Nike Performance Innovation Lead

About the role

This role is a newly created position within a new, strategically significant initiative backed by both the U.S. Soccer Federation and Nike, Inc.

Primary Responsibilities

• Operate across two interconnected domains: Applied Research and Practitioner Services
• Support the design and execution of applied research projects aligned with performance priorities, including data collection, analysis, and interpretation
• Develop and maintain a multi-year research agenda aligned with federation performance priorities and Nike’s innovation interests
• Identify cross-team performance patterns, developmental benchmarks, and evidence-based recommendations for coaching and performance staff
• Present findings to internal stakeholders, at professional conferences, and through peer reviewed publication
• Deliver biomechanical and performance science assessments to National Teams during training camps and residencies at the Arthur M. Blank National Training Center
• Support Integrated Performance Support and Sporting staff by providing evidence-informed insights contributing to training, loading, recovery, and performance optimization decisions
• Support select Nike-sponsored athletes from other sports who access the lab and campus, facilitating cross-sport data collection and innovation
• Contribute expertise to the design and delivery of U.S. Soccer's Female 360 health assessments and initiatives, supporting a holistic, athlete-centered approach to women's health and performance
• Drive the “campus-as-lab” vision: identify opportunities to instrument training environments, integrate technology into daily operations, and turn routine activities into data collection opportunities
• Evaluate emerging technologies, methodologies, and tools for potential integration into the lab and broader campus infrastructure
• Establish data governance, quality assurance, and athlete data privacy protocols for all research and assessment activities

Requirements

• Minimum Qualifications: Doctoral degree (PhD or equivalent) in Sport Science, Kinesiology, Biomechanics, Human Movement Science, Sport Physiology, or a closely related discipline
• Minimum of 8 years of combined experience in applied sport science research and elite sport performance support, including at least 3 years in a high-performance sport environment (e.g., professional club, national federation, institute of sport)
• Experience working across both men’s and women’s sport programs
• Demonstrated expertise in biomechanical assessment methodologies, including experience with force platforms, 3D motion capture, inertial measurement units, and/or pressure mapping systems
• A peer-reviewed publication record that reflects both scientific rigor and applied relevance
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with a demonstrated ability to translate complex scientific concepts for coaches, medical staff, and organizational leadership
• Ability to operate independently with minimal supervision while navigating a complex, multistakeholder organizational environment

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in elite football/soccer environments at the club or international level
• Familiarity with the demands and structures of national team programs, including athlete availability constraints and multi-team coordination
• Experience with longitudinal athlete monitoring and developmental tracking across age groups
• Experience working with advanced soccer tracking technologies, including player surface interaction technology
• Proficiency with data management platforms, statistical software, and visualization tools used in applied sport science