Design Director

Description

U.S. Soccer Overview 

The U.S. Soccer Federation exists in service to soccer. Our aim is to ignite a national passion for the game. Because we believe that soccer is more than a sport; it is a force for good.

We understand the importance and the power of teamwork, on and off the pitch. That’s why we work closely with our Federation partners and members, to inspire, support and guide every level of the game: from the grassroots to the National Teams. We want to bring soccer into every home and every community, right across America. Because we believe that soccer can transform lives like no other sport. Soccer can represent the best of US. 

U.S. Soccer is in a period of significant growth, with ambitions plans for US soccer in the near and far future. We are therefore, looking for dynamic servant-leaders to join us on this journey: in service to soccer. Applicants must be able to demonstrate visionary leadership, analytical decision-making, professional flexibility and an empathic management style that builds bold teams and delivers globally significant results. 

Position Description  

We’re looking for an inspired and experienced creative to lead our in-house graphic design and photography studio and report directly to the Vice President, Integrated Marketing Brand & Operations.  The ideal candidate will lead and mentor the design staff from a strategic standpoint, in addition to building out and overseeing an in-house photography team. They must demonstrate that they are bold in their ambition and vision and have large-scale leadership experience to play a senior role in fostering a strong team and culture to deliver U.S. Soccer’s growth plans. 

This Design Director role is responsible for bringing U.S. Soccer’s brand to life through visual design storytelling across multiple touchpoints such as paid digital, OOH, web, email, print, environmental  signage, motion graphics/LED, and more. As the leader of a passionate team of creative problem solvers, the Design Director will oversee the design and production (from concept to execution) of graphical & photographic concepts aligned with U.S. Soccer’s brand strategy and standards, helping to define the voice of the brand and supporting our mission. 

The ideal Design Director candidate has a strong track record of developing industry-leading creative talent, excellent project management skills and experience in process optimization and prioritizing workloads to achieve maximum impact. They will have outstanding interpersonal and communication skills, understands efficiency as a core value, have confidence without ego and operates swiftly in the fast-paced environment of international soccer.  

The Design Director will excel at developing strong working relationships with internal/external teams while managing multiple work streams often with competing priorities. The position will oversee projects related to the Men’s and Women’s National Soccer Teams (FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, Olympics, International Friendlies, CONCACAF Competitions, SheBelieves Cup, U.S. Open Cup), Youth and Extended National Teams, as well as Federation efforts to grow and develop soccer in the U.S. 

 Primary Responsibilities  

• Responsible for the creation and production of all U.S. Soccer’s creative graphic design assets across the marketing mix, ensuring both brand and business goals are met at budget, at pace, and at scale. 
• Serve as a strategic thought partner with the Senior Director of Content for all graphic, motion, and photography design needs across their video and written content strategies on owned and operated platforms 
• Collaborate closely with the Marketing team to develop compelling creative briefs and execute creative strategies that enhance U.S. Soccer’s brand trust. 
• Build and foster an internal center of creative excellence that sets the standard of industry-leading work and encourages a culture of cross-functional excellence. 
• Maintain consistency in brand messaging across various campaigns and platforms, tailoring designs to resonate with diverse audiences, ensuring all ideas align with the brand guidelines. 
• Build strong relationships with McCann World Group and other agencies as necessary, fostering an environment of collaboration and innovation. 
• Self-manage multiple projects simultaneously, producing efficiently and on schedule for the team. 
• Ability to create engaging and unique design and photographic storytelling, e.g. kit launches & new partnerships. 
• Work with the Consumer Product team on product design and storytelling across a vast array of ranges for fans. Undertake quarterly reviews engaging with stakeholders on evaluating work and measuring against campaign KPI’s to drive reach, relevancy and revenue. 
• Stay updated on industry trends, competitor activities and consumer behaviors to inform creative decisions and stay ahead of the curve. 
• Work with the marketing team on the storytelling around the National Training Center – the new home of U.S. Soccer. Bring the legacy and future alive. 
• Create, lead and develop the build-out of an in-house photography team. 
• Drive department-wide processes that create efficiencies and maximize team effectiveness and impact. 
• Have knowledge of automated processes to increase production at scale. 
• Champion partner brand guidelines internally to ensure partner satisfaction and efficiency when producing marketing materials. 
• Serve as a subject matter expert in cross-functional projects with teams across U.S. Soccer, such as Consumer Products, Media, Events, Sporting, etc. 
• Shares inspiration and best practices from design, sports, and other industries. 
• Extension knowledge of accessibility guidelines across all media is required. 
• Flexible availability on game days which may include nights, weekends, and holidays 

Requirements

Minimum Qualifications  

• 10-12 years of working full-time in an agency or in-house creative design department. 
• At least 5 years’ experience in managing designers and photographers. 
• A portfolio featuring a wide range of creative work that demonstrates a solid understanding of brand, diversity of ideas and approaches to problem-solving. 
• Experience leading teams on multiple projects with varying timelines and various stakeholders. 
• Ability to inspire and cultivate brand-led creative with a big-picture consumer journey in mind. 
• Exceptional communication and listening skills – the ability to build trust and provide feedback in an effective, efficient and respectful manner is a must. 
• Ability to unlock and apply audience insights through quantitative and qualitative data to inform brand and creative development. 
• Strong understanding of digital media including social media, websites, app, etc. 
• Strong, audience-focused design capabilities in both print and new media. 
• Strong collaboration skills – the ability to work up, down and across functional areas is key. 
• Proficient in Adobe Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop. 
• Proficient with Outlook, Word, PowerPoint/Keynote, and Excel. 
• Experience in audio development. 
• Strong understanding and prior experience in design accessibility. 
• Must be able to work non-traditional hours and available remotely or on-site during events. 
• Demonstrates a genuine desire and passion to contribute to the growth of soccer in the U.S.  
• Must reside or be willing to relocate to Atlanta by late Summer/early Fall 2025. 

 Desired Qualifications  

• Experience working in a sports team environment and/or with athletes. 
• Passion for working in and growing the game of soccer. 
• Bilingual in Spanish. 

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.