Senior Manager, Soccer Analytics & Data Science

Overview

Major League Soccer's Business Insights & Analytics team is a centralized analytics function within Strategy & Business Intelligence, supporting League and Club decision-making through reporting, advanced analytics, data science, and actionable recommendations.

The group is seeking a Senior Manager, Soccer Analytics & Data Science to lead key sporting analytics workstreams within Business Insights & Analytics and serve as a senior analytics partner to Competition, Player Relations, Medical, and other sporting departments. This individual will independently lead major analytical workstreams, shape analytical priorities, and use soccer, player, roster, and competition data to inform strategic decisions and improve the League's sporting product.

The ideal candidate combines strong technical and analytical capabilities with deep soccer knowledge, intellectual curiosity, and the ability to translate complex findings into clear recommendations for senior stakeholders. This individual will serve as a trusted advisor, develop innovative analytical approaches, and help advance the League's use of data and technology across the sporting ecosystem.

Responsibilities

• Serve as a senior analytics partner to Competition, Player Relations, Medical, and other sporting stakeholders, shaping analytical priorities and leading data-driven recommendations on key League initiatives.
• Independently lead complex analytics and data science projects from problem definition and methodology development through analysis, interpretation, and presentation of recommendations to senior stakeholders.
• Leverage event, tracking, roster, financial, and other soccer-related data to evaluate player, club, and competition performance using advanced analytics, statistical methods, and data science techniques.
• Lead the evaluation of League roster rules and initiatives, assessing their impact on competitive performance, player investment, salaries, roster construction, player movement, and other relevant outcomes.
• Lead analysis of competition and rule changes and establish data-driven frameworks for tracking competitive, disciplinary, and officiating KPIs, including those related to the MLS Technical Analysis project and broader domestic and international competition benchmarking.
• Own the development and communication of relevant Pro Player Pathway data, reporting, and insights to support League efforts to understand and strengthen player development pathways.
• Lead and facilitate the Video, Analytics and Sports Science Subcommittee, serving as a knowledgeable custodian of League and Club interests and helping establish and advance priorities across these disciplines.
• Partner with Medical and other sporting stakeholders to identify and analyze relevant player availability, performance, and sports science trends and translate findings into actionable insights.
• Contribute to and help shape League policies and processes related to sporting data usage and governance, including the review and management of approved sporting technologies, third-party vendors, research initiatives, and related use cases.
• Represent Soccer Analytics & Data Science in partnership with Emerging Ventures, leading the sporting evaluation of Innovation Lab companies and advising on potential League and Club applications.
• Apply AI and machine learning to sporting analytics, including event, tracking and video analysis, predictive modeling, pattern identification, and automation of analytical workflows, while ensuring appropriate human oversight and data governance.
• Communicate complex analytical findings through clear, compelling narratives and actionable recommendations, while partnering with the Technology team and colleagues across Strategy & Business Intelligence to advance the data, tools, infrastructure, and processes supporting soccer analytics.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Sports Science, Mathematics, Statistics, Economics, Computer Science, Data Science, or a related quantitative field required.
• 7+ years of professional experience in quantitative analytics, data science, strategy, or a related analytical role; experience in soccer or professional sports strongly preferred.
• Strong understanding of soccer tactics, match analysis, competition structures, roster construction, player development, and the professional soccer ecosystem.
• Demonstrated experience working with event and tracking data, preferably within soccer.

Required Skills

• Proven track record of independently leading complex analytical workstreams and translating findings into actionable recommendations for senior stakeholders.
• Advanced proficiency in SQL and Python.
• Strong expertise in statistical analysis, quantitative methods, and the application of data science techniques to complex sporting or business questions.
• Ability to structure ambiguous problems, establish analytical methodologies, and drive projects from initial question through final recommendation with limited oversight.
• Strong soccer acumen and the ability to connect analytical findings to competition, roster construction, player development, and on-field performance.
• Advanced proficiency in Excel and proficiency with a business intelligence or data visualization tool such as Power BI or Tableau, as well as PowerPoint.
• Strong executive communication and presentation skills, with the ability to simplify complex concepts for technical and non-technical audiences.
• Superior project management, organizational, and stakeholder-management skills, with the ability to manage multiple high-priority workstreams simultaneously.
• High degree of intellectual curiosity, sound judgment, and a solutions-oriented mindset, with a demonstrated ability to develop new analytical approaches and challenge existing thinking. Strong interpersonal skills and ability to effectively communicate to a wide range of audiences, both written and verbally.
• Demonstrated decision making and problem-solving skills
• High attention to detail with the ability to multi-task and meet deadlines with minimal supervision
• Proficiency in Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook

Desired Skills

• Experience working in professional soccer, sports analytics, a club, league, federation, or other high-performance sports environment.
• Experience with competition analysis, player evaluation, roster modeling, player valuation, or player development.
• Experience evaluating the impact of policy, rule, or competition changes using statistical or causal inference methodologies.
• Experience with emerging AI applications in sports, including machine learning, computer vision/video analytics, generative AI, or AI-enabled sporting technologies.

Total Rewards

Major League Soccer offers a competitive starting base salary of $100,000 - $125,000, based on individual qualifications, market financials, and operational business needs. We are committed to providing a Total Rewards package that attracts, supports, engages, and retains talent. Our benefits package includes comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, a $500 wellness reimbursement, and generous Holiday and PTO schedule to promote work-life balance. We also prioritize career and professional development, offering on-the-job training, feedback, and ongoing educational opportunities. 

We believe in the power of in-person collaboration to fuel creativity, strengthen connections, and cultivate a vibrant workplace. As a result, employees are required to work from an MLS office at least four days a week. We understand the value of balance, so employees also have the flexibility of working remotely on Fridays, along with the option to take up to two additional remote flex days each month.

At Major League Soccer, we are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We value diversity and inclusion and believe that a diverse workforce enhances our ability to compete in the marketplace. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to all individuals regardless of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, pregnancy, age, national origin, disability status, genetic information, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. 

We are dedicated to ensuring that individuals with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodation throughout the job application or interview process, essential job functions, and other benefits and privileges of employment. If you require accommodation, please contact us to request it.

Join our team and be part of the Major League Soccer family, where we elevate the game and inspire greatness!