Chief of Staff to the Commissioner

The National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) is the premier professional women's soccer league, currently featuring 14 teams (soon expanding to 16) and more than 300 of the world's top players. Now in its 13th season, the NWSL is in the midst of an unprecedented growth phase, with 2024 attendance exceeding 2 million for the first time and viewership across its broadcast partners-Amazon, CBS, ESPN, and Scripps-surging to over 17 million, up 285% year over year.

As valuations rise and fan engagement deepens, the NWSL is redefining what's possible for women's sports in both the business and cultural landscape. With an expanding presence across global markets and growing relevance in pop culture, the NWSL is poised for even greater success-and marketing will be a central driver of that momentum.

Position Description:

The National Women's Soccer League (NWSL) is seeking a seasoned and highly effective Chief of Staff to serve as a strategic partner and trusted advisor to the Commissioner. This role is critical in driving operational excellence, unblocking progress, and ensuring strategic initiatives are executed effectively across the organization.

The ideal candidate is a highly organized, emotionally intelligent, and influential leader who thrives in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment. They will balance big-picture thinking with an ability to dive into details, always with a lens on anticipating needs, identifying areas of improvement, progressing the work and enabling the Commissioner and leadership team to operate at their highest potential.

Why This Role Matters:

The NWSL is in a pivotal stage of growth and transformation. The Chief of Staff will play an integral role in shaping the future of the league by enabling the Commissioner to lead with clarity, purpose, and impact. This is an opportunity to work at the intersection of sport, strategy, and culture-and make a lasting difference in professional women's sports.

Primary Responsibilities:

Strategic Partner to the Commissioner

• Serve as a thought partner to the Commissioner, providing strategic counsel and helping prioritize initiatives aligned with league objectives.
• Act as a sounding board, synthesizing input from across the organization to inform decision-making.
• Manage strategic agendas, prepare briefing materials, and ensure the Commissioner is equipped for key internal and external engagements.

Operational Leadership & Execution

• Drive the execution of league-wide strategic initiatives and cross-functional projects; monitor progress, troubleshoot roadblocks, and ensure accountability.
• Build and refine internal processes to improve team efficiency, coordination, and focus.
• Identify and implement systems and structures that enhance executive team effectiveness and team communication.

Leadership Team Enablement

• Act as a bridge across departments to ensure alignment and clarity around goals, priorities, and timelines.
• Facilitate leadership meetings, set agendas, track follow-ups, and ensure effective follow-through on action items.
• Unblock and support executive leaders to help them deliver on key responsibilities.

Change Management & Continuous Improvement

• Champion a culture of proactive problem-solving, agility, and data-informed decision-making.
• Identify gaps, inefficiencies, or risks early-and recommend solutions that support sustainable growth and operational health.
• Anticipate the evolving needs of the Commissioner and broader league leadership, adjusting priorities and approaches as necessary.

Qualifications

• 10+ years of experience in strategy, operations, consulting, or a similar function, with significant exposure to executive leadership teams.
• Proven ability to influence and lead without authority across cross-functional teams.
• Experience working closely with or within sports, media, or dynamic, high-growth organizations preferred.
• Outstanding communication skills-verbal, written, and interpersonal.
• Highly organized, with exceptional judgment, discretion, and attention to detail.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple high-priority projects in a fast-paced environment.
• Bachelor's degree required; advanced degree (MBA, MPA, etc.) is a plus.

Key Competencies:

• Executive presence and maturity
• Strategic agility balanced with operational excellence
• Bias for action and proactive ownership
• Trusted relationship-builder and collaborator
• High emotional intelligence and resilience
• Deep commitment to the mission and values of the NWSL
• High integrity

Salary: $195,000.00 -250,000.00

NWSL observes a hybrid work schedule of three working days in the physical office and two remote working days.

NWSL salaries are contingent upon candidates' qualifications, functional business needs, and market financials.

NWSL is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. All employment decisions, including the recruiting, hiring, placement, training availability, promotion, compensation, evaluation, disciplinary actions, and termination of employment (if necessary) are made without regard to the employee's race, color, creed, religion, sex, pregnancy or childbirth, personal appearance, family responsibilities, sexual orientation or preference, gender identity, political affiliation, source of income, place of residence, national or ethnic origin, ancestry, age, marital status, military veteran status, unfavorable discharge from military service, physical or mental disability, or on any other basis prohibited by applicable law.