U.S. Soccer Overview 

We are U.S. Soccer and we are the future of sport in the United States.  Our mission is to make soccer the preeminent sport in the United States.  We embrace diversity, technology and global connections to drive the growth of our sport and serve our athletes and fans.  We seek motivated, passionate, skilled people who can think, create and work on a team.  

U.S. Soccer is a growing company that looks for team members to grow with it. U.S. Soccer offers a comprehensive compensation package, casual work environment, an inclusive culture and an atmosphere for professional development.

The Federation’s core principles set organization-wide standards to identify and foster our culture and inform how we interact and hold each other accountable. These principles guide U.S. Soccer: We Win Together.  We Aim High.  We Champion Diversity, Equity & Inclusion.  To be successful as a USSF employee, it is critical to demonstrate and live up to these principles every day and with every interaction with peers, stakeholders, and partners. 

The Federation’s core values are the individual attributes and characteristics that staff embody to uphold the organization’s principles and succeed. These values guide our employees: Integrity. Commitment.  Teamwork.  Respect.

Position Description

The Senior Director of Strategy & Operations is a strategic and operational leader, who will be responsible for supporting the vision and implementation of the Coaching Education Strategy as part of the Federation’s broader Professional Development Strategy. They will work closely with the CSGO, Director Coaching Education, executive leadership, and broader ecosystem and international stakeholders to carry out key priorities in support of growing the number and quality of coaches and technical leads within the U.S. ecosystem. They will be a natural leader and relationship builder, exhibit a high degree of professionalism, maintain a customer service mentality, and communicate consistently and transparently. They will have experience scaling programs to achieve specific objectives and driving operational efficiencies within teams. This role will report into the Chief Soccer Growth Officer and oversee the Coaching Education Operations team members.

Primary Responsibilities

• Act as a key contributor to the overall Coaching Education & Development strategic vision and plan, ensuring alignment with the Federation’s professional development strategic goals and objectives
• Own design, development and implementation of the Coaching Education & Development operational roadmap
• Support the development and execution of programs directed at growing the number and quality of coaches and technical leaders across the soccer ecosystem
• Lead the design of new delivery models that formalize economic alignment with the soccer ecosystem, enhancing long-term sustainability and growth
• Manage planning and execution of day-to-day business operations in support of short-term and long-term objectives
• Oversee departmental budgeting, ensuring alignment with the organization’s fiscal strategy while meeting strategic technical goals
• Responsible for conducting qualitative and quantitative assessments that guide future state strategies and solutions in the coaching landscape
• Establish and manage departmental key performance indicators (KPIs)
• Build and maintain a performance management framework that will monitor the effectiveness and efficacy of our coaching education offerings, including a robust quality assurance program
• Oversee the Coaching Operations team, supporting professional growth; manage the internal team expert network
• Support the end-to-end hiring process for team roles, partnering with HR and Director Coaching Education
• Develop and maintain a strong operating model between USSF and key ecosystem stakeholder partners
• Establish a positive and productive working relationships across key internal stakeholders
• Collaborate on designing and implementing strategies that align the interests of ecosystem partners with the Federation’s objectives
• Implement project management best practices to bring consistency and quality standards to the Coaching Education Department ways of working
• Oversee and maintain departments yearly calendar and other operational tools and templates to drive operational efficiencies and support
• Develop and maintain a risk management framework to identify risks and opportunities in our coaching education & development offerings and inform decision-making
• Develop and maintain policies and procedures to support coaching education & development strategic efforts
• Administer the department member-driven policies and procedures
• Identify and implement digital tools and resources to enhance coaching operations
• Support all external communication and representation of the Coaching Education Department (in partnership with Director Coaching Education)
• Integrate all DEIB principles into all aspects of coaching education, including program design, staff development, and stakeholder engagement

Minimum Qualifications

• B.S./B.A. or Master’s Degree from an accredited college or university required
• 10+ years of experience working in a strategic and/or operational role; experience in the coaching education and U.S. Soccer space strongly preferred
• Strong and empathetic leader with proven ability to build high-performing teams
• Experience managing a P&L
• Proven problem solver
• Strong ability to influence key stakeholder partners
• Collaborative and passionate about coaching education; comprehension of US coaching landscape is a plus
• Capable of working in fast-paced and demanding environments
• Ability to deliver high quality work and execute under pressure/deadlines
• Must be able to connect “micro” details to the “macro” vision and mission
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills 
• Proficient experience with Microsoft Suite (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Outlook)

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.