Job Description

U.S. Soccer Overview

The U.S. Soccer Federation exists in service to soccer. Our aim is to ignite a national passion for the game. Because we believe that soccer is more than a sport; it is a force for good.

We understand the importance and the power of teamwork, on and off the pitch. That is why we work closely with our Federation partners and members, to inspire, support and guide every level of the game: from the grassroots to the National Teams. We want to bring soccer into every home and every community, right across America. Because we believe that soccer can transform lives like no other sport. Soccer can represent the best of U.S.

U.S. Soccer is in a period of significant growth, with ambitious plans for U.S. Soccer in the near and far future. We are, therefore, looking for dynamic servant leaders to join us on this journey: in service to soccer. Applicants must be able to demonstrate visionary leadership, analytical decision-making, professional flexibility, and an empathic management style that builds bold teams and delivers globally significant results.

To achieve our generational ambitions of U.S. Soccer Success and U.S. Soccer Everywhere, the United States must have the best club and national team pathway in the world for men and boys. The SVP, Director of Men’s and Boys' Soccer represents a new role that will oversee the implementation of our comprehensive youth development and pathway strategy. This strategy sets both our strategic and technical foundation. It is a senior executive role that will be part of USSF’s Executive Leadership Team and report directly to our Chief Operating Officer. This leader will partner closely with the Head Coach and technical leaders of the U.S. Men’s National Team, ensuring that their insight and expertise is built into the pathway - from recreational soccer in communities through to our National Team program.

In this role, this person will engage leaders throughout the American male soccer ecosystem – including professional leagues and clubs, college programs, and youth leagues and clubs – to align incentives and create environments that foster elite player development. The scope of this role will require significant leadership agility, from shaping the multi-year pathway strategy and mapping the financial implications, to working on strategies to best deploy capital, to working with youth organizations on their soccer plans, to conducting player development discussions with pro teams. This mandate demands a sophisticated leader capable of influencing a broad and varied set of stakeholders. They will partner with constituents inside and outside of the federation, including both deeply technical soccer experts and committed business-oriented investors and sponsors, to execute the strategy.

The person should have a deep understanding of the American soccer ecosystem, and the ability to build trusted relationships at all levels. The ideal candidate also would bring an understanding of the global soccer landscape, and where the U.S. could learn from or differentiate from to gain competitive advantages.

The role will be based in Atlanta at U.S. Soccer’s Arthur M. Blank National Training Center.

Primary Responsibilities

In summary, the SVP & Director of Men’s and Boys’ Soccer will:

Lead:

• The implementation of U.S. Soccer’s men’s and boys’ youth development and pathway strategy in collaboration with all relevant stakeholders in the soccer ecosystem
• The processes to enhance an integrated system that consistently creates world-class players. This includes systems to measure, monitor, and advance talent identification and player development in collaboration with leaders throughout the U.S. amateur and professional leagues (including the Chief Soccer Officers, Owners, Academy Directors, and Team Presidents).
• The activities to drive greater investment and visibility for soccer throughout the country, including greater participation, fan engagement, innovation, and partnerships
• The public communication of our men’s and boys’ soccer performance and progress throughout the American soccer ecosystem, including through the media and at major events
• An environment and culture for the people within the broader team to grow and thrive

Oversee and Develop:

• A team of highly capable, accomplished technical leaders who drive the daily execution of our National Team environment and processes. This team includes our Technical Lead (Men’s and Boys’ Head of Development Teams) - who leads methodology, player Individual Development Plans (IDP) with clubs/colleges, YNT coach development, and YNT games program - and experts in other technical areas such as Talent Identification, Goalkeeping, and Coaching. The group must work together to position our Youth National Team program for success. The Director of Soccer supports, empowers, and develops these leaders in a collaborative, high-performance team environment.

Partner with:

• The CEO, COO and other senior executives to advance the Federation’s overall strategy In Service to Soccer
• The strategy team to ensure the men’s and boys’ soccer strategy is built into the youth pathway and we are preparing as many players for success in the senior team environment as possible
• The SVP & Director of Women’s and Girls’ Soccer to ensure alignment and coverage between the programs, establishing a shared set of ideas, best practices, and infrastructure while also leaving space for the uniqueness of each environment and pathway

Requirements

Desired Qualifications

• Significant executive leadership experience within soccer or sports
• Experience leading a large multi-functional team, including management of budgets and personnel
• Experience developing and implementing strategy across complex organizations and stakeholder environments
• Experience working with external stakeholders (e.g. investors, owners, donors, sponsors, business partners) to align resources in support of strategic plans and initiatives
• Experience as a lead spokesperson in high-profile settings
• Experience working with elite male soccer players
• Experience working within the professional and pre-professional parts of the American soccer landscape
• Knowledge of the global soccer landscape, including player development and pathways
• Experience with utilizing technology and data to drive soccer and organizational decisions

U.S. Soccer offers a comprehensive compensation package, casual work environment, an inclusive culture, and an atmosphere for professional development.

U.S. Soccer is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, citizenship, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, genetic information, military status, political belief, or any other characteristic protected under the law. This policy applies to all our employment practices within our organization. We strongly encourage women, people of color, LGBTQIA, veterans, parents, and persons with disabilities to apply