Soccer Development Manager

Soccer 5; Town of Charleston (NY); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Soccer 5 is seeking a Soccer Development Manager to launch and lead the Charleston academy from the ground up. You will recruit and develop a coaching staff, create programming, and establish growth through schools, clubs, restaurants, corporations, events, and community partnerships.

You will partner with the South Florida team to learn a proven model, then adapt it for Charleston with executive support. This is a builder role in a fast-moving, entrepreneurial environment.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of coaching and/or soccer operations experience.
• Entrepreneurial builder capable of creating systems from scratch.
• Strong networking and community engagement skills.
• Ability to hire, develop, and retain a coaching staff.
• Comfortable using data to inform decisions and drive growth.

Responsibilities

• Launch and lead the Charleston academy from the ground up, including programming, curriculum, staffing, and growth.
• Learn the proven South Florida model and adapt it for Charleston with leadership support.
• Hire, develop, and retain a coaching staff and set up the Head Coach for success.
• Drive registrations, partnerships, and community engagement to build brand presence.
• Manage academy operations day-to-day and collaborate with leadership on playbooks for future markets.

Skills

Coaching

Business development

Relationship building

Sales

Leadership

Data-driven

Spanish (bonus)

Job description

About Soccer 5

Soccer 5 operates small-sided soccer facilities, academies, and leagues across the U.S., with a growing franchise network and a deep passion for community, sport, and accessibility. Our vision is to be the premier and largest provider of small-sided soccer - indoor and outdoor - in the country, and to build a lasting legacy of soccer excellence that enriches lives and strengthens communities. We're building a movement, and Charleston is one of the places we're planting our flag.

Role Overview

We're looking for a Soccer Development Manager to be the face and driving force of Soccer 5 in Charleston. This is a builder's role. You'll launch and lead our Charleston youth programming from the ground up, grow a coaching staff, and get the community onto our fields through schools, clubs, restaurants, corporations, events, and partnerships. Your mission is to make Soccer 5 THE central hub of soccer in Charleston.

The role is part coach, part business development leader, part manager. The academy doesn't exist yet, so an entrepreneurial and business-development mindset is essential. Our South Florida team has already built an impressive academy, and one of your first steps will be spending time with them to learn the model. From day one you'll have that playbook (plus the direct support of Soccer 5's leadership) behind you.

What You'll Do

Launch & Lead the Charleston Academy

• Build and own the Charleston academy from the ground up - programming, curriculum, staffing, and growth.


• Spend time with our South Florida academy team to learn a proven model, then adapt it for Charleston.


• Hire, develop, and retain a coaching staff. Our current Charleston Head Coach will report to you, and you'll set him up to succeed as the first of a growing team.


• Deliver high-quality training and player development that families rave about.

Grow the Game in Charleston

• Serve as the external-facing leader of Soccer 5 Charleston - tell our story and bring the brand to life across the city.


• Get people onto our fields by building (and maintaining) strong relationships with schools, clubs, restaurants, corporations, event organizers, and community partners. A few examples of how you will do this: activate our brand at community events, visit schools, cold-call and email possible partners/customers.


• Drive registrations, bookings, memberships, and league participation.


• Do whatever it takes to make Soccer 5 the central hub of soccer in Charleston.

Lead the Market

• Manage academy operations and your coaching staff day to day.


• Partner closely with Soccer 5 leadership and Wonder Franchises, and help build the playbook that future markets will run on.


• Contribute to strong night operations alongside the team - especially as the academy ramps - though you won't own routine facility management or closing.

• A soccer person first: 3+ years of coaching and/or soccer operations experience, with a real feel for player development and relevant coaching credentials.


• An entrepreneurial builder who's comfortable creating something from zero and turning it into repeatable systems.


• A natural relationship-builder and business developer who enjoys sales, networking, and is comfortable being the face of the brand in the community.


• A people leader who can hire, develop, and retain a strong coaching staff.


• Comfortable measuring what works and making data-informed decisions.


• Flexible, hands-on, and energized by a fast-moving, entrepreneurial environment.


• Genuinely passionate about soccer, community, and growing the game.


• Experience with youth sports, academies, membership businesses, or multi-location operations is a strong plus.


• Spanish fluency is a big plus.

Why This Role

Rarely does an academy leader get access to their own facility and the runway to build a market from scratch - you would. You'll work directly with Soccer 5's leadership and Wonder Franchises as we take on this challenge together and build the playbook for future locations. In our experience, WHO you work with is what shapes a career, and we're proud of the team you'd be joining. If making Soccer 5 the home of soccer in Charleston sounds like the kind of challenge you want to own, we'd love to talk!