Director, Talent Identification: Women's Youth National Teams

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Position Description

The Director of Talent Identification: Women’s Youth National Teams is responsible for the development and oversight of a comprehensive and aligned Talent ID plan, effectively applying the mission, objectives, strategies and tactics to identify, monitor and select players for U-14 through U-20 age groups, to continuously expand and improve the WYNT player pool. This person is responsible for leading and guiding the Women’s Talent ID staff, while cultivating a collaborative and inclusive culture.

Primary Role:

• Commits to the vision, mission, and policies of U.S. Soccer
• Applies U.S. Soccer Talent Identification philosophy, framework and processes
• Monitors the evolution of the women’s national and international landscape and pathways to effectively oversee the development of all strategic components of Women’s Talent Identification
• Collaborates with Head of Talent ID, Talent Identification Director, Managers, Scouts and NT Coaches
• Collaborates with Head of Talent ID and Operations Manager to align strategic plan and tactics with the department budget. Reviews budget with Talent ID Operations Manager and adjusts decision making accordingly.
• Leads women’s Talent ID staff and overall strategic plan
• Maintains National Depth Charts for the Women’s Youth National Teams. Collaborates with Player Scout: WNT Pathway regarding transition of YNT highest potentials to senior national team.
• Leads shared decision making process, final audit, and quality assurance of player selection for all WYNT camps
• Builds effective and supportive relationships with all sporting departments and develops strong connections with Youth National Teams, High Performance, and Analytics
• Continually evaluates the program’s effectiveness, monitors trends and applies data to help drive strategy
• Contributes to Sporting initiatives and provides TID expertise and leadership for the following Technical Projects: Key Qualities, Position Profiles, Dual/Multiple Nationals
• Communicates and collaborates effectively with all key external stakeholders (member programs, scouts, coaches, clubs, parents, etc.) involved in Talent Identification
• Supports the personal and professional development of the Talent ID Managers by providing formal and informal feedback and generates ownership of individual development plans
• Supports Coaching Education and the Talent ID Education Lead with the development of Talent ID Education Pathway

Responsibilities of the position are based on leadership and oversight of four key areas: Youth National Team Scouting, Building and Managing YNT Scouting Network, Talent ID Centers and U-14 Programs and Technology & Analysis (Player Monitoring Systems)

Women’s Youth National Teams Scouting

• Building supportive and effective relationships between Talent ID Managers and Women’s Youth (and senior) National Teams (Director and Coaches)
• Oversees WYNT player identification, to expand and improve the WYNT player pools (U-14 through U-20)
• Benchmarking at top Women’s Youth international competitions
• Attends key days at YNT age group camps to support Talent ID Manangers and YNT Coaches with assessment process and to gain intimate knowledge of current player pool (on and off field), to guide player comparison, recommendation and selection process
• Attends weekly TID/YNT Age Group Zoom Meetings to guide and support process of continuous monitoring, review and selection of players for camps
• Maintains National Depth Charts for the Women’s Youth National Teams
• Leads shared decision making process, final audit, and quality assurance of a holistic player selection process for all WYNT camps
• Attend Concacaf Championships and World Cups for benchmarking and to support TID Managers with opponent scout analysis process

Building and Managing YNT Scouting Network

• Empowers and supports Talent ID Managers with their responsibility to build and manage a quality, diverse and reliable network of independent/part-time YNT Scouts, across their designated scouting markets (support recruitment and hiring of new scouts in identified areas of need)
• Makes final approval when hiring new YNT Network Scouts
• Monitors TID Managers assignments of scouts to weekly games, training sessions and annual events based on TID strategy and plan, with support from TID Operations
• Ensures quality control within the YNT Scouting Network and oversees the Talent ID Managers mentoring system for YNT scouts
• Leads strategic decisiuons on assigning managers, and scouts to key events and tournaments
• Oversees all education and development of YNT Scouting Network
• Serves as an instructor for Talent Scout license as assigned by head of Talent ID and contributes to the development and content of the course, in collaboration with Coach Education
• Identifies potential instructors for the Talent Scout License
• Communicates with and supports members to (further) develop their own Talent ID programs

Talent Identification Centers and U-14 Programs (Local, Regional, and National)

• Oversee all aspects of National Talent Identification Centers program (vision, objectives, strategies, annual plan, and alignment with YNT)
• Ensures uniformity and technical consistency with all guidelines, protocols, and procedures across all TID Centers, Regional Mini-Camps and National Camps programs.
• Supervise and supports Talent ID Managers in the execution of their role (attends all regional mini-camps and key TID Centers)
• Leads Talent National Camp in collaboration with U-15 YNT Coach

Technology and Data Analysis (Player Monitoring Systems)

• Oversees and contributes to ongoing development of a vertically and horizontally aligned platform that supports continuous reporting and monitoring of players over time and drives accurate and evidence-based decision making.
• Emphasizes the application of quantitative and qualitative scouting methods.
• Collaborates with analysts, creative designers, managers, and coaches and delegates responsibilities to build and maintain video resource library of position profiles, traits and key qualities across all age groups and international world class role models.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or higher
• U.S. Soccer A License (or UEFA A License)
• Experience as a leader and relationship builder (club or Federation)
• Minimum 5 years applied experience in Talent Identification
• Effective planner
• Expert knowledge and understanding of current Talent Identification and development—theory, systems and practice (international and domestic standards)
• Knowledge of the domestic and international soccer landscape/pathway (youth/pro) and trends
• Ability to think critically and problem solve
• Excellent written and verbal communication combined with a professional demeanor
• Ability to develop constructive and cooperative working relationships and regular communication with key leaders and stakeholders in the soccer community
• Exceptional time management skills and ability to prioritize workflow
• 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)
• Able and willing to travel
• Able and willing to work non-traditional hours including evenings and weekends as needed

Desired Qualifications

• Passion for soccer
• Master’s degree
• Bilingual (English and Spanish)
• U.S. Soccer Talent Scout License or international equivalent
• Proficient with data, video editing and scout technology platforms (i.e., Opta, Hudl, Sportscode, Wyscout, etc.)
• Thorough institutional knowledge of U.S. Soccer’s mission, goals, technical plan, policies, practices, and procedures
• Previous experience with a club or national team program

Working at U.S. Soccer is a unique opportunity. Employees who work at U.S. Soccer have the following attributes:

• Live our Principles & Values
• Adopt a company centric approach—Serve the Athlete and the Fan
• Embrace and see learning as a lifelong pursuit
• Possess a growth mindset—keeps an open mind and seeks new challenges
• Practice self-assessment and self-reflection
• Open to criticism and does not make excuses
• Possess a tireless work ethic
• Wants to be part of a team that wins
• Has the ability to be firm but fair
• Communicate in a direct, open and honest manner
• Build relationships through genuine interpersonal skills

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.