What are the responsibilities and job description for the Director, Football Information position at Detroit Lions?
ABOUT US:
The Lions, much like the city and community they represent, are built on a blue-collar work ethic that values hustle and conviction.
Ford Field, the home of the Lions since 2002 in the heart of Detroit, is part of a vibrant sports and entertainment district featuring all four major professional sports franchises. Ford Field is also home to a dedicated and passionate multi-generational fan base reflective of the innovation, creativity and drive synonymous with Detroit.
Under the leadership of Sheila Hamp, the great granddaughter of Henry Ford, the Lions have ushered in an era of rebirth focused on creating an inclusive and equitable experience for employees, partners and fans. Building off the rich and diverse history of the city, the Lions embrace transparency and value contribution from all areas of the organization. We believe in the power of a pride, and acknowledge winning together takes understanding, acceptance, and teamwork. We believe in our “we” culture and are committed to building a new tradition that Detroit and Michigan can be proud of.
One Pride. For All.
The Director, Football Information position leads and manages the Football Information team in evaluating league-wide trends and player-specific metrics. Directs the department’s data engineering, statistical software, machine learning and data visualization functions and special projects.
ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
The Director, Football Information position will have daily responsibilities including, without limitation, the following:
- Strategy and Communication
- Develop and execute football information strategy, including determining technology needs, developing software and applications, departmental coordination, team staffing, and calendar planning to inform club’s up-to-date understanding of league-wide trends and player performance.
- Communicate and present results with internal club stakeholders, providing global/big-picture trends as well as specific analytics responses to stakeholder questions and requests.
- Collaborate with internal stakeholders to establish strategic tracking and analytics needs. Work closely with the Director of Data Governance to ensure football data complies with all applicable policies and regulations.
- Direction and Management
- Lead a team of analysts to execute and utilize software and application development, data engineering, statistics, machine learning, data visualization, and special projects
- Manage, coordinate, and delegate duties and projects for data analysts, including multiple full-time staff and interns.
- Establish development plans for direct reports to continue technical skill education and development and direct the training on the club’s internal tools and data structures.
- Manage, delegate, and provide feedback on department projects prior to being delivered to stakeholders.
- Develop department staffing plans and oversee hiring and interview processes for all football information manager, data analyst, and intern roles.
- Coordinate with other departments to onboard and organize logistics for new hires.
- Business Analytics
- Collaborate with business analytics staff to establish synergies regarding data strategy, data analytics, data protection, technologies, and methodologies.
- Coordinate with internal stakeholders to contribute to internal working group’s execution of business and football strategies in current and future NFL Global Marketing Program locations (Germany/Austria/Switzerland, Brazil, Canada).
- Football Administration
- Work closely with club’s Football Administration team to support contract strategy , manage contract analysis and roster management tools.
- Direct the Football Information department in conducting research and analyses to assist the Football Administration staff in contract negotiations and strategy.
- Scouting
- Oversee the development of and weekly process to provide coaching staff and scouts with analytical reports assisting with in-season opponent preparation.
- Work closely with internal stakeholders to determine areas of focus for analysis.
- Oversee the development of systems, analyze, and present insights generated from third-party tracking data.
- Leverage datasets and direct the analysis of league, team, and player trends utilizing statistical software (e.g., Python, R, Stata) and machine learning.
- Design and assist in implementation and maintenance of algorithms and data engineering pipelines to facilitate the tracking and analysis of tendencies.
- Synthesize department findings and present to stakeholders to improve strategic decision-making, including data visualization.
- Player Performance
- Work closely with club’s Player Performance team to support the creation of data-driven athlete training programs.
- Coordinate with external vendors to determine specifications data intake processes and oversee the internal development of these data pipelines.
- Oversee the development of systems, analyze, and present insights generated from tracking data, including NFL Next Gen Stats, internal practice player tracking data, and third-party data.
- NFL Combine
- Meet with NFL and Detroit Lions’ analytics partners to discuss new products and address any current questions or issues
- Evaluate strategic benefits of existing partners and new potential partners.
NONESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:
- Will accept other responsibilities and duties required by the supervisor consistent with the
- objectives and essential functions of this position. Such responsibilities shall be incorporated into the position description if they are ongoing.
- Must be able to establish and communicate strategic direction for an analytics team
- Must be able to train and facilitate data analysis and modeling for an analytics team
- Must be motivated, reliable, and able to work independently or as part of a larger team of multiple stakeholders with varying levels of analytics and statistical backgrounds
- Maintain professionalism when communicating with internal and external contacts
- Must be accurate and efficient with ability to meet deadlines
- Must be detail oriented with strong organizational skills
- The ability to gather and analyze information skillfully and develop solutions quickly and effectively
- Will adjust work schedule to meet departmental demands
- Will keep appropriate information confidential
QUALIFICATIONS/REQUIREMENTS:
- Degree in computer science or relevant field, with additional coursework in statistics and machine learning
- Experience collaborating with and/or managing a diverse team of analytics, administration, and operations personnel
- Experience programing with various languages
- Experience in designing and implementing algorithms
- Experience with data transformation and database models
- Highly skilled in statistical software for data management and analysis
- Software development and data visualization skills
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills.
- Team-First mindset and approach in all duties and responsibilities
- Excellent interpersonal skills with ability to connect with, and relate to, all levels of staff, management, clients, and vendors.
- Ability to multi-task and effectively adjust to rapidly changing market and business conditions.
- Demonstrated work ethic with an innate sense of urgency and tenacity.
- Team oriented attitude, relationship building, professional demeanor and appearance.
- Strength in time management, administration, organization, and customer service.
- Ability to work a flexible schedule including nights, weekends and holidays
- On-site work at the Allen Park Training Facility and Ford Field in Detroit, Michigan required.
- English fluency required; fluency or working use of German, Portuguese, and/or French preferred.
- A valid Driver’s License and good driving record
TO APPLY:
To apply, please submit a copy of your resume along with a cover letter detailing your interest and related experience to the position.
Due to the high volume or resumes received, we regret that we are unable to update candidates on the status of their application. Those selected for further consideration will be contacted. Please no phone calls or emails.
