Performance Director - Soccer Club

Exos•Grand Rapids, MI

About The Position

At Exos, the Performance Director will design and implement a comprehensive high-performance model for a soccer club. The model integrates sports science, athletic training, strength and conditioning, performance monitoring, nutrition, recovery, and return-to-performance processes under an aligned philosophy intended to help players consistently perform at their highest level. The role supports players throughout the competitive calendar and aligns performance methods with the club’s soccer philosophy and competitive objectives. The director oversees individualized physical preparation and recovery, monitors player workload and readiness, and uses performance data and technology to inform decisions. The role collaborates with medical professionals, athletic training, strength and conditioning, sports science, nutrition consultants, and coaching staff. It also includes player education, relationship-building across the organization, 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 in 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 within 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 continuously evolve the club's integrated high-performance philosophy.
Develop systems to maximize player health, readiness, resilience, and performance throughout the competitive calendar.
Align performance methodology with the club's soccer philosophy and competitive objectives.
Oversee strength, power, speed, agility, mobility, conditioning, and movement quality programs.
Individualize physical preparation plans according to player profiles, positional demands, injury history, and developmental objectives.
Monitor workload, fatigue, recovery, and readiness using objective and subjective performance measures.
Use GPS, wearable technology, force plate testing, wellness questionnaires, and other monitoring 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.
Integrate 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 educational initiatives on 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, upgrading professional credentials, and attending required continuing education.