Head of Performance Analysis

Job Description Summary

We elevate Kansas City through soccer experiences and create memories through personalized touchpoints with our club. Our promise is to continually delight our fans and set the benchmark for best practices across Major League Soccer.

Sporting Kansas City’s values are to be experience obsessed, high performance in all that we do, exemplify accountability, demonstrate integrity and to always put the club first.

We are looking for an experienced and forward-thinking individual to join Sporting Kansas City as our new Head of Performance Analysis. The successful candidate will be responsible for leading the provision of all First Team performance analysis processes, developing robust workflows designed to enhance our pre-match preparation, live match support, post-match review, and individual player development. Working closely with the First Team coaching staff, the Data & Analytics staff, and the wider soccer technical staff group, the Head of Performance Analysis will play a central role in capturing, documenting, measuring and reviewing the evolution of the club’s playing philosophy. This role requires a strong understanding of the game, analysis technology and software, strong communication skills, and the ability to translate video and data into actionable insights and tactical solutions.

Job Description

Essential Functions

People

• Build strong relationships with the Head Coach and First Team coaching staff, developing a deep understanding of their ideas, playing philosophy, needs and priorities.

• Work closely with the VP of Data & Analytics to ensure the performance analysis workflows and outputs are aligned with the Club’s wider strategy.

• Lead, mentor and support the development of performance analysts, establishing clear responsibilities, standards and a collaborative, high-performance working environment.

• Collaborate with the wider Data & Analytics team, including data analysts, scientists, and engineers, to ensure both data and video are embedded in all relevant soccer decisions.

• Foster strong communication and collaboration across all other soccer departments including coaching, analytics, scouting, performance, and other relevant departments.

• Work closely with coaches and analysts to proactively identify tactical challenges, emerging trends and opportunities for improvement, translating performance insights into actionable solutions that constructively challenge, shape and influence coaching decisions.

Process

• Lead the design, implementation and continuous improvement of best-in-class pre-match, live, and post-match analysis processes, ensuring high-quality team, individual, and opposition analysis that informs coaching and soccer decision-making.

• Work closely with the VP of Data & Analytics and First Team coaching staff to capture, document, maintain and support the evolution of the Club’s playing philosophy, establishing clear frameworks to measure and evaluate its implementation.

• Establish clear workflows, methodologies, reporting structures, including video capture, data integration and management of technology, software and equipment.

• Lead the processes for training analysis and individual player development, overseeing the capture, coding and review of training sessions and ensuring IDPs are supported by video and data, contributing to measurable progress over time.

• Implement regular review cycles, ensuring we effectively translate findings into training priorities, tactical adjustments and solutions, and individual player development objectives.

• Continuously evaluate emerging soccer technology, software, methodologies, and industry best practices, identifying opportunities to enhance the quality and impact of our processes.

Product

• Lead the delivery of high-quality team, individual, and opposition analysis, managing clear reporting processes that ensure staff have access to the best information available.

• Develop detailed tactical analysis of SKC and its opponents, identifying strengths, weaknesses, patterns, and opportunities, and translating findings into recommendations.

• Support the development of performance indicators and frameworks that capture and measure the Club's playing philosophy, enabling evaluation and evolution over time.

• Develop and deliver individual player analysis and feedback to support IDPs, positional development, and the monitoring of player progression against clearly defined objectives.

• Collaborate closely with the wider Data & Analytics team to develop innovative analytical tools, visualizations, and reporting solutions that address relevant football questions and improve the accessibility and application of performance insights.

• Support the development of longitudinal team and player performance analysis, identifying meaningful trends, areas for improvement, and opportunities to enhance performance.

• Support the coaching team with the preparation and delivery of attacking and defensive set plays analysis, identifying key opportunities and performance trends.

Personal Attributes

• Strong organizational, communication, and leadership skills.
• Ability to organize work effectively, conceptualize and prioritize objectives, and exercise independent judgment based on an understanding of organizational policies and activities.
• Must possess a strong, positive, and self-motivated work ethic.
• Strong problem-solving skills.
• Detail-oriented.
• Have a desire to continually improve from both individual & team perspectives. Exemplify a growth mindset.
• Passionate about professional sports, including soccer and team operations.
• Ability to demonstrate poise, tact and diplomacy. Strong teamwork aptitude required.
• High level of interpersonal skills to handle sensitive, confidential situations and information.
• Professional appearance and attitude, as well as ability to work with others.

Skills and Experience

Essential

• Minimum of five years of professional experience in performance analysis, including significant experience within an elite First Team environment.
• Evidence of leading performance analysis processes and mentoring analysts within a professional soccer environment.
• Excellent understanding of the game, and the application of performance analysis to match preparation, coaching and player development.
• Proven ability to develop strong relationships with coaches, communicate insights, identify and address tactical challenges and solutions, and influence soccer decision-making.
• Extensive experience in designing and delivering pre-match, live, post-match, training, and individual analysis processes.
• Proficient in performance analysis technology and software including Sportscode, Studio, Wyscout or similar solutions.
• Strong understanding of performance data and its integration with video analysis to support coaches and enhance team and player development.
• Excellent organizational, leadership and communication skills, with the ability to manage competing priorities within a demanding, high-performance environment.

Desirable

• Previous experience as a Head of Performance Analysis or in a senior or lead analysis position within a professional soccer club.
• Relevant academic qualification in Performance Analysis, Sports Science, Coaching, Sports Analytics or a similar relevant field.
• Recognized coaching qualification (USSF, UEFA or equivalent) and/or any evidence of practical coaching experience.
• Previous experience working within Major League Soccer, with a clear understanding of the league’s competitive structure and demands.
• Familiarity with advanced soccer data including event, tracking and physical performance datasets, and experience collaborating with data analysts and/or data scientists.

Physical Abilities

• Based primarily at the Club’s training facility and stadium, with potential regular travel for matches and events.
• Must be able to lift and carry up to 100 pounds routinely as part of session setup, breakdown, and demonstration.
• Ability to work in both indoor and outdoor environments under varying weather conditions.
• Travel and irregular hours, including evenings, weekends, and holidays, are required.
• Must maintain professionalism and emotional control in demanding or high-pressure situations.

Sporting Kansas City is an equal opportunity employer. We strive to create an empowering environment for a diverse and inclusive team of associates who make a positive impact on our club and our community. Individuals from all backgrounds are encouraged to apply.