Director, Business Ventures

UNITED STATES SOCCER FEDERATION 1•Atlanta, GA

About The Position

The U.S. Soccer Federation exists in service to soccer. Our aim is to ignite a national passion for the game. 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. We’re seeking a strategic thinker with dogged operational skills to help drive business initiatives in new and emerging spaces. The next decade of soccer in the U.S. presents massive opportunity but also major challenges, and U.S. Soccer will need to continue to evolve with the sport to reach its growth objectives. This position will help set high-level goals within the Commercial team – with a focus on growth opportunities – while also aligning those goals with day-to-day execution. The Director will join a team of Analysts and Data Scientists focused on optimizing the business, nurturing data-driven decisions, and ultimately driving growth via new partnerships. They’ll also work closely with every unit within the Commercial organization, and some Sporting stakeholders as well, to understand current state and identify collaborative opportunities to unlock more value for U.S. Soccer and its stakeholders. Focus areas will include new properties/platforms and strategic partnerships within the media, technology, high performance, and scouting spaces. The ideal candidate excels at balancing the big picture with smooth execution of major projects. They’ll have sharp analytics skills, an obsession with details, great communication, and a knack for relationship building. A deep understanding of the media, gaming, and the broader technology landscape within sports will also be critical.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in Business, STEM, or other analytical field
At least 5 years of experience in roles focused on growth strategy within the technology or media spaces
Technologist background – you have a clear understanding of the emerging technology trends within the sports/entertainment space and can demonstrate a history of leveraging new technologies to unlock new value for customers/fans
Strategic thinking – you consistently anticipate and see the big picture, where to go, and how to get there
Sharp analytical skills – you can design quantitative frameworks to solve business problems and have an eye for finding the signal within the noise quickly
Proficient with business intelligence tools – advanced BI (Tableau or Power BI) and Excel skills (IF functions, macros, array formulas)
Detail-oriented – you can’t stand sloppiness in execution; details matter more to you than most others because of what it says about your work
Polished presenter – tailoring the message to the audience; you’re concise yet thorough and combine it with impeccably-packaged visuals
Self-starter – you thrive when allowed to proactively manage your time toward goals rather than reacting to specific tasks
General knowledge of soccer
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)

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in Business, Analytics, STEM, or other analytical field
Passion for soccer and a solid understanding of the soccer landscape in the United States

Responsibilities

Opportunity hunting: Internal audits, market analyses, business cases, and vetting to steer how we allocate time and resources. Making critical connections to nurture partnerships, with an eye toward Sporting technology needs
Standing up new partnerships: Shepherding new projects from ideation to planning to execution and monetization. These could be commercial-only in nature or also serve broader needs for our soccer staff/players. Organizing and mobilizing cross-functional teams based on the nature of each deal
Content reach and relevancy: Establishing and managing strategic partnerships with 3rd-party media platforms and creators to extend our reach among soccer fans and new audiences
Partner management: Managing existing partners and developing new ones. You’ll be the day-to-day contact with critical commercial partners across our new ventures (e.g., The Soccer Tournament)
Budget management: Working closely with each Commercial unit to track and forecast revenue and expenses. Communicate status across, up, and down the organization