The Player Performance and Strategic Innovation Lead for the National Football League (NFL) is responsible for working to advance strategies to improve player health, prevent injuries and therefore improve performance, as well as enhance the safety of the game through technology, engineering and innovation.

The Player Performance and Strategic Innovation Lead is joining the NFL at a critically important time where the organization has made unprecedented investment into medical research, biomechanical engineering, epidemiology, and data analytics, all designed to accelerate science, and identify new technologies and means of preventing and treating injuries, and to improve overall safety.

Responsibilities:

Work with all facets of NFL medical efforts to:

• Create and/or manage a team to drive scientific and medical research initiatives.
• Manage processes and relationships with injury data and other scientific research advisors.
• Lead and work with internal stakeholders/cross-organizationally to ensure alignment of related efforts in the player health and safety areas.
• Synthesize and translate medical and injury data and trends to players, coaches and club personnel to educate and inform key information and objectives.
• Build and maintain relationships with club personnel to solicit feedback from club medical personnel, athletic trainers, performance and sports science experts and equipment managers to drive and support player health initiatives.
• Manage collaborative research opportunities and projects through strategic NFL partnerships.
• Manage emerging technologies within sports science and performance, and work with club staff to identify improved training and treatment, as needed.
• Align and integrate with the strategic direction of the health and safety team.
• Travel to clubs, games, meetings and events as required.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Kinesiology, or Sports Science
• Minimum 15 years experience in sports science, athletic training, and kinesiology
• Minimum 7 years management experience and ability to effectively build and lead collaborative, diverse teams.
• Football credibility and trust to effectively communicate, implement and execute these efforts/initiatives.
• Previous successful senior leadership role in professional or elite collegiate sports.
• Demonstrated excellence in collaborating. Leading through influence and execution of multi-faceted decisions are important components of the leadership experience sought in this recruitment.
• Proven track record in creating innovative change, experiences and solutions.
• Communication skills (written and verbal) that clearly articulate a position and are equally effective with large and small audiences as well as on a one-to-one level.
• A style that is open to change and innovation, with an ability to delegate yet manage the required high standards and make difficult decisions.

Preferred Qualifications: 

• Balanced Leadership: The ideal candidate will demonstrate that she/he is a balanced and ethical leader with an understanding of the unique health and medical needs of elite athletes. He/she will possess outstanding communication skills and the ability to translate strategic imperatives into action plans that achieve necessary change. He/she can quickly establish him/herself as the principal driver of a major initiative and earn respect among a diverse and accomplished constituency.
• Effective Relationship-Builder: In a large organization that values professional excellence and collaboration, the successful candidate will build his/her credibility by fostering strong and productive working relationships and partnerships across multiple constituencies and key stakeholder groups. He/she will be an active listener and strong communicator, as well as an active participant in key strategic discussions.

Other Key Attributes / Characteristics:

• Lives the mission, vision, culture and values of the NFL.
• Unquestionable integrity, with an ability to earn and command respect both within and outside of the organization through collaboration, relationship building and execution on strategic vision/plans.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to persuade and negotiate effectively and be politically savvy. Recognized as a great listener, learner and strategic contributor.
• Ability to plan and create strategies that align with broader organizational priorities.
• Ability to identify innovation opportunities and incorporate them into ongoing workstreams.
• Leadership style that builds and maintains a climate of caring, respect and trust and inspires commitment from others to achieve organizational goals.
• A strong sense of urgency and a bias for action in making sound decisions based on a combination of analysis, experience, judgment and personal/business maturity.

Travel:

This position will require approximately 30% travel, including to major tentpole events.

Terms /Expected Hours of Work:

NFL employees are required to work 40 hours per week.  This position will require time in excess of 40 hours per week and on weekends as well

Salary / Pay Range:

This job posting contains a pay range, which represents the range of salaries or hourly rates that the NFL believes, in good faith, at the time of this posting that it might be willing to pay for the posted job in the location(s) specified. The NFL expects to hire for this position near the middle of the range. Only in truly rare and exceptional circumstances, where an external candidate has experience, credentials or expertise that far exceed those required or expected for the position, would the NFL consider paying a salary or rate near the higher end of the range.

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