JOB SUMMARY
Established in 1999, Pittsburgh Riverhounds SC is Pennsylvania’s oldest professional soccer team and one of the longest-operating pro soccer teams in the United States. The team plays its home games at Highmark Stadium, which opened in 2013 as a team-owned, soccer-specific stadium in Pittsburgh’s South Shore neighborhood. The team is an original member of the USL Championship, which began play in 2011 and has grown to become the world’s largest second-division pro soccer league.
The Riverhounds Development Academy (RDA) serves more than 3,500 players across three locations and is supported by the club’s state-of-the-art training facility, which boasts an indoor field and two outdoor fields for year-round development. Together, these programs provide a clear pathway from youth soccer to professional opportunities.
The Riverhounds Development Academy is seeking a visionary, high-capacity Academy Executive Director to lead every aspect of the Academy’s technical, operational and business performance. Reporting directly to the Sporting Director and working in alignment with the President and Ownership, this role carries full executive responsibility for strategy, staff leadership, budget oversight, player development methodology, multi-site integration and long-term growth. The Academy Executive Director will unify all RDA locations under one identity, elevate standards across departments and continue building a development platform that meaningfully connects youth players to collegiate and professional pathways.
Responsibilities
Executive Leadership & Structure
- Own and execute the Academy’s multi-year strategic plan
- Establish clear organizational structure, reporting lines and decision rights
- Hire, evaluate and manage directors and key staff while building a culture of accountability and high performance - Implement measurable KPIs across technical, operational, recruiting, college placement and financial areas
- Maintain consistent reporting and alignment with senior club leadership
Technical Vision & Playing Identity
- Define, document and implement a clear Riverhounds playing methodology across all age groups and locations
- Align curriculum, periodization, training standards and match principles with first team pathways (Riverhounds and Riveters)
- Ensure consistent execution through training observation, evaluation cycles and quality control
- Standardize player evaluation, Individual Development Plans (IDPs) and meaningful video integration
- Establish clear developmental benchmarks from entry programming through elite competition
Player Pathway & Competitive Excellence
- Elevate performance standards across boys and girls programs competing at the highest national levels
- Lead a structured college recruitment program including family education, exposure strategy and outcome tracking - Identify and nurture high-potential players with individualized development plans
- Coordinate closely with first-team technical staff to ensure alignment of player profiles and readiness standards
- Strengthen and formalize the Academy-to-professional pathway
Coaching Leadership & Development
- Clearly define roles, expectations and success metrics for all directors and coaches
- Implement structured performance reviews and feedback systems
- Lead internal coach education aligned with club methodology
- Recruit and retain high-level coaching talent across all sites
Growth, Recruitment & Market Leadership
- Drive strategic expansion of satellites, leagues, camps, clinics and tournaments
- Oversee the continued growth and elevation of RDA tournaments including competitive quality, operational excellence, branding and profitability
- Develop tournaments as a key revenue driver and national brand touchpoint for the Academy
- Build and execute a comprehensive talent identification strategy across the Pittsburgh market, regionally, nationally and internationally as appropriate
- Strengthen relationships with partner clubs and community stakeholders
- Position RDA as one of the leading youth development platforms in the country
Operations & Financial Stewardship
- Oversee scheduling, league compliance, travel standards, tournament logistics and equipment management
- Establish high standards for family communication, responsiveness and transparency
- Ensure a consistent “one club” experience across all locations - Own budget development, forecasting and financial reporting with fiscal discipline and transparency
- Support sustainable revenue growth while maintaining scholarship access aligned with club values
Community & Brand Alignment
- Oversee key partnerships including scholarship initiatives and Boys & Girls Club collaboration
- Grow and professionalize community programming such as RISE and Sub In For Gym Class
- Partner with the club’s marketing department to elevate Academy visibility and highlight development outcomes including tournaments and pathway success
Technology & Data Strategy
- Lead the integration and strategic use of modern performance and player development technologies including video analysis, player tracking platforms, and digital evaluation tools.
- Implement data-informed player evaluation systems that combine technical assessment, physical metrics, match analytics and video to support more objective development planning and scouting decisions.
- Utilize technology platforms to standardize player reporting, Individual Development Plans (IDPs), and longitudinal tracking of player progress across all Academy locations.
- Leverage data insights to support recruiting strategy, competitive analysis, and identification of high-potential players across the region and beyond.
- Partner with club leadership to evaluate emerging technologies in youth development, sports science, and performance analysis to keep RDA at the forefront of modern academy environments.
Qualifications and Experience:
- 8+ years of progressive leadership experience in elite youth soccer or comparable high-performance environments
- Proven experience managing multi-team programs with staff oversight and budget responsibility
- Experience overseeing tournaments, large-scale events or revenue-generating soccer programming
- Background in MLS NEXT, ECNL, GA or equivalent elite platforms
- Strong business acumen with demonstrated program growth experience
- USSF A License preferred or equivalent
- A strategic and decisive leader who builds structure, enforces standards and inspires alignment
Why This Role Matters?
This is not a maintenance position. It is an opportunity to lead a fully integrated, multi-site Academy within a professional club environment and shape the next era of growth, competitive excellence and pathway impact.
The right leader will build clarity, raise standards and strengthen identity while positioning the Riverhounds Development Academy as one of the leading youth development platforms in the country, recognized for competitive success, organizational excellence and a meaningful pathway to collegiate and professional opportunities.
This is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all skills, duties, requirements, or working conditions associated with the job. While this is intended to be an accurate reflection of the current job, management reserves the right to revise the job when circumstances change.
We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
www.riverhounds.com
