong leadership, motivational, organizational, and interpersonal skills.
• Commitment to athlete safety, professional ethics, and continuous learning.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in exercise science, kinesiology, sports performance, or a related field.
• Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) or youth fitness specialization.
• Experience with performance-testing tools, wearable technology, athlete-management software, or strength and conditioning platforms.
• Background in competitive athletics or sport-specific coaching.

Performance Expectations

Success in this role will be measured through:

• Documented athlete improvement against established benchmarks.
• Quality and consistency of individualized training plans.
• Athlete engagement, retention, and goal achievement.
• Safe coaching practices and accurate recordkeeping.
• Positive feedback from athletes, families, and coaching partners.

Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is an energetic, dependable coach who is passionate about helping athletes reach their potential. They combine motivational leadership with evidence-based programming and understand that every athlete requires a personalized approach. They can translate performance metrics into clear, practical adjustments that produce safe and sustainable results.