Director of CFII & Academy Team Operations

There has never been a more exciting time to join Chicago Fire FC.

As one of Major League Soccer's original clubs, Chicago Fire FC is in the midst of an exciting era fueled by tremendous investment, ambition, and growth. With a new $100M state-of-the-art Endeavor Health Performance Center now open, new offices in Chicago's iconic Wrigley Building, and plans underway for a privately-funded $750M+ soccer-specific stadium set to open in 2028 in the heart of Chicago, the Club is building the future of soccer in one of the world's great sports cities.

Chicago Fire FC is becoming a cultural force in Chicago by connecting communities, shaping experiences, and creating new ways for fans to engage with the game and the city. The Club's future home, McDonald’s Park, will anchor Chicago's newest neighborhood and serve as a catalyst of growth for the next chapter of professional sports and entertainment in the city.

Joining Chicago Fire FC today means joining an organization on the rise. Our growth creates once-in-a-lifetime opportunities for ambitious professionals to generate meaningful impact and help shape the future of our Club. Whether on the pitch working match day or in the front office, every team member plays a role in building something incredibly special.

If you're looking for a place where your work will matter, your ideas will be heard, and your career can grow alongside one of the most ambitious projects in professional sports, we'd love to hear from you.

Position Overview

The Director of Fire II & Academy Team Operations is responsible for the daily team operations supporting the club's MLS NEXT Pro (MLSNP) Fire II team and Academy teams. This role ensures that players, coaches, and staff across the player pathway have everything they need to train, compete, and develop in a world-class environment. They should be able to proactively address operational issues before they arise and build scalable systems / processes across several age groups to best support Fire II & the Academy’s player development priorities.

Job Responsibilities

• Contribute to the overall vision, mission, and values of Chicago Fire FC.
• Oversee all logistics for Fire II (MLS NEXT Pro) & Academy team operations, including (1) daily operations at the training facility, (2) home games, and (3) away games (incl. air & ground travel, hotels, meals, per diems, and itinerary management for preseason, regular season, and domestic and international tournaments).
• Serves as the connector between Fire II & Academy departments to ensure smooth operations and that everyone has the support they need to be successful: technical staff, player wellness staff (medical, physical, nutrition, mindset), facilities staff, first team staff, etc.
• Directly manage the Fire II & Academy team administrators, providing daily oversight, supporting their performance, and investing in their development.
• Manage Fire II operational budget and support Academy Director in management of Academy operational budget, tracking against forecast and giving regular updates to General Manager.
• Ensure that the Academy & Fire II team operations department’s standards, templates, and processes are in alignment with the First Team and introduce new ideas to continue to elevate and streamline while working closely with General Manager.
• Manage external operational relationships: bus companies, airport contacts, hotels, tournament organizers, etc.
• Support Academy Director with execution of family communication logistics
• Support Academy Director with execution of any homestay or player assistance needs (e.g. transportation assistance)
• Collaborate with Head of Player Wellbeing & Academy Director to ensure execution of safeguarding processes surrounding minors (e.g. SafeSport, travel policies for minors, international trip checklists)
• Serve as primary point of contact with MLS NEXT Pro league office on operational, scheduling, and compliance matters
• Ensure full compliance and registration with MLS NEXT, US Soccer, and any state / local regulatory needs
• Maintain the highest levels of confidentiality and professionalism at all times

Required Qualifications

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in team operations, ideally within professional MLS NEXT Pro, MLS Academy, or a comparable pro / youth pathway environment.
• Demonstrated experience managing complex team travel logistics (domestic and, ideally, international).
• Proven budget management experience.
• Prior experience directly managing staff, including setting priorities, conducting performance reviews, and developing direct reports.
• Excellent organizational, project management, and vendor negotiation skills.
• Experience working within MLS, MLS NEXT Pro, or MLS NEXT, with familiarity with league operational and compliance standards.
• Experience managing multiple age-group programs simultaneously.
• Experience with team management software/platforms (e.g., Teamworks).
• Ability to work nights, weekends, and holidays aligned with team training and competition schedules.
• Conversational Spanish language fluency preferred.

Compensation

• This role offers a salary of up to $70,000.00.
• Final salary is determined by carefully considering the applicant's background, experience, and qualifications. Base pay may vary significantly based on geographic location, job-specific knowledge, skills, and overall experience. This role is classified as Full-time, exempt.
• This role is bonus eligible based on Club-wide goals.
• Additional benefits & perks:

Please Note

Chicago Fire FC is committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving a culture of diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion. Our diversity initiatives start with the recruitment and selection process; therefore, we’d like to welcome all diverse candidates to apply to opportunities within our Club.

CFFC is committed to providing equal employment opportunity and maintaining a workplace for employees and applicants for employment that is free from discrimination. The Company does not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, citizenship, age, veteran or military status, disability, sexual orientation, sexual orientation or expression, marital status or any other characteristic protected by law. This policy governs all aspects of employment, including hiring, promotion, compensation, discipline, termination, and access to benefits and training.

If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process, please contact the People and Culture Department at [email protected] to let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.

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