VP of Youth Development
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NCAA Olympic & Youth Sports League – Build the Future of Olympic Sports
About Us
We are launching a transformational professional and youth sports league with $2.5 billion in equity capital being raised. Our mission is to revolutionize Olympic sports in America by creating a sustainable ecosystem that spans professional competition, comprehensive youth development, and world-class infrastructure.
Our Scope & Scale:
- School Partnerships: Licensing NCAA Division I brands from 50 schools in Year 1, scaling to 300 schools by Year 6
- Sports Coverage: 12 Olympic sports (soccer, volleyball, lacrosse, hockey, baseball, softball, and more)
- Geographic Reach: 4 regions, 200+ teams competing across the United States
- Youth Participants: 500,000+ athletes from Grassroots (U10) through U23
- Professional Integration: U17-U23 age groups travel with professional teams
- Season: Year-round programming with competitive season mid-August through mid-May
- Development Pathway: Comprehensive pathway from grassroots to Olympic competition
The Youth Development Opportunity:
- Participation Scale: 500,000+ youth athletes across all age groups and sports
- Age Groups: Grassroots (walking to U10), U11, U12, U13, U14, U15, U16, U17, U18, U19, U21, U23
- Revenue Impact: $1.5B+ in annual participation revenue at scale (avg $3,000 per athlete per year)
- Geographic Reach: Programs in all 50 states tied to 300 school brands
- Coaching Network: 15,000+ youth coaches across all programs
- Development Model: Elite pathway connecting youth development to professional and Olympic competition
- Family Engagement: Programs serving 500K+ athletes and their families (1.5M+ total stakeholders)
- Facility Access: World-class training facilities at 300 school campuses
- Competitive Structure: Local, regional, and national competition opportunities
- College Pathway: Clear pathway to NCAA Division I programs
This is the most ambitious youth sports development initiative in history—creating sustainable infrastructure for Olympic sports from grassroots to elite.
Position Overview
The VP of Youth Development will be the senior executive responsible for all youth programming, athlete development pathways, coaching education, tournaments, and family engagement across all age groups and sports. Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer, you will be the architect of youth sports excellence—creating programs that develop 500,000+ young athletes while generating $1.5B+ in annual revenue.
This role requires a unique combination of youth sports expertise, program development experience, large-scale operations management, and the ability to build systems that serve hundreds of thousands of athletes and families.
Compensation Package: $900,000 total compensation
- Base Salary: $525,000
- Performance Bonus: $175,000 (target, tied to enrollment, retention, and quality metrics)
- Equity Grant: $200,000 annually (vesting over 4 years)
Key Responsibilities
1. Youth Development Strategy & Vision
- Strategic Vision: Develop and execute comprehensive youth development strategy across all sports and age groups
- Development Philosophy: Establish philosophy that balances:
- Athlete Development: Long-term athlete development over short-term winning
- Age-Appropriate: Developmentally appropriate training and competition
- Multi-Sport: Encourage multi-sport participation at younger ages
- Fun & Engagement: Keep sports fun and engaging to maximize retention
- Skill Development: Focus on fundamental skills and movement competencies
- Pathway to Elite: Create clear pathway to professional and Olympic levels
- Program Structure: Design comprehensive program structure
- Grassroots (Walking-U10): Introduction to sports, fundamental movement skills
- Development (U11-U14): Skill development, multiple sports, local competition
- Competitive (U15-U16): More specialized training, regional competition
- Elite (U17-U23): High-performance training, travel with professional teams, college recruiting
- Enrollment Targets:
- Year 1: 100,000 youth athletes enrolled
- Year 2: 200,000 youth athletes
- Year 3: 300,000 youth athletes
- Year 4: 400,000 youth athletes
- Year 5: 450,000 youth athletes
- Year 6: 500,000+ youth athletes
- Revenue Targets: $1.5B+ annual participation revenue at scale
2. Age Group Program Development
- Grassroots Programs (Walking-U10): Entry-level programs for youngest athletes
- Philosophy: Fun, inclusive, multi-sport introduction
- Activities: Games-based learning, fundamental movement skills
- Duration: 8-12 week sessions, 1-2 sessions per week
- Competition: No formal competition, internal showcases
- Pricing: $500-$800 per session
- Target Enrollment: 50,000+ athletes
- Development Programs (U11-U14): Core development programs
- Philosophy: Skill acquisition, tactical understanding, love of sport
- Training: 2-3 sessions per week during season
- Competition: Local and regional competitions, weekend tournaments
- Multi-Sport: Encourage participation in multiple sports
- Pricing: $2,000-$2,500 per year
- Target Enrollment: 200,000+ athletes
- Competitive Programs (U15-U16): Competitive training and competition
- Philosophy: Sport specialization, competitive excellence, college preparation
- Training: 3-4 sessions per week, year-round programming
- Competition: Regional and national competitions, showcase tournaments
- College Exposure: Recruiting showcases and college coach access
- Pricing: $3,000-$4,000 per year
- Target Enrollment: 150,000+ athletes
- Elite Programs (U17-U23): High-performance pathway
- Philosophy: Professional preparation, Olympic development, college recruiting
- Training: Daily training sessions, integrated with professional teams
- Competition: Travel with professional teams, elite tournaments
- Support Services: Sports medicine, strength & conditioning, nutrition, sport psychology
- Pricing: $4,000-$6,000 per year (some scholarship support)
- Target Enrollment: 100,000+ athletes
3. Sport-Specific Development Programs
- Youth Sport Directors: Lead Youth Sport Directors for each of 12 sports
- Report into VP of Youth Development
- Design sport-specific curriculum and development pathways
- Coordinate with professional Sport Directors on integration
- Manage youth coaches in their sport
- Oversee youth competitions and tournaments
- Sport-Specific Curricula: Develop comprehensive training curricula for each sport
- Age-appropriate progressions
- Technical skills development
- Tactical understanding
- Physical development
- Mental skills
- Video resources and coaching guides
- Long-Term Athlete Development (LTAD): Sport-specific LTAD models
- Based on international best practices
- Aligned with national governing body frameworks
- Clear competency markers at each age group
- Individualized development tracking
4. Coaching Education & Development
- Coaching Network: Build and support network of 15,000+ youth coaches
- Coach Recruitment: Recruit qualified youth coaches
- Former college athletes and coaches
- Certified club coaches
- Teachers and educators with sports background
- Parent-coaches (with proper training)
- Background checks and SafeSport certification (100% required)
- Coaching Education: Comprehensive coaching education program
- Entry Level: Introduction to coaching, child development, safety
- Development Level: Sport-specific skills, session planning, communication
- Advanced Level: Tactical coaching, periodization, athlete psychology
- Elite Level: High-performance coaching, talent identification, college recruiting
- Certification Program: League coaching certification program
- Partnerships with national governing bodies (US Soccer, USA Volleyball, etc.)
- Online learning modules
- In-person workshops and clinics
- Practical assessments
- Continuing education requirements
- Coach Support: Resources and support for coaching excellence
- Practice plans and session templates
- Video library of drills and activities
- Communication tools for parents
- Performance tracking tools
- Mentorship programs
- Coach Compensation: Competitive compensation for quality coaches
- Hourly rates or seasonal stipends
- Performance bonuses based on athlete development and retention
- Professional development funding
5. Youth Tournaments & Competition
- Competition Calendar: Comprehensive competition calendar across all age groups
- Local Competition: Weekend local competitions (U11-U14)
- Games against nearby teams
- Minimize travel for younger athletes
- Focus on development over results
- Regional Competition: Regional tournaments (U15-U16)
- Monthly or bi-monthly regional events
- Exposure to different competition
- College coach attendance at older age groups
- National Competition: National championships and showcases (U15-U23)
- Annual national championships for each age group
- Showcase tournaments with college coach attendance
- Elite tournaments with national team scouts
- Integration with Pro Competition: U17-U23 travel with professional teams
- Game before or after professional games
- Shared travel and logistics
- Exposure to professional environment
- Mentorship from professional athletes
- Tournament Operations: Professional tournament operations
- Venue coordination and setup
- Scheduling and bracketing
- Officiating and game administration
- Live streaming and statistics
- Awards and recognition
6. Player Identification & Development Tracking
- Talent Identification: Systematic talent identification process
- Player Development Platform: Technology platform tracking athlete development
- Individual athlete profiles
- Skills assessments and evaluations
- Training attendance and participation
- Competition performance and statistics
- Video highlights and analysis
- Injury history and medical records
- Coach feedback and recommendations
- Assessment Framework: Regular player assessments
- Physical assessments (speed, strength, agility, endurance)
- Technical assessments (sport-specific skills)
- Tactical assessments (game understanding)
- Psychological assessments (mental skills, coachability)
- Development Plans: Individualized development plans
- Strengths and areas for improvement
- Goals and action steps
- Recommended training focus
- Pathway to next level
- College Recruiting Support: Support for college-bound athletes (U15+)
- Recruiting profile creation
- Highlight video production
- College coach communication
- NCAA eligibility guidance
- Campus visit coordination
7. Family Engagement & Parent Education
- Family Experience: Create exceptional experience for families
- Parent Communication: Regular communication with parents
- Season kickoff meetings
- Monthly newsletters and updates
- Individual player development updates
- Real-time schedule and score updates
- Mobile app for families
- Parent Education: Educate parents on youth sports best practices
- Long-term athlete development
- Age-appropriate expectations
- Nutrition and recovery
- Injury prevention
- College recruiting process
- Supporting youth athletes
- Sideline behavior and sportsmanship
- Parent Code of Conduct: Clear expectations for parent behavior
- Positive sideline behavior
- Respect for coaches and officials
- Focus on development over results
- No coaching from sidelines
- Family Events: Family engagement events
- Season kickoff events
- Parent-child clinics
- Family fun days
- End-of-season celebrations
- College recruiting seminars
8. Club Partnerships & Integration
- Club Partnership Model: Partner with existing elite club programs
- Club Integration: Integrate clubs into league structure
- Clubs become league-affiliated programs
- Clubs use league curriculum and standards
- Clubs compete in league competitions
- Clubs gain access to professional team integration
- Clubs receive coaching education and support
- Partnership Benefits: Benefits to clubs
- League branding and marketing
- Access to professional team facilities
- Coaching education and certification
- Player development tracking platform
- College recruiting support
- Revenue sharing opportunities
- Quality Standards: Establish standards for club partnerships
- Coaching qualifications and certifications
- SafeSport compliance
- Facility standards
- Code of conduct
- Financial transparency
9. School Brand Integration
- School Connection: Connect youth programs to 300 school brands
- School-Based Programs: Programs tied to local schools
- Youth teams wear school colors and logos
- Connection to school alumni and community
- Access to school facilities when appropriate
- School pride and tradition
- Geographic Assignment: Assign youth to schools based on geography
- Zipcode-based assignment
- Keep friends and teammates together
- Option to choose school affiliation
- Transfer policies for families that move
- School Engagement: Engage schools in youth programs
- School camps and clinics
- Professional and youth doubleheaders
- School spirit events
- Alumni athlete appearances
10. Facilities & Infrastructure
- Training Facilities: Coordinate on youth training facility needs
- Campus Facilities: Access to facilities at 300 school campuses
- Fields, courts, rinks for training and competition
- Locker rooms and meeting spaces
- Sports medicine and training facilities (for elite programs)
- Regional Facilities: Additional training and competition venues
- Partnership venues for local programs
- Tournament facilities for major events
- Facility Standards: Establish standards for youth facilities
- Safety requirements
- Equipment standards
- Appropriate size for age groups (smaller fields/courts for young athletes)
- Spectator amenities
11. Health, Safety & Athlete Welfare
- Safety First: Prioritize athlete health and safety above all else
- Medical Coverage: Appropriate medical coverage for youth programs
- Athletic trainers at elite levels and tournaments
- First aid trained coaches at all programs
- Emergency action plans for all venues
- Concussion protocols and return-to-play
- Participant accident insurance
- Injury Prevention: Evidence-based injury prevention programs
- Age-appropriate training volumes
- Proper warm-up and cool-down
- Education on overuse injuries
- Multi-sport participation for younger athletes
- Rest and recovery periods
- SafeSport Compliance: 100% compliance with SafeSport requirements
- Mandatory background checks for all coaches and staff
- SafeSport training for all coaches
- Mandatory abuse reporting
- Athlete protection policies
- Investigation procedures
- Mental Health: Support for youth mental health
- Sport psychology resources
- Managing stress and pressure
- Dealing with injuries and setbacks
- Transition support (age group changes, leaving sport)
12. Revenue & Business Operations
- Revenue Management: Manage $1.5B+ youth participation revenue
- Pricing Strategy: Develop pricing strategy across programs
- Competitive with local club market
- Value-based pricing reflecting quality and benefits
- Volume discounts (multiple sports, multiple children)
- Early registration discounts
- Regional pricing variations
- Registration System: Seamless registration and payment platform
- Online registration and payment
- Mobile-friendly experience
- Flexible payment plans
- Scholarship applications
- Waitlist management
- Scholarship Program: Financial aid for qualified families
- Need-based scholarships
- Merit-based scholarships (elite athletes)
- Target: 5-10% of participants receive aid
- Partner with sponsors for scholarship funding
- Retention Strategy: Maximize participant retention year-over-year
- Target: 75%+ retention rate
- Early renewal incentives
- Re-engagement campaigns for past participants
- Exit surveys to understand attrition
13. Marketing & Enrollment Growth
- Marketing Strategy: Drive enrollment growth to 500K+ athletes
- Marketing Channels:
- Digital Marketing: Social media, search, display advertising
- School Partnerships: Marketing through partner schools
- Club Partnerships: Marketing through affiliated clubs
- Grassroots: Community events, school visits, open houses
- Referral Programs: Parent and athlete referrals
- Professional Team Integration: Marketing at professional games
- Value Proposition: Communicate compelling value proposition
- NCAA school brand affiliation
- Professional team integration
- College recruiting support
- World-class coaching and curriculum
- Player development tracking
- Access to elite facilities
- Clear pathway to professional and Olympic levels
- Enrollment Campaigns: Seasonal enrollment campaigns
- Fall, winter, spring, summer seasons
- Early bird registration incentives
- Open house events and free clinics
14. Data, Analytics & Continuous Improvement
- Program Analytics: Comprehensive analytics on youth programs
- Key Metrics:
- Enrollment: Total enrollment by sport, age group, region
- Retention: Year-over-year retention rates
- Satisfaction: Parent and athlete satisfaction scores
- Development: Player development progression
- Safety: Injury rates and incident reports
- Quality: Coach certification rates and evaluations
- Financial: Revenue, costs, contribution margins
- Performance Dashboards: Real-time dashboards for leaders
- Research & Innovation: Stay current on youth sports research
- Attend conferences and symposiums
- Partner with universities on research
- Pilot innovative programs and curricula
- Share learnings across organization
- Continuous Improvement: Regular program reviews and improvements
- Quarterly program reviews
- Annual comprehensive assessment
- Athlete and parent feedback surveys
- Coach feedback and suggestions
- Benchmark against best-in-class programs
15. Team Building & Leadership
- Build Youth Development Organization: Recruit and lead comprehensive youth development team
- Team Structure:
- Year 1: 30-40 youth development professionals
- Year 3: 75-100 professionals
- Year 6: 125-150 professionals
- Leadership Team:
- 12 Youth Sport Directors (one per sport)
- Director of Coaching Education
- Director of Youth Tournaments & Competition
- Director of Player Development & Identification
- Director of Club Partnerships
- Director of Youth Marketing & Enrollment
- Director of Youth Operations
- Regional Youth Directors (4 regions)
- Coaching Network: 15,000+ youth coaches (part-time, seasonal)
- Team Development: Develop high-performing team committed to youth development excellence
Required Qualifications
Experience:
- 15+ years in youth sports programming, coaching, or athletic development
- 7+ years in senior youth sports leadership roles (VP, Director, or equivalent)
- Proven track record building and scaling youth sports programs (10,000+ participants)
- Experience managing large-scale youth operations across multiple sports or regions
- Demonstrated success in enrollment growth, retention, and quality improvement
Youth Sports Expertise:
- Deep expertise in long-term athlete development (LTAD) frameworks
- Strong knowledge of age-appropriate training and competition
- Understanding of youth sports best practices and research
- Experience with coaching education and development programs
- Knowledge of SafeSport, child protection, and youth safety
Program Development & Operations:
- Proven ability to design and implement youth sports curricula
- Experience with youth tournament operations and event management
- Understanding of youth sports business models and economics
- Knowledge of registration systems, payment processing, and CRM
- Experience with player development tracking and technology platforms
Leadership & Communication:
- Exceptional leadership skills with ability to inspire coaches and staff
- Outstanding communication skills for parents, athletes, coaches, and staff
- Strong relationship-building with diverse stakeholders (families, clubs, schools)
- Collaborative approach working across departments
- Passion for youth development and positive youth experiences
Business & Strategic Acumen:
- Strategic thinker who connects youth development to business success
- Strong financial acumen and P&L management experience
- Data-driven decision maker who uses analytics
- Marketing and enrollment growth expertise
- Understanding of customer experience and retention strategies
Education:
- Bachelor’s degree required (Kinesiology, Sports Management, Education, or related field)
- Master’s degree preferred (Sports Administration, Education, Child Development)
Preferred Qualifications
- Large-Scale Youth Sports: Led youth sports organization with 50,000+ participants
- Olympic Sports: Deep experience in Olympic sports development pathways
- Club Sports: Experience with club sports models and partnerships
- College Pathway: Understanding of college recruiting and NCAA eligibility
- National Governing Bodies: Relationships with NGBs (US Soccer, USA Volleyball, etc.)
- Coaching Background: Elite coaching experience at youth, college, or professional level
- Multi-Sport: Experience managing multiple sports simultaneously
- Technology: Experience implementing youth sports technology platforms
- Startup/Scale: Led youth programs through rapid growth phases
Success Metrics – First 18 Months
First 90 Days:
- Complete youth development strategy for all sports and age groups
- Hire 12 Youth Sport Directors (one per sport)
- Build initial youth development team (20-25 core hires)
- Develop youth curriculum for all sports and age groups
- Design coaching education and certification program
- Create registration platform and payment systems
- Establish club partnership framework
- Launch marketing and enrollment campaigns for Year 1
Months 4-6 (Q2):
- Recruit and train 3,000+ youth coaches for Year 1 programs
- Complete 100% background checks and SafeSport training for all coaches
- Launch registration for Year 1 programs
- Achieve 75,000+ registrations for fall season (75% of Year 1 goal)
- Establish partnerships with 50-100 elite clubs
- Implement player development platform
- Design youth tournament calendar
- Launch parent education programs
Months 7-12 (Q3-Q4):
- Enrollment Goal: Achieve 100,000+ total youth registrations in Year 1
- Revenue Goal: Generate $250M+ in Year 1 participation revenue
- Retention: Achieve 70%+ retention from fall to spring seasons
- Safety: Zero serious safety incidents or SafeSport violations
- Satisfaction: 85%+ parent and athlete satisfaction scores
- Quality: 100% coach certification and SafeSport compliance
- Tournaments: Successfully execute 50+ youth tournaments
- Integration: Integrate U17-U23 athletes with professional teams
- Club Partnerships: Establish 150+ club partnerships
Months 13-18 (Year 2, Q1-Q2):
- Scale to 200,000+ youth participants (2x Year 1)
- Achieve 75%+ year-over-year retention from Year 1 to Year 2
- Expand to additional age groups or sports
- Improve satisfaction scores to 88%+
- Recruit and train 7,000+ total youth coaches
- Generate $500M+ in annual participation revenue
- Launch scholarship program supporting 5,000+ athletes
- Achieve national recognition as premier youth sports program
- Build pipeline for 300,000+ participants by Year 3
Why This Role is Exceptional
Transform Youth Sports:
- This is the most ambitious youth sports development initiative in history
- Opportunity to serve 500,000+ young athletes and their families
- Create sustainable model that makes Olympic sports accessible to all
- Build pathways from grassroots to Olympic competition
Unprecedented Scale:
- Build youth sports program from 0 to 500,000+ participants in 6 years
- Manage $1.5B+ in annual revenue at scale
- Oversee 15,000+ youth coaches across 12 sports
- Create programs in all 50 states tied to 300 school brands
Impact on Young People:
- Develop hundreds of thousands of young athletes
- Create positive youth sports experiences that last a lifetime
- Build character, confidence, and life skills through sport
- Open doors to college scholarships and Olympic opportunities
- Keep kids active, healthy, and engaged
Innovation Opportunity:
- Build modern youth sports model using best practices and technology
- Integrate youth development with professional sports
- Leverage school brands to create community connections
- Apply research and innovation to youth athlete development
- Create model that other sports will emulate
Resources & Support:
- $2.5B in equity capital being raised provides resources for excellence
- Strong executive support for youth-first philosophy
- Access to world-class facilities at 300 school campuses
- Budget to recruit top coaches and implement best practices
- Technology resources for registration, development tracking, and communication
Compensation & Upside:
- Highly competitive compensation package ($900K total)
- Significant performance bonus tied to enrollment and quality ($175K target)
- Substantial equity upside as league grows
- Potential for advancement to Chief Youth Officer or COO role
Professional Growth:
- Lead largest youth sports organization in Olympic sports
- Build comprehensive youth development expertise at massive scale
- Establish yourself as thought leader in youth sports development
- Create national network across clubs, schools, and youth sports community
Legacy:
- Your programs will impact 500,000+ young athletes and families
- Create pathways that sustain Olympic sports for generations
- Build model youth sports program that becomes industry standard
- Develop future Olympians and college athletes
- Create positive youth sports culture that keeps kids in sports
Application Process
Timeline:
- Applications Reviewed: Rolling basis, priority given to early applications
- First Round: Virtual interviews with COO and VP of Collegiate Sports (1 hour)
- Second Round: Full-day onsite with executive team including CEO, CFO, CRO
- Third Round (if applicable): Meetings with board members, youth sports advisors, or education experts
- Final Round: Case presentation on youth development strategy including:
- Youth program structure and curriculum approach
- Coaching education and development philosophy
- Enrollment growth strategy and marketing plan
- Player development and pathway design
- Year 1 enrollment targets and operational plan
- Organizational structure for youth development team
- Key risks and mitigation strategies (safety, quality, retention)
- Offer: Anticipated by Q4 2026
What to Include:
- Resume highlighting youth sports leadership and program growth
- Cover letter addressing:
- Your most significant youth development achievements (scale, impact, innovation)
- Your philosophy on long-term athlete development
- Your approach to building programs that serve 500,000+ athletes
- Your experience with SafeSport and youth safety
- Why you’re passionate about youth sports and this opportunity
- Any relevant experience in the 12 sports covered by the league
- 3-5 professional references from youth sports roles (please do not contact without permission)
- Optional: Brief POV (2-3 pages) on youth development philosophy, program priorities, or enrollment growth strategy
Confidentiality: Please indicate in your cover letter if you require discretion during the interview process.
Equal Opportunity Employer
We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organization that reflects the communities we serve. We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristic.
This is a once-in-a-career opportunity to transform youth sports in America. Let’s build something extraordinary together.