Regional Talent Coach Manager - Americas

As the organiser of some of the biggest and most iconic sport events in the world, we lead the way in the sport and event industry.

In 2021, FIFA launched the global Talent Development Scheme (TDS) to collaborate with its Member Associations (MAs) aiming to increase the competitiveness of their national teams following a 2-year landscape analysis. The underlying vision is that long-term, sustainable improvement of national team performance can only be achieved by creating the best possible talent development systems. 

The Regional Talent Coach Manager for Americas plays a central leadership role in the implementation and continuous development of the FIFA Talent Coach Programme across the Americas. Acting as the primary liaison between FIFA Headquarters and national stakeholders, the Regional Talent Coach Manager oversees the programme, ensuring quality, alignment, and sustainability in all phases of implementation.

Operating within FIFA’s strategic framework, the Regional Talent Coach Manager works in close coordination with the TDS Lead of the regional hub on the one side and FIFA Headquarters on the other, collaborating with Technical Experts, Technical Directors, Confederation offices, and internal FIFA departments. The role requires a blend of strategic leadership, technical expertise, and intercultural management skills to deliver excellence across diverse political and cultural contexts in Americas.

This management position demands a strong and recognised personality with both high-level football expertise and advanced management abilities, capable of navigating complex environments and strengthening talent pathways throughout the regions.

Join the team as a freelancer and support us on our mission.

THE POSITION

These are your key tasks:

Strategic Leadership & Programme Delivery (MA Preparation & Activation)

• Lead the implementation and growth of the FIFA Talent Coach Programme across the Americas, in alignment with the TDS Lead of the regional hub and FIFA HQ.
• Act independently in line with FIFA’s global strategy, programme standards, and regional priorities.
• Provide ongoing oversight of Member Associations from the application stage through activation and delivery.
• Coordinate programme milestones including discovery visits, onboarding events, milestone events, and national workshops.
• Ensure regional activities are aligned with the overall Talent Coach Programme strategy and contribute to long-term player development success.

Collaboration & Shared Responsibility

• Work closely with TDS Lead of the regional hub and Technical Directors in each Member Association to support national talent development strategies.
• Collaborate with Technical Experts who act as technical leads and supervise groups of Talent Coaches.
• Support Technical Experts in their mentoring function while maintaining overall accountability for programme delivery.
• Ensure strong alignment across stakeholders and manage interfaces between technical, operational, and safeguarding functions.
• Build and sustain trusted relationships with Member Associations, CONMEBOL, CONCACAF, FIFA regional offices, and FIFA HQ departments.

Talent Coach Oversight

• Oversee the recruitment, onboarding, and performance management of Talent Coaches in the regions coordinated with the TDS Lead of the regional hub and FIFA HQ.
• Monitor coaching activities and ensure continuous professional development through Technical Experts.
• Address escalations and ensure Talent Coaches are aligned with the programme’s objectives, values, and safeguarding requirements.

Quality Assurance & Reporting

• Monitor the quality, progress, and impact of the programme (e.g., adherence to FIFA Academy criteria) across Member Associations.
• Ensure safeguarding, compliance, and integrity standards are consistently met.
• Provide structured feedback, insights, and recommendations to both the TDS Lead of the regional hub and FIFA HQ.
• Use data, reporting tools, and evidence-based methods to inform decisions and support continuous programme improvement. 

YOUR PROFILE

We work hard at FIFA.
We are dedicated, ambitious and innovative.

And we respect our values. Always.

For all roles, we seek talented people with an entrepreneurial spirit and a global mindset.

The specific competencies we require for this position are:

• Minimum 5 - 10 years of professional experience in football development, programme management, or technical operations.
• Proven record of managing projects with multiple stakeholders across different countries or organisations.
• Demonstrated ability to coordinate, mediate, and align perspectives in multicultural contexts.
• Experience in collaborating with Member Associations, Confederations, or international sports organisations is desirable.
• Strong background in programme delivery, monitoring, and reporting within football or comparable international development fields.
• On-the-ground experience in football (e.g., academies, member associations, development programmes) considered an asset. Experience in working with senior leaders in sports, including MA Presidents, General Secretaries and technical staff.
• Master’s degree or equivalent experience in Sports Management or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in elite youth development, academy management, or technical leadership.
• Proven track record in designing and implementing player development programmes at national or club level.
• Technical Expertise with an UEFA Pro or A-License (or equivalent) is strongly preferred.
• In-depth knowledge of talent identification, training methodology, and long-term player development models.
• Recognised manager with advanced management and leadership skills.
• Strong technical football background and expertise in elite youth development.
• Proven ability to operate in multicultural and politically complex environments.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and relationship management skills.
• Ability to work independently while aligning with the TDS Lead of the regional hub and FIFA HQ.
• Fluency in oral and written English and Spanish.
• Knowledge of French is considered a strong asset, given the linguistic diversity across the Americas.
• Proficient in MS Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Visio & Project).
• Proficient in Player Databases.
• Willingness and ability to travel internationally.

About FIFA

We are FIFA, the global governing body for football.

Our vision is to make football truly global, diverse and inclusive, for the benefit of the entire world. The last FIFA World Cup in Qatar in 2022 attracted more than 5 billion viewers and the last FIFA Women's World Cup in Australia and New Zealand in 2023 was the greatest-ever FIFA Women's World Cup that inspired millions of girls and women around the globe. The opportunities for growth are exciting.

We are a modern organisation with over 800 passionate employees who are Living Football every day. Our headquarters are based in Zurich, Switzerland, and we have offices in Miami, Paris and Rabat, plus eleven regional offices from New Zealand to India, South Africa, Panama and Paraguay.