Job Description
TITLE: Academy Methodology Lead
DEPARTMENT: Team Operations
REPORTS TO: Academy Director
FLSA: Full-Time; Exempt
WHAT SETS YOU APART
The Academy Methodology Lead is the technical backbone of Orlando City SC's player development pathway. This role drives the day-to-day implementation of the club's coaching methodology across all Academy age groups (U12–U19), ensuring full alignment with the First Team game model. Equal parts tactician, mentor, and administrator, the successful candidate will shape how our players learn the game and how our coaches teach it.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
• Lead the development, documentation, and ongoing evolution of Orlando City SC's game model across all Academy phases, ensuring clear alignment with the First Team's tactical identity.
• Design and implement a progressive, age-appropriate coaching curriculum that reflects the club's long-term player development philosophy.
• Oversee the club's tactical framework, including principles of play, set-piece strategies, and in-possession/out-of-possession behaviors.
• Maintain a living methodology document incorporating written guides, diagrams, video examples, and data-driven insights.
• Develop a structured framework for session design, session evaluation, and team performance analysis.
• Prepare and lead training sessions as needed; manage exhibition, regular season, playoff, and tournament matches while upholding club principles and a competitive mentality.
• Lead the delivery of Individual Development Plans (IDPs) across Formation Phase teams and manage off-season player development programs.
• Oversee all player evaluations and player/parent meetings, ensuring clear, consistent communication.
• Collaborate with the Academy Director and Technical Staff on player and roster movement from the Formation Phase to the Professional Phase.
• Assist with scouting and evaluation of prospective players; maintain frequent communication with Academy Scouts to identify and report talent.
• Enforce team and league rules applicable to players and coaching staff, ensuring adherence to the Orlando City Academy Code of Conduct.
• Provide consistent on- and off-field support to Academy coaches, ensuring methodology is applied within training and on matchday.
• Conduct regular session observations and matchday evaluations, delivering actionable feedback aligned with each coach's individual development plan.
• Facilitate in-house coach education events, workshops, methodology walkthroughs, and collaborative review sessions to foster a culture of continuous learning.
• Support the Academy Director in developing and implementing the Coaches Code of Conduct and in tracking staff licensing pathways, development goals, and performance standards.
• Provide structured mentorship to coaches across all Academy phases.
• Contribute technical evaluations of session quality, methodology adherence, and player outcomes in support of annual staff performance reviews.
• Use session planning tools and video platforms to record and analyze relevant player and team data.
• Collaborate closely with scouting and performance departments to integrate methodology into daily workflows and decision-making.
• Collaborate with the Academy Director on technical reports, documentation, and reviews required for compliance, audits, and strategic planning.
• Conduct and organize matchday preparation, including developing game strategies, team meetings, and opponent scouting.
• Support additional age groups with training and matchday coverage as needed.
• Other duties as assigned.
QUALIFICATIONS
It’s never just a job at Orlando City SC. It’s a way of life. We live and breathe soccer and entertainment. We believe each role is as unique as the person who does it. To join our team, you will also possess these qualifications:
• USSF ‘A’ License or Equivalent
• Minimum of 5 years of experience working in elite soccer.
• Proven history of developing players.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills.
• Excellent organizational and leadership skills.
• Collaborative management style – an advocate of team concepts.
• Positive influencer, comfortable with leading dynamic change.
• Able to work non-traditional hours, in non-traditional settings, within a team atmosphere. (This may include nights, weekends, and holidays.)
PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
• Elite Formation Coaching License (EFCL)
• Professional Coaching Experience (Formation Phase, MLS Next Pro, MLS First Team)
• Bilingual (Spanish/English) or multi-lingual fluency
• Experience, familiarity, and network within the OCSC Territory is strongly preferred
About Orlando City SC & Orlando Pride:
In November 2013, Orlando City Soccer Club was awarded a Major League Soccer (MLS) franchise, becoming the league’s 21st franchise. The team began play in March 2015, with 62,510 fans packing the then-Orlando Citrus Bowl for the Club’s MLS debut.
The Lions have reached the postseason in five-consecutive seasons (2020-24), qualified for the Concacaf Champions Cup (formerly Concacaf Champions League) in both 2023 and 2024, and reached their first final in 2020 during the MLS is Back Tournament. In 2022, Orlando City won its first championship of its MLS era, lifting the Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cup trophy, which also marked the first championship by any professional team in the City Beautiful. Prior to its time in MLS, Orlando City boasted a decorated history in the United Soccer League, winning the league’s championship in both the 2011 and 2013 seasons.
In October 2015, the Orlando Pride was announced as the 10th team in the National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL), bringing professional women’s soccer to the state of Florida for the first time. The team began play in April 2016, setting a then-league single-game attendance record in its first-ever home game, with 23,403 fans witnessing the Club’s first win.
The Pride feature a star-studded roster of domestic and international talent and, in 2024, brought the first professional major league title to the city of Orlando, with the Club winning the NWSL Championship. The season saw the Pride complete the double, winning both the Championship and the NWSL Shield as the best team in the regular season, capping off a historic campaign that set numerous league records. Former Orlando City defender Seb Hines serves as the team’s head coach, not only the first Black head coach in the league, but also the first to win both the Championship and the NWSL Shield, and the 2024 NWSL Coach of the Year.
In 2017, both teams moved into its privately-owned, soccer-specific venue – Inter&Co Stadium – located in the heart of downtown Orlando.
In July 2021, the Club – which includes Orlando City SC, the Orlando Pride, Orlando City B (MLS NEXT Pro) and Inter&Co Stadium – was purchased by the Wilf Family, who also own the Minnesota Vikings of the National Football League.
For more information on Orlando City SC and Orlando, visit OrlandoCitySC.com or Orlando-Pride.com.
We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, gender identity, marital or veteran status, or any other protected class.
Orlando City and Orlando Pride will ensure that individuals with disabilities are provided with reasonable accommodation(s) to participate in the job application or interview process and perform critical job functions. Please contact the People and Culture department at Peopleandculture@orlandocitysc.com to let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.
