MLS Go League Director

Job Title: MLS Go League Director (Youth Soccer)

Region Being Hired For: Wisconsin Fox Valley Area (Appleton, Green Bay, Oshkosh)

IMPORTANT NOTES ABOUT THE POSITION:

• This is a full-time salaried position
• The position is hybrid remote in-person.
• Admin/clerical work can be performed remotely
• However, certain meetings, trainings, and logistical duties will require in-person availability throughout the Fox Valley (Appleton, Green Bay, Oshkosh).
• Your weekly and daily schedule can be somewhat flexible, however when league seasons are in session (8-Week Seasons in Spring Fall) some weekend mornings and some weeknights will be required.
• Tremendous opportunity for compensation growth for successful performance.

Company Overview: Playpen Sports Academy is a youth sports company with a mission to disrupt the youth sports industry by promoting increased access for families of all income levels, encouraging participation from young athletes of all skill levels, fostering play-based learning, and prioritizing "whole-person" development over competition. With a remarkable growth trajectory, Playpen has expanded from 8 locations to operating in 47 cities across Wisconsin, Illinois, and Indiana within just 4 years. Our core classes are focused on ages 2-6 across a wide variety of sports, however we are now expanding with programs for kids up to the age of 14.

Context On Our MLS Go Partnership: Playpen Sports Academy has recently established a partnership with MLS Go to operate a number of youth soccer leagues (ages 4-14) throughout our 47 locations. This will start by initially rolling out leagues in Appleton, Green Bay and Oshkosh, and then upon successful execution of these initial locations, we will plan to continue rolling out additional locations across Wisconsin, Illinois and Indiana. This is a new partnership, and the role we are hiring for will be the main person in charge of overseeing the successful roll out of these new leagues.

Why Join Us:

• Flexibility: We value work-life balance, offering remote work opportunities, flexible hours, and a high level of autonomy.
• Growth and Learning Opportunities (Personal/Professional): We are looking for someone to grow with us over the next couple of years as we continue to expand our reach throughout the Midwest and eventually the entire US.
• Purpose-driven Work: Committed to shaping the future of accessible and inclusive youth sports opportunities and making a positive impact on young athletes and their families.
• Strong Company Culture: Collaborative and team-based, where every person plays a key role in our success.

Job Description: We are seeking a motivated and dedicated League Director to oversee the roll out of our new partnership with MLS Go youth soccer leagues in the Fox Valley in the Fall of 2025 and eventually the rest of our 47 locations throughout WI, IL, and IN starting in 2026. As our MLS Go League Director, on behalf of Playpen Sports Academy you will collaborate with MLS Go staff and community partners to ensure the smooth deployment and operation of our new MLS Go leagues in the Fox Valley. You will do so while upholding the participation experience standards of MLS Go, actively contributing to growing registration numbers within each league, as well as expanding our geographic footprint of these leagues throughout the midwest.

During the initial rollout of the Fox Valley based leagues (Appleton, Green Bay, and Oshkosh), you will be taking a more hands on approach in developing and deploying the framework of all league operations. Once you have successfully developed and deployed the framework of the initial leagues, your job will then become focused less on daily operation of these leagues and more focused on scaling and expanding these leagues to our 40 other midwest locations. This means being able to manage others who will deploy and operate these leagues in their respective locations.

YOUR ROLE WILL INVOLVE:

• Business Development & Operational Planning:
• Developing Community Partnerships: Seeking out and fostering relationships with various community partners such as school districts, park districts, local businesses and other public and private organizations.
• Developing Operational Framework: Working with Playpen Sports colleagues to develop and outline the logistical strategies for operating the leagues (who, what, when, where, how).
• Operational/Organizational/Logistical Duties:
• Site Visits: Quality control during classes, logistical visits, and field safety checks.
• Trainings and Events: Lead community events, research, and parent communications.
• Equipment & Apparel Distribution: Travel for delivery, inventory management, and security.
• Team Communication: Attend meetings, use group chats, and provide detailed reports.
• Hiring/Staffing: Develop relationships, recruit and train coaches, and ensure onboarding success.
• Management & Leadership Duties:
• Coach Onboarding & Scheduling: Efficient scheduling, conflict resolution, and problem-solving.
• Timekeeping & Attendance: Manage time, attendance, and collaborate with payroll.
• Coach Training & Communication: Lead training, maintain communication, and provide leadership.
• Leadership of Coaches, Refs & League Staff: Directly supervise, guide, and set an example.
• Growth of Region/Targets Duties:
• Community Events/Customer Engagement: Attend events, achieve goals, and recruit families.
• Customer Representation and Satisfaction: Present a positive image, ensure satisfaction, seek feedback, and encourage positive reviews.

Qualifications:

• Previous experience in sports management, operational management, customer service, and/or related fields.
• Effective follow through and execution of projects.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Strong organizational and problem-solving abilities.
• Proven leadership experience.
• Ability to work independently and remotely.
• Comfortable with common operating systems and technology platforms.
• Passionate about youth sports

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in a relevant field preferred.
• Valid driver's license and access to reliable transportation.
• English speaking.
• Ability to work from home/reliable wifi source.
• Located in the Fox Valley (Wisconsin)

Ideal But Not Required:

• Some sort of background or foundational knowledge in soccer.

Work Type: The role is hybrid remote in-person. Allowing you to work from home, but it also requires regular in-person meeting and local travel (Appleton, Green Bay, Oshkosh). Full-time/employee.

Compensation and Benefits: This position offers a competitive salary with incentive pay ($42k - $65k/year in year 1).

• Base Pay: $30k-40k/year based on experience.
• Incentive Pay:
• Year 1: Expected at $10k-25k/year (potentially more) for strong performance and meeting/exceeding growth targets.
• Year 2: Expected at $20k-40k/year (potentially more) for strong performance and meeting/exceeding growth targets.
• Note on Incentives: Due to the large number of currently operating Playpen Sports locations and our agreement with MLS Go to expand our MLS Go league footprint quickly over the next 2-3 years, there is tremendous growth potential that could result in compensation reasonably expected to exceed 6-figures annually within 5-years for successful execution.
• Additional Benefits Include:
• Monthly health insurance stipend
• Flexible schedule
• Fourteen (14) paid personal days each year
• Employee discounts

Exciting Work: Join us if you are passionate about youth sports, committed to inclusion and development, and thrive in a dynamic and growing environment.

To apply, please submit your resume and a cover letter highlighting your relevant experience and why you are interested in this role.

Please Note: Base pay and salary structure are somewhat negotiable within this range, however, please don’t apply if you are unsatisfied with this range and are hoping to negotiate anything beyond it. If interested, please send your resume as well as a cover letter outlining your interest in this role and why you think you would be a good candidate.

Job Types: Full-time, Contract

Pay: $42,000.00 - $65,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• Employee discount
• Flexible schedule
• Health insurance
• Paid time off

Compensation Package:

• Commission pay
• Quarterly bonus
• Yearly pay

Schedule:

• Weekends as needed

Application Question(s):

• Do you have any background in youth sports?
• Are you well acquainted with the basic rules of soccer?
• What sort of Operations Management experience do you have that would be relevant for league director?
• Do you have any business development / sales experience?
• Do you have any leadership experience?

Education:

• Bachelor's (Preferred)

Experience:

• Operations Management: 1 year (Preferred)

Ability to Commute:

• Appleton, WI 54911 (Required)

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Appleton, WI 54911

Salary : $10,000 - $25,000