Performance Director - Soccer Club

EXOS•Grand Rapids, MI

About The Position

Exos is seeking a Performance Director to design and implement an integrated high-performance model for a soccer club. The model brings together sports science, athletic training, strength and conditioning, performance monitoring, nutrition, recovery, and return-to-performance processes under an aligned philosophy to help players consistently perform at their highest level. The role supports players throughout the competitive calendar and aligns physical preparation with the club’s soccer philosophy and competitive objectives. It involves using performance data and monitoring technology to guide decisions, coordinating recovery and return-to-play efforts, educating players, and fostering collaboration across the club’s multidisciplinary staff. The position requires extensive travel during the professional soccer season and work during evenings, weekends, holidays, and other non-traditional hours.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology, Sports Science, or a related field.
At least two years of personal training or strength coaching experience, or completion of the Exos Performance Specialist Internship.
Current industry certification.
Current CPR/AED and First Aid certifications.
Ability to create effective, individualized exercise plans.
Strong presentation skills for small and large group settings.
Exceptional customer service skills, with a focus on client success and support.
Ability to travel extensively throughout the professional soccer season.
Ability to work evenings, weekends, holidays, and non-traditional hours.

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree.
NSCA-CSCS or NASM certification.
Strong understanding of GPS technology, workload monitoring, force plate testing, and performance analytics.
Experience in MLS, MLS NEXT Pro, USL Championship, NCAA Division I, or international professional soccer.
Knowledge of FIFA and MLS competition demands.
Experience supporting multidisciplinary professional staff.

Responsibilities

Design, implement, and continually evolve the club’s integrated high-performance philosophy.
Develop systems to maximize player health, readiness, resilience, and performance throughout the competitive calendar.
Align performance methods with the club’s soccer philosophy and competitive objectives.
Oversee strength, power, speed, agility, mobility, conditioning, and movement-quality programs.
Individualize physical preparation based on player profiles, positional demands, injury history, and development objectives.
Monitor workload, fatigue, recovery, and readiness using objective and subjective performance measures.
Use GPS, wearable technology, force plate testing, wellness questionnaires, and other tools to evaluate player performance.
Analyze workload trends and performance data to support decision-making.
Design and oversee recovery protocols for training, matches, and travel, integrating sleep, hydration, nutrition, soft tissue therapies, cold and heat modalities, compression, and regeneration strategies into daily operations.
Collaborate with medical professionals to support safe progression from rehabilitation to full competition.
Develop education initiatives covering nutrition, hydration, sleep, recovery, supplementation, and lifestyle management.
Foster collaboration among athletic training, strength and conditioning, sports science, medical providers, nutrition consultants, and coaching staff.
Build trusted relationships throughout the organization.
Maintain Exos standards by following established policies, keeping professional credentials current, and attending required continuing education.
Travel extensively throughout the professional soccer season and work evenings, weekends, holidays, and non-traditional hours.