ACADEMY DIRECTOR

Location: Halifax, NS, Canada

Employment Status: Full-time 40/h week

Reports to: Sporting Director

Applications will be reviewed and considered as received.

Job Description

Halifax Tides FC is seeking an Academy Director to build, lead, and operationalize a professional girls’ academy in Atlantic Canada.

This is a foundational role, responsible for establishing the structures, standards, and environment required to deliver a high-performance player development pathway aligned with the Club’s long-term vision. While the overarching Academy strategy will be defined at Club level, the Academy Director will be responsible for translating that strategy into a fully functioning program.

The Academy Director will oversee all aspects of the Academy, including technical programming, staffing, player development, operations, and stakeholder engagement, with the objective of producing homegrown players capable of contributing to the First Team and beyond. The Academy Director will also be expected to deliver coaching sessions in the early phases of the program’s development.

This role reports to the Sporting Director and forms a key part of the Club’s sporting leadership group.

Key Responsibilities

• Execute and Operationalize the Halifax Tides Player Development Strategy
• Build and lead a professional Academy program in Atlantic Canada.
• Establish a clear and credible player pathway aligned with provincial and national systems.
• Position the Academy as a leader in player development, welfare, and standards.
• Deliver a sustainable pipeline of players capable of progressing to the First Team and national pathways.

Key Objectives

• Design and implement a structured, age-appropriate development model.
• Establish the Academy’s technical framework, curriculum, and operating standards.
• Build systems, processes, and documentation required to run a high-performance Academy.

Technical Leadership

• Act as Academy Head Coach in early phases of program’s development.
• Lead all aspects of the Academy’s football environment, including training methodology, culture, and standards.
• Oversee periodization across technical, tactical, physical, and psychosocial components.
• With the support of the Sporting Director, align playing identity and game model with the First Team.
• Ensure alignment with national standards.
• Recruit, hire, onboard, and manage Academy staff (coaching and support staff).
• Establish clear roles, responsibilities, and performance expectations for all staff.
• Implement performance review processes and development plans for staff.
• Lead regular staff meetings and internal communication structures.

Player Management & Parent Engagement

• Lead annual roster planning, including recruitment, retention, and release decisions.
• Oversee player evaluation and development tracking processes.
• Maintain consistent, professional communication with players and parents.
• Design and deliver parent education initiatives.

Talent Identification & Recruitment

• Build and lead a regional and national talent identification strategy.
• Establish relationships with clubs, schools, and provincial bodies.
• Deliver ID camps and scouting initiatives across Atlantic Canada and beyond.
• With support of Sporting Director, develop scalable recruitment processes, integrating data and technical evaluation.
• Explore and implement satellite and outreach programming.

Stakeholder Management

• Develop and maintain strong working relationships with key partners, including all local clubs, Soccer Nova Scotia, Canadian Sport Institute, and local community organizations.

Operations & Administration

• Oversee all Academy operations, including scheduling, facilities, and travel.
• Manage Academy budget and financial tracking.
• Maintain and update Academy Handbook.
• Ensure compliance with all governing body and Safe Sport requirements.

Reporting & Governance

• Provide regular reporting to the Sporting Director and wider sporting leadership group.
• Contribute to technical and executive reporting as required.
• Support broader Club planning through insights on player development and pathway performance.
• Support Club promotional, community, and commercial activities as required.

This description is a summary only and is describing the general level of work being performed, it is not intended to be all-inclusive. The duties of this position may change from time to time and/or based on business needs. We reserve the right to add or delete duties and responsibilities at the discretion of the supervisor and/or hiring authority.

Performance / Skill Requirements

• An experienced strategist, or visionary, with strong execution skills.
• Knowledge of professional sports team operations and public relations is required.
• Demonstrated ability to teach techniques, tactics, physical and psychological components of soccer.
• Knowledge and experience managing player development processes.
• Must be able to demonstrate professionalism, punctuality, and exhibit proper ethical behavior.
• Demonstrated ability to inspire, motivate and educate players and coaching staff.
• Organizational and personnel management skills.
• Excellent interpersonal and oral communication skills and the ability to work with a diverse group of individuals.
• Must possess the ability to adapt to unpredictable circumstances and handle a highly demanding work environment.
• Ability to prioritize responsibilities and multi-task effectively.
• Ability to create spreadsheets and routine business correspondence.
• A strong sense of self-awareness and emotional intelligence.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and exercise discretion when privy to sensitive information.

Qualifications

• Canada Soccer ‘A’ License (or currently enrolled).
• Minimum 10 years’ experience in player development (youth, collegiate, and/or professional).
• Minimum 3+ years in professional sports leadership, administration, or operations roles.
• Professional playing and/or coaching experience preferred.
• Strong understanding of the Canadian soccer landscape and player pathways.
• Must be able to work a flexible schedule, including evenings, weekends, and holidays as needed.
• Responsibilities include regular work outdoors and may require standing on feet for long periods of time, as well as some lifting of up to 20 pounds.
• Flexibility to travel nationally and internationally for the performance of duties.

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