Executive Director of Soccer Development

About the Role

The Executive Director of Soccer Development provides strategic and operational leadership for YMCA soccer programs at the Emory Folmar YMCA Soccer Complex, including recreational soccer, competitive soccer club, camps, clinics, tournaments, adaptive soccer opportunities, and community outreach. The role is accountable for growing participation, strengthening the player development pathway, improving the participant and family experience, developing coaches and volunteers, building community partnerships, and ensuring programs operate with excellence, inclusion, financial discipline, and alignment with the YMCA mission. This position requires a highly visible presence at the complex and throughout the community, including practices, games, tournaments, camps, clinics, special events, schools, churches, daycare centers, youth organizations, and other partner settings. The Executive Director will work closely with the Vice-President of Athletics, branch leadership, coaches, volunteers, association leadership, and community partners to expand access, strengthen program quality, and advance the YMCA's mission and strategic goals. The successful candidate will demonstrate strong leadership, enthusiasm, professionalism, organizational skills, attention to detail, and the ability to communicate effectively with players, parents, coaches, volunteers, officials, staff, and community partners. In addition, every position within the YMCA of Greater Montgomery is responsible for upholding the Christian principles central to our mission by modeling behaviors that exemplify the four pillars of character: caring, honesty, respect, and responsibility.

Essential Functions

Soccer Program Operations

• Organize, administer, and oversee all YMCA recreational youth soccer programs, adult recreational soccer programs, and competitive soccer programs.
• Manage the administration of soccer programs, including player registration, tryouts, player recruitment, team formation, rosters, scheduling, uniforms, equipment, awards, referees, coaches' meetings, and communications.
• Develop and implement strategies to increase player participation, recruitment, retention, and overall program growth.
• Ensure programs are organized efficiently and provide participants and families with a high level of customer service and a positive experience.
• Maintain a regular presence at games, practices, tournaments, and other activities to evaluate program quality and effectiveness.
• Develop and support an effective Soccer Branch Board of Directors by engaging volunteers, strengthening committee work, advancing program priorities, and aligning board efforts with YMCA mission, growth, fundraising, and community impact goals.
• Work with YMCA staff to develop and implement marketing strategies and materials for recreational soccer, Competitive Soccer, camps, clinics, tournaments, and other soccer programs.
• Communicate positively, professionally, and effectively with players, parents, participants, coaches, volunteers, officials, staff, and community partners.
• Provide timely responses to emails, phone calls, registration questions, complaints, and requests for information.
• Create a welcoming, inclusive, and professional environment for all members, participants, families, coaches, and visitors.
• Build positive relationships with members and participants and consistently promote the YMCA mission.
• Prepare, manage, and monitor annual budgets for assigned recreational and competitive soccer programs within approved YMCA budget guidelines.
• Monitor program revenues and expenses to achieve established financial goals.
• Carry out all YMCA of Greater Montgomery policies and procedures related to management, administration, purchasing, and accounting.
• Recruit and secure team and program sponsorships for recreational soccer and Competitive Soccer.
• Support the YMCA Annual Campaign and other fundraising initiatives.

Recreational Soccer

• Organize and implement all recreational youth and mini-soccer programs, including team formation, rosters, game schedules, uniforms, awards, volunteer coaches, referees, coaches meetings, and coach training.
• Recruit, screen, train, schedule, support, and supervise volunteer recreational coaches and program volunteers.
• Develop educational resources and training opportunities for recreational coaches to improve the quality and consistency of the participant experience.
• Organize and oversee all adult recreational soccer programming.
• Conduct end-of-season evaluations and participant surveys to identify opportunities to improve recreational and competitive soccer programs.

Competitive Soccer and Player Development

• Direct and oversee all competitive soccer programming.
• Develop and maintain a club-wide player development philosophy and curriculum.
• Oversee player identification, evaluation, placement, recruitment, retention, and development within the competitive program.
• Organize and direct competitive tryouts and assist with the selection and formation of competitive teams.
• Recruit, hire, train, develop, evaluate, and supervise professional coaches.

Camps, Clinics and Community Outreach

• Create, direct, and lead YMCA and competitive summer and winter soccer camps, clinics, and other player development opportunities.
• Conduct soccer clinics and community outreach activities designed to introduce children and families to YMCA recreational and competitive soccer opportunities.
• Develop initiatives and partnerships that expand the reach of YMCA soccer throughout Montgomery and surrounding communities.

Performance Expectations

• Increase soccer participation, player recruitment, and family retention across recreational and competitive programs.
• Strengthen coach development, volunteer engagement, and consistency of the player and family experience.
• Achieve financial performance goals by managing revenue, expenses, sponsorships, fundraising, and program resources responsibly.
• Expand community partnerships, outreach opportunities, and alignment with YMCA mission and character values.

Safety and Risk Management

Safety and risk management responsibilities include maintaining a safe environment for participants, families, staff, volunteers, and visitors; ensuring compliance with YMCA policies and applicable program standards; supporting emergency preparedness; addressing facility or program concerns promptly; and communicating expectations clearly to coaches, officials, staff, and families.

YMCA Competencies

• Mission Advancement: Incorporates the Y's mission and values into the organization's vision and strategies. Ensures community engagement; promotes the global nature of the Y. Leads a culture of volunteerism ensuring engagement, inclusion, and ownership. Leads a culture of philanthropy.
• Collaboration: Advocates for and institutionalizes inclusion and diversity throughout the organization. Initiates the development of relationships with influential leaders to impact and strengthen the community. Is recognized as an inspirational community leader who navigates complex political and social circles with ease. Communicates to engage and inspire people within and outside the YMCA. Ensures that a talent management system is in place and executed effectively.
• Operational Effectiveness: Possesses penetrating insight and strong strategic and critical thinking skills. Invests resources in well-designed innovation initiatives. Creates a structure to deliver organization-wide results to achieve objectives. Develops and implements stewardship strategies. Determines benchmarks and ensures appropriate leadership to meet objectives.
• Personal Growth: Creates a learning organization. Effectively drives change by leveraging resources and creating alignment to expand organizational opportunities. Shares authority and demonstrates courage and humility. Has the functional and technical knowledge and skills required to perform well; uses best practices and demonstrates up-to-date knowledge and skills in technology.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in human services, recreation, business, social services, or equivalent experience.
• Five or more years of youth sports experience in the YMCA or another nonprofit preferred.
• Knowledge and experience in program development, including staff supervision and development, quality program design and implementation, volunteer engagement, facility and property management, and sound financial practices.
• Understanding of the mission and cause of the YMCA and the respective roles of volunteers and staff.
• Ability to relate effectively to diverse groups of people from all social and economic segments of the community; track record of building authentic, constructive relationships with others.
• Ability to manage multiple demands and priorities while achieving organizational objectives.
• YMCA Multi-Team Leader certification preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to lead with innovation, initiative, and sound judgment while developing programs, solving problems, and advancing organizational goals.
• USSF "D" License preferred.
• USSF "C" License preferred.
• Currently authorized to work in the U.S.

Required Certifications and Trainings

• Current or within 30 days of hire: CPR, First Aid and AED
• Mandatory YMCA Safety Trainings