Team Operations - Performance Scientist - MLS

Nashville Soccer Club; Nashville (TN); On-site; USD 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

The Nashville Soccer Club is seeking a Performance Scientist to support player availability and performance by leading data operations, monitoring, and applied insights that inform training, recovery, and return-to-performance decisions. This role reports directly to the Director of High Performance and collaborates with coaching, medical, and analytics teams.

You will build dashboards, performance models, and readiness metrics, ensuring accurate data governance and actionable outputs for

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Exercise Science or related field.
• CPSS certification.
• CSCS certification.
• Minimum 2 years experience in an elite sport environment.
• Proficiency with GPS systems, heart rate, force plates, and current performance technologies.
• Experience explaining monitoring outputs to coaches.
• Proficiency in R, Python, and Power BI for data analysis and reporting.
• CPR/AED certification (or ability to obtain promptly).

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end sports science data operations (collection, QA/QC, documentation, and governance) across performance data streams.
• Lead training and match monitoring systems (STS) and related technologies (GPS, heart rate, VALD, 1080 and others).
• Build and maintain dashboards, models, metrics, and reports that track workload, readiness, and physical performance across the season.
• Deliver clear, actionable insights to coaches, performance/medical staff, and players (including real-time training feedback when needed).
• Plan and execute performance testing and assessment protocols (field and gym-based); maintain benchmarks and individualized targets.
• Collaborate with Athletic Development and Medical on activation, strength/regeneration, and end-stage return-to-performance support as needed.
• Partner with analytics and scouting on performance questions tied to player evaluation, transactions, and projections.
• Lead integration of second team and academy performance data into centralized systems, standards, and reporting.
• Ensure compliance with all MLS medical manual requirements and club policies and procedures.

Skills

Coach-facing communication

Data storytelling

Education

Master’s degree in Exercise Science or related field

CPSS certification

CSCS certification

CPR/AED certification

Tools

GPS systems

Heart rate monitoring

Force plates

Power BI

R

Python

SQL

ETL

APIs

Job description

In order to be considered for this role, after clicking "Apply Now" above and being redirected, you must fully complete the application process on the follow-up screen.

NO PHONE CALLS OR EMAILS, PLEASE. Thanks for your interest! Due to the volume of applications, we’re unable to respond to individual status inquiries. If selected to move forward, you’ll hear from our HR team at Nashville Soccer Club.

Position Title

Performance Scientist

Department

Team Operations - High Performance

Reports to

Director of High Performance

Position Overview

The Performance Scientist supports player availability and performance by leading sport science data operations, monitoring, reporting, and applied insights that inform training, recovery, and return-to-performance decisions. This role reports directly to the Director of High Performance and works in close collaboration to define the path forward for key initiatives. The Performance Scientist will be provided autonomy to determine the best execution plan, while ensuring alignment with coaching, performance, and medical priorities.

Responsibilities

• Own end-to-end sports science data operations (collection, QA/QC, documentation, and governance) across performance data streams.
• Lead training and match monitoring systems (e.g., STS) and related technologies (GPS, heart rate, VALD, 1080 and others), ensuring reliable workflows and clean outputs.
• Build and maintain dashboards, models, metrics, and reports that track workload, readiness, and physical performance across the season.
• Deliver clear, actionable insights to coaches, performance/medical staff, and players (including real-time training feedback when needed).
• Plan and execute performance testing and assessment protocols (field and gym-based); maintain benchmarks and individualized targets.
• Collaborate with Athletic Development and Medical on activation, strength/regeneration, and end-stage return-to-performance support as needed.
• Partner with analytics and scouting on performance questions tied to player evaluation, transactions, and projections.
• Lead integration of second team and academy performance data into centralized systems, standards, and reporting.
• Ensure compliance with all MLS medical manual requirements and club policies and procedures.

Key Deliverables

• Readiness/availability updates aligned with training plans and performance/medical direction.
• Stakeholder dashboards and reports with clear KPI definitions and refresh cadence.
• Testing battery execution and reporting with benchmarks, targets, and action steps.
• Multi-squad integration outputs (first team/second team/academy) using shared standards and longitudinal tracking.

Minimum Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Exercise Science or related field.
• Certified Performance and Sport Scientist (CPSS).
• Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS).
• Minimum 2 years experience in an elite sport environment.
• Demonstrated proficiency with GPS systems, heart rate, force plates, and current performance technologies.
• Experience in a coach-facing role explaining monitoring outputs and real-time GPS results.
• Proficiency in R, Python, and Power BI for data analysis and reporting.
• Current CPR/AED certification (or ability to obtain promptly).

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience querying cloud databases and supporting automated/real-time reporting (e.g., SQL, ETL, APIs).
• Comfortable conversing in Spanish.
• Experience scaling sport science systems across multiple squads (first team + second team + academy).
• Strong data QA habits and reproducible workflows (e.g., documentation, version control).

We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, gender identity, marital or veteran status, or any other protected class.