Senior Director, High Performance

The National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) is one of the fastest-growing professional sports leagues in the U.S., powered by 16 clubs and a deep roster of the world’s best players, and built on record-shattering fan, media and commercial growth. Now in its 13th season, the league’s momentum continues to accelerate, with viewership and attendance numbers growing rapidly, social media fandom on the rise, team valuations massively increasing and new top sponsors investing in the NWSL brand.

This unprecedented growth in audience, media reach, and franchise value reflects the NWSL’s expanding fan base and increasing dominance in the sports-media landscape and popular culture. The future of the NWSL is now — and we’re looking for world-class talent like you to help us continue the momentum.

The Role

The Senior Director, High Performance, is a key leadership role within the NWSL’s Sporting Department. This role is responsible for overseeing the NWSL’s medical and high performance functions, serving to ensure that the highest standards are met at both the league and club level, as it relates to player health, wellbeing, and performance.

What You Will Own & Drive

Strategic Leadership

• Responsibility and leadership of the medical and high performance team at the NWSL;
• Responsible for the integration of performance and medical standards into the League decisions;
• Contribute to the successful delivery of the NWSL regular season and tentpole events, ensuring safety and wellbeing of participants;
• Contribute to league-wide research initiatives that focus on player health, wellbeing, and performance, alongside the NWSL Foundation Director and the VP, Sporting;
• Contribute to NWSL schedule processes and discussions, bringing a considered and informed perspective.

Medical Operations

• Responsible for oversight of all systems and structures that relate to workers compensation and insurance, working closely with the Director, Sports Medicine, and the NWSL legal team;
• Lead the delivery of the NWSL Medical Manual;
• Contribute expertise to other league-wide manuals as it relates to player performance.

High Performance and Sports Science

• Drive the NWSL’s high performance strategy, supporting the clubs and the broader ecosystem to enhance systems and structures that will improve the performance landscape at the clubs;
• Lead a data-driven approach to high performance and sports science on behalf of and within the NWSL;
• Develop and lead the delivery of a High Performance/Sport Science Guidance Manual;
• Assist in the build and progression of relevant data and technology systems that contribute to an evidence-based approach to athlete performance and wellness;
• Assist in the build and progression of relevant wearable technology, performance technology, scouting and recruitment technology, and player performance and wellness tracking e.g. methodologies and findings to drive league sporting decision making.

Stakeholder Management

• Manage and oversee the relationships between NWSL league office and NWSL club medical and performance staff, ensuring competencies and compliance obligations are met;
• Instigate and maintain connections to the broader high performance and medical sports stakeholder environment, both domestically and internationally;
• Initiate and foster relationships both domestically and internationally with leading practitioners and institutions that work in the soccer and broader sports performance space;
• Build and manage relationships with performance and medical leads at other women’s soccer and women’s sports leagues, ensuring a constant connection to industry innovations and best practice that is applicable to the NWSL.

What You Will Bring

Core Qualifications

• Advanced degree in a relevant field (e.g., PhD, DPT, ATC, or equivalent advanced clinical or sports science qualification)
• 8+ years of progressive experience in sports medicine, high performance, or athlete health leadership
• Demonstrated experience leading multidisciplinary teams in elite or professional sports environments
• Strong understanding of injury prevention, return-to-play frameworks, and performance integration
• Proven ability to develop policy, manage risk, and ensure compliance.
• Excellent communication, leadership, and organizational skills
• Willingness to travel (up to 20%) and work non-traditional hours, including evenings and weekends

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in women’s soccer
• Experience within professional leagues, national teams, or high-performance institutes
• Experience implementing sport science technologies and performance data systems
• Prior budget ownership and vendor negotiation experience

Our Investment in You

In addition to working in an incredible, inclusive, and committed-to-diversity culture, we offer:

• Competitive Compensation: $165,000 - $195,000 (Salary is contingent upon candidate qualifications and functional business needs).
• Time & Flexibility: Unlimited Paid Time Off (PTO), sick days, and an end-of-year office closure.
• Hybrid Work Model: Three days in-office and two remote days per week.
• Robust Health Coverage: Medical, Dental, Vision, and Mental Health benefits for employees and dependents.
• Financial Future: 401k with employer match and safe harbor contributions.
• Additional Perks: Commuter benefits, Short/Long-Term Disability, Life Insurance, and Voluntary Pet Insurance.

Commitment to Diversity and Inclusion

The NWSL is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer.

We celebrate diversity and are deeply committed to creating an inclusive and equitable environment for all employees. All employment decisions—including recruitment, hiring, placement, promotion, compensation, and termination—are made without regard to race, color, creed, religion, sex, pregnancy or childbirth, personal appearance, family responsibilities, sexual orientation or preference, gender identity, political affiliation, source of income, place of residence, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, age, marital status, military veteran status, unfavorable discharge from military service, physical or mental disability, or any other basis protected by applicable law.

If you need assistance or an accommodation during the application process due to a disability, you may contact us at careers@nwslsoccer.com.