What are the responsibilities and job description for the Technical Director - Houston Dash position at Houston Dash?
COMPANY BACKGROUND
The Houston Dynamo Football Club (HDFC) is a multi-faceted organization dedicated to inspiring and supporting soccer participation and growth in Houston, TX and beyond. The Club’s brands include men's and women's professional teams - the Houston Dynamo (MLS) and Houston Dash (NWSL), a development academy, Houston Dynamo Dash Charities, as well as Shell Energy Stadium and Houston Sports Park.
The Club has a rich history, including MLS Cup titles (2006, 2007) and in-season tournament championships for both the Dynamo (2018) and Dash (2020) and is focused on building toward the next championships, inspiring and uniting the city of Houston through the sport of soccer and community outreach, and creating the most inclusive sporting experience and diverse fan base in the city and state.
PURPOSE OF THE JOB
The Technical Director (TD) will drive the execution of our club’s soccer philosophy. They will support the vision of the club and player development. This person will report to the President of Soccer and work in tandem with Dash players, coaches, and the Director of Recruitment. The Technical Director will be accountable for developing the club’s strategic plan. Responsible for the implementation of player and coach development initiatives. The TD should be a collaborative leader who must work well in a team environment and will inspire, delegate, and motivate others. As a key leader in the club, the candidate will be looked upon for professionalism, mindfulness, organization, and good communication.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
The Houston Dynamo Football Club (HDFC) is a multi-faceted organization dedicated to inspiring and supporting soccer participation and growth in Houston, TX and beyond. The Club’s brands include men's and women's professional teams - the Houston Dynamo (MLS) and Houston Dash (NWSL), a development academy, Houston Dynamo Dash Charities, as well as Shell Energy Stadium and Houston Sports Park.
The Club has a rich history, including MLS Cup titles (2006, 2007) and in-season tournament championships for both the Dynamo (2018) and Dash (2020) and is focused on building toward the next championships, inspiring and uniting the city of Houston through the sport of soccer and community outreach, and creating the most inclusive sporting experience and diverse fan base in the city and state.
PURPOSE OF THE JOB
The Technical Director (TD) will drive the execution of our club’s soccer philosophy. They will support the vision of the club and player development. This person will report to the President of Soccer and work in tandem with Dash players, coaches, and the Director of Recruitment. The Technical Director will be accountable for developing the club’s strategic plan. Responsible for the implementation of player and coach development initiatives. The TD should be a collaborative leader who must work well in a team environment and will inspire, delegate, and motivate others. As a key leader in the club, the candidate will be looked upon for professionalism, mindfulness, organization, and good communication.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
- Collaborate with the Director of Recruitment and President of Soccer on the player recruitment process, including roster planning, scouting, and player evaluation.
- Oversee the integration of analytics into soccer decisions, including player profiles, talent identification, and performance tracking.
- Ensure positional profiles, playing style, and IDPs are clearly defined and aligned.
- Build an annual Technical Plan that aligns with the Club’s Strategic Plan and Values.
- Develop and implement a coach evaluation process that includes written assessments, interviews, feedback, specific recommendations for further development, and follow-up.
- Build and implement a development plan for each coach.
- Analyze and interpret information to share with the team and communicate with players as needed.
- Oversee a unified coaching philosophy, ensuring that training sessions at each level align with the club's overall playing identity.
- Recruit (as required) and retain qualified staff coaches.
- May conduct performance reviews and track the progress of Performance Metrics throughout the year.
- Other duties as assigned
QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
- Minimum of 5 years’ experience in high performance soccer programs and managing at a top-tier collegiate, professional club, or international level - required.
- Pro License or Advanced Coaching Credentials
- Experience in managing or working within an academy structure is highly preferred
- Ability to leverage and utilize an existing network to continue building community relationships
KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, ABILITIES, AND OTHER ATTRIBUTES
- Able to work non-traditional hours including evenings and weekends, and travel to away matches.
- Excellent organizational and leadership skills.
- Collaborative management style – advocate of team concepts.
- Positive influencer, comfortable with leading dynamic change.
- Available to work within and support a high-performance soccer organization.
- Excellent time management skills, dependability, professionalism, and attention to detail.
- Strong communication and interpersonal skills and the ability to work independently.
- Ability to work in a collaborative team environment.
- Maintains Organizational Core Competencies.
ORGANIZATIONAL CORE COMPETENCIES
- Accountable – Holds themselves (and when appropriate others) accountable for achieving goals and objectives.
- Collaborative – Works collaboratively with others to achieve organizational outcomes.
- Progressive – Open minded, accepting, creative, and innovative in approach.
- Values Driven – Being ethical in decision making and operating with professional integrity.
- Agile – Achieves personal and organizational success within a changing, dynamic and complex environment. Ability to handle ambiguity.
Additional Competencies for Leadership
- Strategic – Leads opportunity and is committed to continuous improvement aligned with the organizational vision and direction.
- Resilient – Demonstrates personal resilience within a demanding environment of high expectations.
- Enabling – Drives excellence through valuing and developing others.
- Business Acumen – Superior ability to understand and effectively navigate area of responsibility and various business scenarios.
- Good Judgment – Strong critical thinking skills and ability to exercise discretion and good judgement.
OTHER INFORMATION
Diverse candidates of all backgrounds are welcome, and the Club seeks individuals passionate about sport, inspiring the city and devoted to the organization's growth. While duties and responsibilities vary across positions, we are seeking individuals who are accountable, collaborative, progressive, agile and ethical/values driven.
We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
