Job Description
Charlotte Development Academy (CDA) is an all-girls youth soccer club built on a simple but powerful conviction: Intentional training matters more than most clubs are willing to admit. We have spent years developing a methodology that is fundamentally different from the traditional club model — one that maximizes every inch of training space and every minute on the field to create reality-based, game-like experiences that prepare players for the moments that count.
We train with intensity and purpose. We believe that the quality of what happens in training is the driving force behind individual - team performance, player growth, and the reputation we have built as a relevant and respected program in the female youth soccer landscape across the region.
Our mission is to elevate the value of training. It’s what drives everything we do.
As a member club of the Girls Academy League (GA) — one of the elite youth soccer leagues in the United States — CDA provides a top class environment where young women compete and grow at the highest level. But it is truly our training culture, not just our league affiliation, that sets us apart.
The Opportunity
CDA is seeking a Girls Academy Director who does not just manage a program — but who believes, deeply and practically, that training is where development really happens. This leader will inherit a program with strong foundations and a clear identity and will be responsible for protecting that identity while driving it forward.
The Director will oversee all GA teams (U13–U19), lead the coaching staff, design our player development curriculum, and serve as the standard-bearer for a training culture built on purpose, intensity, and game-realistic environments. If you have spent your career looking for a club that places true emphasis on training and has a culture where the parents are as completely bought in as you are, this is that place.
Primary Responsibilities
Leadership & Program Oversight
- Oversee all Girls Academy teams (U13–U19 or applicable age groups)
- Collaborate in the plan all training sessions for GA teams in direct alignment with CDA’s training methodology and culture
- Ensure the program reflects and advances CDA’s mission to elevate the value of training
- Lead and evaluate GA coaching staff, holding them accountable to program standards
- Conduct regular staff meetings and performance reviews
League & Compliance Management
- Serve as primary contact with the Girls Academy league office and officials
- Ensure compliance with all league standards, policies, and roster requirements
- Manage scheduling, travel planning, and showcase participation
- Oversee player registration and eligibility processes
Player Development & Curriculum
- Design and implement an age-specific curriculum linked CDA’s training methodology
- Build training environments that maximize space, intensity, and purposeful repetition
- Monitor training quality and match performance across all GA teams
- Create a framework for player, team, and coach evaluations
- Lead ID sessions and player evaluations
- Establish clear pathways from Pre-GA and DPL teams into GA teams
College Recruiting Support
- Guide players and families through the college recruitment process
- Maintain active relationships with college coaches at all levels
- Coordinate communication, highlight videos, and showcase exposure
- Track and report college commitments
Communication & Culture
- Champion and model CDA’s training-first culture at every level of the program
- Lead parent meetings and player education sessions
- Handle conflict resolution professionally and proactively
- Represent the club at league meetings and events
Administrative & Budget Oversight
- Assist with budgeting and financial planning for the GA program
- Approve travel logistics and tournament selection
- Collaborate with club leadership on staffing and strategic growth
Qualifications
- USSF A License minimum required
- 5+ years of experience coaching elite-level girls’ soccer
- Prior leadership or director-level experience
- A demonstrable training philosophy — candidates should be able to speak concretely about how and why they structure sessions the way they do
- Strong knowledge of the college recruiting landscape
- Excellent organizational and communication skills
- Ability to manage multiple teams and staff members simultaneously
- Collegiate playing or coaching background preferred
- Experience within GA, ECNL, MLS NEXT, or similar elite platforms preferred
Key Competencies
- Visionary leadership with a training-first mindset
- Staff development and mentorship
- High-level tactical knowledge and session design expertise
- Ability to create game-realistic, high-intensity training environments
- Player and parent relationship management
- Strategic planning and professional communication
