Director, Soccer Growth – Pathways Strategy Focus

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.

Position Description 

The Director of Soccer Growth will help lead the design and implementation of the future state vision for soccer under U.S. Soccer’s Pathways Strategy. This role requires deep understanding of the U.S. soccer ecosystem, strong business acumen, and the ability to align diverse stakeholders around a shared, player-centered philosophy – the U.S. Way.

The Director will serve as a key integrator across the ecosystem, ensuring pathway initiatives are grounded in soccer realities, credible to stakeholders, and actionable at scale. The role requires strong technical understanding of the game and the services that support it – including professional development, competition structures / programs (including talent identification), club development, refereeing, player development environments, and operational / administrative services – to ensure initiatives are practical and effective across different levels of play.

The role works cross-functionally with leaders across Coaching Education, Sporting, Strategy, Refereeing, and Safeguarding, while engaging external partners including professional leagues, member organizations, league operators, clubs, and other soccer organizations to advance a more aligned and sustainable soccer landscape. 

This person should have excellent business / strategy skills, a strong technical understanding of soccer, demonstratable experience working in the United States soccer ecosystem, and perceived as a positive leader by other members.

Primary Responsibilities

Pathways Strategy Design & Implementation

• Provide technical leadership to ensure the Pathway Strategy reflects strong player development principles across ages, stages, and environments.
• Translate technical concepts (development, learning, competition, progression) into practical structures and language that resonate with diverse stakeholders.
• Design and implement elements of the U.S. Way and Soccer Services, turning strategy into practical ecosystem solutions.
• Strengthen operating models that clarify roles, responsibilities, and incentives across leagues, platforms, and partners.
• Advance frameworks for competition architecture, sanctioning, soccer services, and standards of play.
• Connect recreational, competitive, and pre-professional pathways to ensure clear progression and broader access for players.
• Ensure alignment between pathway strategy, coaching education, and on-field environments, while integrating Safe Soccer, quality, and sustainability standards.
• Align pathways between recreational, competitive, and pre-professional soccer to ensure transparent progression and equitable access for players of all backgrounds.
• Identify and advance shared service opportunities (e.g., technology, communications, registration, safeguarding) to improve efficiency and reduce administrative burden for members. It is required that this person can understand and progress economic models related to soccer services.
• Help design incentives and benefits that encourage adoption of shared ecosystem services.

Ecosystem Alignment & Engagement

• Serve as a primary liaison between U.S. Soccer and ecosystem leaders (members, leagues, and partners) across technical soccer and business-related workstreams.
• Understand the realities and interdependencies across clubs, leagues, and member organizations operating across different segments of the game.
• Convene and lead meetings with member leaders, league operators, club leaders, and technical experts to co-design scalable solutions.
• Represent U.S. Soccer in cross-segment initiatives (e.g., college, high school, refereeing) to better align pathways across the ecosystem.
• Serve as a trusted technical voice in complex, multi-stakeholder discussions.
• Translate learnings from pilots and stakeholder engagement into functional policies, procedures, and scalable models for future implementation.

Requirements

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; Master’s preferred in business, public administration, sports management, or systems design.
• 7+ years of leadership experience in strategy, governance, program management, or sports ecosystem development.
• Deep knowledge of the U.S. soccer ecosystem, including members (e.g., national associations, state associations), sanctioning processes, and competitive league structures.
• Strong financial acumen and project management capability (PMP or equivalent certification preferred).
• Demonstrated success in leading large-scale operating model evolutions or multi-stakeholder change initiatives, including designing sustainable incentive models.
• Exceptional strategic thinking and facilitation skills – able to bridge vision with execution across diverse partners.
• Experience with policy, charter, and standards development within sport or education sectors.
• Experience as a coach, technical leader, or administrator strongly preferred.
• Capable of working in fast-paced and demanding environments
• Must be able to connect “micro” details to the “macro” vision and mission
• Proficient experience with Microsoft Suite (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, and Outlook)

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.