VP, Safeguarding

U.S. Soccer Overview

For a complete understanding of this opportunity, and what will be required to be a successful applicant, read on.

We are U.S. Soccer and we are the future of sport in the United States. Our mission is to make soccer the preeminent sport in the United States. We embrace diversity, technology and global connections to drive the growth of our sport and serve our athletes and fans. We seek motivated, passionate, skilled people who can think, create and work on a team.

U.S. Soccer is a growing company that looks for team members to grow with it. U.S. Soccer offers a comprehensive compensation package, fun work environment, an inclusive culture and an atmosphere for professional development.

The Federation's core principles set organization-wide standards to identify and foster our culture and inform how we interact and hold each other accountable. These principles guide U.S. Soccer : We Win Together. We Aim High. We Champion Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. To be successful as a USSF employee, it is critical to demonstrate and live up to these principles every day and with every interaction with peers, stakeholders, and partners.

The Federation's core values are the individual attributes and characteristics that staff embody to uphold the organization's principles and succeed. These values guide our employees : Integrity. Commitment. Teamwork. Respect.

Position Description

The VP, Safeguarding is responsible for player and participant safety matters related to abuse reporting, and response across the U.S. Soccer grassroots and professional landscape. They will shape policy and develop a strategy to monitor player safety and enforce the code of conduct and be a key stakeholder in Federation efforts on prevention and education. The VP, Safeguarding will strive to ensure that soccer in the United States is a safe, enjoyable, and inclusive sport for all participants. Player and participant safeguarding includes, but is not limited to, protection against misconduct including, but not limited to physical, sexual, and emotional abuse, neglect, and retaliation. The VP, Safeguarding is also responsible for abuse prevention, including policy, standards, compliance, and education across the U.S Soccer grassroots and professional landscape. This position reports to the Chief Legal Officer.

Primary Responsibilities

• Reports to staff, the executive team, and the board of directors on matters regarding player and participant abuse, as well as abuse reporting and response.
• Leads U.S. Soccer Federation's safeguarding reporting and response policy and process.
• Supports the delivery of all aspects of the U.S. Soccer safeguarding strategy.
• Collaborates with and supports U.S. Soccer's organization members, such as its professional leagues (NWSL, MLS, USL, etc.), state associations, and national associations, on reporting and response standards, abuse prevention measures, mitigation of risk, and implementation of safeguarding best practices.
• Assists in the enforcement of safeguarding elements of the Professional League Standards.
• Serves as the reporting and response subject matter expert and resource for U.S. Soccer organization members and their safeguarding staff.
• Partner to Safe Soccer Clearance product operations.
• Works closely with regulatory and governing bodies, including FIFA, USOPC, the U.S. Center for SafeSport, and state and federal agencies on safeguarding matters and ensures U.S. Soccer meets all relevant compliance requirements.
• Supports U.S. Soccer's relationship with the U.S. Center for SafeSport in response and resolution of reports, and audit and compliance.
• Oversees our abuse and misconduct report intake on U.S. Soccer’s reporting platforms.
• Gathers and analyzes data regarding reports of abuse to inform compliance efforts and educational programs.
• Advises on the allocation of safeguarding resources.
• Supports investigation and resolution of reports of prohibited conduct by the Human Resources Department against participants in U.S. Soccer programs.
• Maintains an awareness of national and international safeguarding issues that impact the soccer environment.
• Engages in regular training, public advocacy and professional development to enhance safeguarding knowledge and practice.
• Collaborates on the creation and implementation of U.S. Soccer Federation's safeguarding prevention and education materials and ensuring that policies meet U.S. Center for SafeSport and U.S. Olympic and Paralympic Committee requirements.
• Supports the delivery of U.S. Soccer safeguarding education and training.
• Develops updated U.S. Soccer policies and procedures to aid with the prevention of abuse in partnership with the Safeguarding education and prevention team.
• Supports the education of member organizations and participants on U.S. Soccer Federation required safeguarding standards.
• Drives the approach to promote fun, inclusive, and safe soccer environments for all.

Minimum Qualifications

Desired Qualifications

U.S. Soccer is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity, equity and inclusion, and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any kind on the basis of race, color, sex, religion, national origin, citizenship, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, genetic information, military status, political belief, or any other characteristic protected under the law. This policy applies to all our employment practices within our organization.

We strongly encourage women, people of color, LGBTQIA, veterans, parents, and persons with disabilities to apply.

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