Head of Performance

Carolina Core FC; High Point (NC); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Carolina Core FC is seeking a Head of Performance to lead the first-team physical performance, sports science, recovery and nutrition for MLS NEXT Pro, and to align the CCFC Academy with the first team.

You will design periodized programs, manage GPS and athlete monitoring, and own the academy S&C curriculum, ensuring players arrive ready for competition. The role requires CSCS and 5+ years in professional soccer.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Exercise Science, Sports Science, Kinesiology or related field required.
• CSCS certification required; other reputable credentials preferred.
• 5+ years of applied strength and conditioning or sports science experience, with professional or elite soccer exposure.

Responsibilities

• Design and deliver periodized strength, speed, conditioning and recovery programs for the first team.
• Own GPS and athlete monitoring; generate data-driven reports for coaches and medical staff.
• Oversee academy S&C curriculum, testing standards and staff development.
• Lead department staffing, budget, facilities and technology integration.
• Coordinate load management, return-to-play planning and injury prevention strategies.
• Collaborate across coaching, medical, academy and operations to align development pathways.

Skills

Data analysis

Leadership

Communication

Strategic planning

Education

Bachelor's degree in Exercise Science, Sports Science, Kinesiology or related field

Tools

GPS monitoring systems

Athlete management systems

Excel/Power BI

Job description

Head of Performance
First-Team Physical Performance, Sports Science & Academy Strength and Conditioning Oversight

Position Summary

The Head of Performance is the senior physical performance leader for Carolina Core FC, responsible for strength and conditioning, sports science, recovery and nutrition for the MLS NEXT Pro first team. Reporting to the Head Coach, this role leads the performance department and sets the strength and conditioning standard for the CCFC Academy.

Head of Performance
First-Team Physical Performance, Sports Science & Academy Strength and Conditioning Oversight

Position Summary

The Head of Performance is the senior physical performance leader for Carolina Core FC, responsible for strength and conditioning, sports science, recovery and nutrition for the MLS NEXT Pro first team. Reporting to the Head Coach, this role leads the performance department and sets the strength and conditioning standard for the CCFC Academy.

This role exists to keep first-team players available, physically prepared and performing, and to connect the academy and the first team on one physical development pathway. The Head of Performance plans, delivers and evaluates the physical program, works seamlessly with the technical and medical staffs on load, recovery, wellbeing and return-to-play, and owns the academy S&C curriculum so players arrive at the first team ready for its demands.

MANDATE AT A GLANCE

• Lead First-Team Physical Performance: Design and deliver periodized strength, speed, conditioning and recovery programming for the MLS NEXT Pro squad across every phase of the season.
• Run Sports Science & Load Management: Own GPS and athlete monitoring, testing and reporting so coaches and medical staff make daily decisions from clear data.
• Oversee Academy Strength & Conditioning: Set the academy S&C curriculum, standards and testing, and lead and mentor the academy S&C coach.
• Build the Performance Department: Lead performance staff, budget, facilities and technology, and integrate performance with coaching, medical, academy and player personnel.

Key Responsibilities

First Team

• Periodized Strength, Speed & Conditioning: Design and deliver strength, power, speed, agility and conditioning programming across preseason, in-season and off-season phases. Adjust to the fixture calendar, including congested periods, travel weeks and loan or international absences.
• Individual Player Plans: Build an individual physical development plan for every first-team player based on position, physical profile, injury history and coach priorities.
• Session Delivery: Conduct team warmups before training and matches, and lead mobility, activation, gym sessions, cool-downs and post-match recovery. Provide top-up conditioning for substitutes and non-starters so the whole squad stays match fit.
• Off-Season & Transition Programs: Design and manage off-season and transition programs, with remote monitoring and compliance tracking.
• GPS & Athlete Monitoring: Run GPS and athlete monitoring for every training session and match, including setup, data collection and quality control.
• Data Analysis & Reporting: Analyze post-session and post-match data and deliver clear daily and weekly reports to coaches, medical staff and players. Deliver match physical performance reports to the coaching staff within 24 hours.
• Load Management & Readiness: Set and manage internal and external load targets for the team and each player with the coaching and medical staffs. Use wellness questionnaires, RPE, heart rate and neuromuscular readiness testing to flag fatigue and injury risk, and advise the Head Coach each morning on availability and training participation.
• Physical Testing: Run a physical testing battery (speed, jump, aerobic, strength) at least each preseason, mid-season and end of season.
• Injury Prevention: Build and run injury-reduction programs targeting soccer's common injuries (hamstring, groin, ankle, ACL), and review injury data with the medical team to improve prevention strategies.
• Rehabilitation & Return to Play: In collaboration with the Head Coach and Athletic Trainer, establish return-to-play protocols and lead all aspects of on-field return to play, including the on-field and gym reconditioning stage. Support rehabilitation by collaborating with the Head Coach and Athletic Trainer, and share data that informs clearance decisions.
• Recovery, Nutrition & Wellbeing: Plan recovery strategies for training, matches and travel, including sleep, hydration and recovery modalities. Conduct body composition assessments and give individualized nutrition and hydration guidance, referring to a registered dietitian where needed. Coordinate team fueling with team operations and vendors, and flag wellbeing concerns to medical staff and player care resources.
• Supplements & Anti-Doping: Educate players on supplements and ensure all products meet league anti-doping rules and are third-party tested.
• Match Day & Travel: Lead match-day physical preparation, warmups, halftime interventions and post-match recovery, home and away. Plan travel-day schedules for training, meals, sleep and recovery with team operations.

Academy Strength & Conditioning Oversight

• Long-Term Athletic Development Curriculum: Write and maintain an LTAD curriculum by age group covering movement competency, strength, speed, agility and conditioning, with age-appropriate loading, training-volume and testing standards.
• Academy S&C Staff Leadership: Lead and mentor the academy S&C coach and any academy S&C interns: hiring input, onboarding, session observation, performance feedback and regular staff education.
• Curriculum Compliance: Review academy session plans and periodization each phase to confirm they follow the curriculum. Day-to-day delivery stays with academy staff under the Academy Director.
• Academy Testing & Maturation: Run a standard academy testing battery at set points each season and track growth and maturation (e.g. peak height velocity), adjusting load for players in growth spurts.
• Pathway Readiness: Define the physical profile academy players need before stepping into first-team training, and use academy data to identify players ready for first-team exposure.
• Dual-Squad Load Management: Manage the load of academy players who train or play with the first team, coordinating with the Sporting Director and MLS NEXT Academy Director so they are not overloaded.
• Safeguarding & Compliance: Ensure all academy S&C work with minors follows club safeguarding policy, SafeSport requirements and MLS NEXT rules.

Department Leadership & Operations

• Department Plan: Build the performance department's philosophy, structure and annual plan, and present it to the Head Coach and Sporting Director each preseason.
• Staff Management: Under the guidance of the Sporting Director and Head Coach, recruit, manage and develop performance interns and the academy S&C coach, with clear roles and annual reviews.
• Budget & Facilities: Build and manage the performance budget (equipment, technology, supplements, recovery tools) and manage gym and performance facilities, including purchasing, maintenance, safety and scheduling.
• Data, Technology & Confidentiality: Own the athlete management system, GPS units and testing equipment and their data standards. Keep player data secure and shared only with staff who need it. Evaluate new technology and research and recommend investments with a clear cost and benefit.
• Reporting: Report availability, injury rates and testing trends to the Head Coach and Athletic Trainer each month.

SCOPE OF AUTHORITY & DECISION RIGHTS

• Physical Programming: Holds authority over first-team strength, conditioning, speed, recovery and testing programming, within the Head Coach's training plan.
• Training Load Recommendations: Sets load targets and makes daily availability and participation recommendations; final selection decisions rest with the Head Coach.
• Return to Play: Leads on-field return to play and owns the reconditioning stage, in collaboration with the Head Coach and Athletic Trainer; medical clearance decisions rest with the Athletic Trainer and medical staff.
• Academy S&C Standards: Sets and enforces the academy S&C curriculum, loading and testing standards; academy scheduling and team operations rest with the Academy Director.
• Staffing & Hiring: Under the guidance of the Sporting Director and Head Coach, leads hiring for performance interns and future academy S&C coaches, and leads and mentors the academy S&C coach.
• Budget: Manages the approved performance budget; spending beyond it requires Sporting Director approval.
• Escalation: Disputes with coaching, medical or academy staff resolve to the Sporting Director.

WHERE THE HEAD OF PERFORMANCE MEETS THE ECOSYSTEM

• First Team Head Coach: Primary reporting line. Daily alignment on session design, training load, player availability and match-day preparation, plus monthly availability, injury and testing reporting.
• Sporting Director: Department strategy, budget and staffing, including guidance on hiring performance interns and academy S&C coaches, and the load of academy players training with the first team.
• Athletic Trainer / Medical Staff: Collaboration on injury prevention, rehabilitation and return-to-play, with medical staff leading clearance, plus monthly availability, injury and testing reporting.
• MLS NEXT Academy Director: Alignment on the academy S&C curriculum, academy S&C staff and the load of academy players training with the first team.
• Head of Player Personnel: Physical profiling and injury-risk input on recruitment targets, including testing trialists.
• Team Operations: Coordinates fueling, travel schedules, facilities and equipment.

SUCCESS MEASURES

• Player Availability: Improved first-team availability and fewer soft-tissue injuries versus 2026.
• First 90 Days: Audit of current S&C, sports science, recovery and nutrition practice across first team and academy; department plan approved by the Head Coach and Sporting Director; daily monitoring and reporting running.
• Season Readiness: Preseason testing complete with individual plans for every first-team player; academy S&C curriculum and testing standards published to academy staff.
• Data-Driven Planning: Weekly load reports used in training planning throughout the season, with a full season of testing data for first team and academy by month 12.
• Academy Pathway: Academy players integrated into first-team sessions without overload, and academy S&C staff reviews completed.
• Budget & Planning: Performance budget delivered on plan, with next-season recommendations approved.

Qualifications & Competencies

• Education: Bachelor's degree in Exercise Science, Sports Science, Kinesiology or a related health field (Master's degree preferred).
• Certification: NSCA Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS) required; UKSCA, ASCA or equivalent accreditation preferred. Current CPR/AED and First Aid, or able to obtain before start date.
• Experience: 5+ years of applied strength and conditioning or sports science experience, including at least 2 years in professional or elite soccer, and experience leading or supervising performance staff. Prior playing and/or applied soccer experience preferred.
• Youth Development: Experience building youth or academy long-term athletic development programs preferred.
• Technology & Data: Hands-on experience with GPS and athlete monitoring systems (e.g. PlayerData, Catapult, STATSports or Kinexon) and an athlete management system. Data skills in Excel and an analysis or visualization tool (e.g. Power BI, Tableau, R or Python) preferred.
• Nutrition: Working knowledge of sports nutrition; ISSN or similar certification preferred.
• Communication: Turns data into simple, actionable advice for coaches and players, and builds trust across coaching, medical and academy staff. Spanish or another second language preferred.
• Eligibility: Eligible to work in the United States, able to travel regularly, and able to pass a background check and complete SafeSport training.
• GFG Core Values Alignment: Embodies People-Fueled Momentum, Simplify to Elevate, Grow & Succeed Together, and Courageous Ownership.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Professional sports schedule, including early mornings, evenings, weekends, holidays and match days.
• Work takes place outdoors in all weather, in the gym and in the office, at club training facilities and Truist Point Stadium in High Point, NC.
• Regular overnight travel with the first team for away matches; occasional academy events.
• The role involves demonstrating exercises, standing for long periods, and moving and setting up equipment, with or without reasonable accommodation.

STANDARD PROVISIONS

• This position description describes the general nature and level of work expected. It is subordinate to the incumbent's executed Employment Agreement. Where the two conflict, the Employment Agreement controls.
• Employment with Carolina Core FC is at will. This is a full-time, salaried role; final FLSA classification to be confirmed against applicable federal and North Carolina standards.
• Duties, responsibilities and reporting relationships may be modified by Carolina Core FC at any time to meet organizational needs.
• Carolina Core FC is an equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, sexual orientation and gender identity), national origin, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. Reasonable accommodations are available to qualified individuals with disabilities in accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act and applicable North Carolina law.