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 is 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 U.S.
U.S. Soccer is in a period of significant growth, with ambitions plans for U.S. 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 Director of Refereeing Education & Development is a senior leader within U.S. Soccer’s Referee Program, responsible for shaping and delivering the referee education strategy nationwide. This role ensures the delivery of high-quality learning experiences across all stages of a referee’s journey.
Working closely with the Vice President of Refereeing and the Director of Refereeing Strategy & Operations, the Director plays a central role in strengthening both the quality and quantity of referees across the country. The successful candidate will be a natural leader with the ability to connect meaningly with referees at every level – from grassroots to FIFA – and will represent the U.S. Soccer’s commitment to building a strong, consistent and supportive referee development ecosystem.
This role also guides the creation and implementation of content aligned with the U.S. Refereeing Way — our approach to how the game should be officiated in the United States — and ensures alignment between education strategy and the professional pathway, including close collaboration with PRO. As U.S. Soccer continues to invest in modernizing its referee infrastructure, this leader must be comfortable leveraging technology to enhance learning, streamline processes, and help transform referee development across all pathways.
Primary Responsibilities
- Lead the development and ongoing implementation of the U.S. Refereeing Way across all referee education content and materials.
- Oversees develop of technical and instructional materials for National Referee Camps and National Referee Coach Camps, ensuring consistency and quality across delivery.
- Design, manage, and enhance the Referee Talent Identification (RTID) program, including oversight of national tracking systems and future development academies.
- Provide strategic leadership on improvements to the Referee, Assignor, and Referee Coach licensing pathways, including course content, progression, and assessment.
- Ensure the quality and consistency of all licensed referee education courses, maintaining instructional standards and learning outcomes.
- Develop and maintain educational content that supports referees at all levels — from new grassroots officials to regional and national referees — with an emphasis on accessible, relevant, and ongoing education throughout a referee’s career.
- Collaborate with PRO to ensure U.S. Soccer’s referee education strategy aligns with the professional pathway.
- Support the development and implementation of digital learning tools and platforms, including US Soccer RED, in close collaboration with U.S. Soccer’s Product Team and the Senior Manager of Refereeing Technology & Platforms, ensuring technology supports scalable, user-friendly, and effective referee education.
- Use data and stakeholder feedback to assess program impact and guide future improvements.
- Supervise and support Education & Development team members, fostering a culture of excellence, collaboration, and innovation.
Requirements
Minimum Qualifications
- B.S./B.A. from an accredited college or university required
- Minimum 6–10 years of experience in a senior role supporting referee development
- Deep technical expertise in refereeing and referee education
- Comfortable with technology and digital tools, with a forward-thinking mindset to support innovation across referee education, evaluation, and program delivery
- Collaborative and passionate about advancing the refereeing community
- Strong and empathetic leader with a proven ability to build high-performing teams and foster a welcoming, respectful, and growth-oriented environment for both referees and colleagues
- Demonstrated experience building scalable education programs aligned with strategic goals
- Skilled at planning and managing complex projects and timelines
- Effective problem solver with sound judgment and adaptability
- Thrives in fast-paced and dynamic environments
- Excellent written, verbal, and presentation communication skills
- Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook)
Desired Qualifications
- Former referee with significant match experience at the national, professional or international level
- Experience developing referee education content or leading national training events
- Familiarity with referee development systems in the U.S. or another national federation
- Understanding of the referee pathway from grassroots to the professional level, including collaboration with professional referee organizations (e.g., PRO)
- Experience working with learning management systems (LMS), digital evaluation tools, or online education platforms
- Spanish or other second-language proficiency a plus
U.S. Soccer offers a comprehensive compensation package, casual work environment, an inclusive culture, and an atmosphere for professional development.
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.
