Talent Identification Manager – Extended National Teams

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’s 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 US.

U.S. Soccer is in a period of significant growth, with ambitions plans for US 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 Talent Identification Manager for Extended National Teams is responsible for overseeing a comprehensive plan for discipline-specific player scouting for Futsal, Beach, Cerebral Palsy, Deaf, and Power National Teams. The role will manage 4 strategic areas of U.S. Soccer’s aligned Talent ID plan for Extended National Teams including player scouting, building and managing a network of discipline-specific scouts, talent identification programs, and utilization of a centralized digital platform, while developing relationships with key stakeholders. This person will support inter-departmental collaboration between Talent Identification and Extended National Teams and uphold the U.S. Way that positively reflects U.S. Soccer’s Strategic Pillars.

Primary Responsibilities

• Commits to the mission, objectives, and policies of U.S. Soccer 
• Applies The U.S. Way Talent Identification Philosophy, Framework, Processes and Structures across all Extended National Teams
• Develops and oversees player scouting and TID programs for Futsal, Beach, Cerebral Palsy, Deaf, and Power National Teams (Domestic and International)
• Oversees systematic and detail-oriented process to expand and improve player pools for Extended National Teams
• Develops discipline specific strategy and plan based on environment landscape analysis 
• Creates and executes an annual strategic scouting plan for each team discipline and continuously applies data driven approach to evaluate and monitor effectiveness
• Builds and manages a quality and diverse group of part-time scouts for each team discipline
• Communicates and collaborates effectively with all internal and external stakeholders (technical, operations & support staff, scouts, leagues, clubs, directors, coaches, members, alumni programs, partners, parents, etc.)
• Drives efficient, holistic, and collaborative decision-making and player selection process
• Collaborates with product team to manage digital platform for longitudinal monitoring and auditing of programs, pathways, and players
• Collaborates with Men’s/Women’s and Boy’s/Girls National Teams Player Scouting Departments to align processes, identify opportunities to combine efforts, share best practices, and develop a talent transfer strategy
• Supports Dual & Multiple National Program for scouting and recruitment
• Completes a personal development plan and reviews with direct report on annual basis.
• Contributes to The U.S. Way technical projects as assigned (i.e. Extended National Team Player Profiles and video library)

Role and tasks of the position are based on 4 Key Areas across each discipline: Player Scouting, Scouting Network, Talent ID Programs, and Digital Platform/Player Monitoring System.

Player Scouting: 

• Oversees strategic and systematic processes to monitor current players within Extended National Team pools, while searching for, identifying, tracking and recruiting new discoveries to build, expand and improve player pools for each team discipline
• Builds supportive relationships between scouts, coaches, and directors
• Develops annual scouting calendars for each discipline, in collaboration with TID Operations
• Maintains depth charts for each discipline, in collaboration with coaches
• Develops and implements player scouting templates and tools for each discipline
• Cross-checks and recommends players for camps as part of longitudinal and collaborative selection and decision-making process.
• Leads and facilitates regularly scheduled player scout meetings for each discipline with coaches, creates roster selections timelines for camps and completes selection audits
• Attends key days at camps and tournaments for benchmarking, to support assessment process and gain knowledge of current player pool when making comparisons and recommendations. As assigned and approved by Directors.
• Leads player selection process and assessment for domestic and international based Talent ID Programs in collaboration with coaches
• Schedules regular touchpoints with Men’s and Women’s/Boy’s and Girl’s national team’s player scouting departments to identify and recruit potential talent transfers from their scouting system, who may be identified at an earlier or later stage with player profile for one of our extended national teams.
• Supports identification, tracking, and recruitment of dual and multiple national players

Building & Managing a Scouting Network: 

• Builds, manages, and develops a quality, diverse and reliable network of independent/part-time scouts for each discipline (vets, recruits, hires and onboards new scouts)
• Assigns scouts and coaches to key tournaments, games, training sessions based on TID plan and strategy
• Develops new scouting leads and search methods to cast a wider net across the ecosystem to identify new discoveries and potential talent transfers (i.e. professional indoor soccer leagues to futsal)
• Reviews scout reports for quality control. Provides feedback, supports development, and organizes a mentoring system for scouts, in collaboration with TID Education Lead
• Builds a supplementary network with leagues, clubs, and tipsters (informal leads) 
• Identifies opportunities for new scouting initiatives targeting under-resourced communities and outreach 

Talent Identification Programs:

• Creates and executes annual strategic schedule and plan for Talent Identification Centers in key markets (domestic and international)
• Develops annual calendar in coordination with coaches for each discipline, formalizes and implements program standards and protocols 
• Identifies and trains part-time scouts to serve in supporting and lead roles for Talent Identification Centers
• Leads player and staff selection (and training)

Digital Platform/Player Monitoring System: 

• Collaborates with operations and product departments, contributes to the development and alignment of P3 digital platform mechanisms, reporting, templates and tools for player monitoring (video and data applications)
• Centralizes all scouting data and processes into P3 across all Extended National Team disciplines

Other: 

• Participate in U.S. Soccer Talent Scout Courses for ongoing education and development, as assigned by department heads.

Requirements

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent
• U.S. Soccer B License
• Knowledge and experience with talent pathways for specific Extended National Team discipline(s)
• Knowledge and understanding of talent identification and development—process, structure, theory, and practice (international and domestic standards) 
• Experience with analysis, reporting, video editing, data, and scout technology platforms (Hudl, Sportscode, Wyscout). Data driven approach
• Able to build and manage a network of interconnected people with shared mission, objectives and values
• Player centered
• Strong collaboration skills
• Open to research and innovation
• 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)
• Excellent written and verbal communication combined with a professional demeanor
• Able and willing to travel
• Able and willing to work non-traditional hours including evenings, weekends and holidays as needed
• 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) 

Desired Qualifications  

• U.S. Soccer Talent Scout License
• Experience with scouting 
• Passion for advancing Extended National Teams programs
• Passion for soccer
• Experience playing at elite level
• Bilingual (English and Spanish)
• Thorough institutional knowledge of U.S. Soccer’s National Team player pathway, technical plan, policies, practices, and procedures

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.