About the Role

Location: Remote (USA-based in Eastern or Central timezones preferred, open to North America & Caribbean region)
Reports to: Executive Director, Common Goal USA
Status: Full-time, Exempt

THE OPPORTUNITY: AN EVEN PLAYING FIELD FOR ALL

At Common Goal (www.common-goal.org), we believe soccer isn't just the world’s most beloved game—it’s the world’s greatest changemaker. Soccer sparks joy, builds belonging, and inspires collective action. We harness this power to fuel a global collective that unites diverse stakeholders—from community-based organizations to professional athletes, to global brands—to unlock an even playing field for all, where every young person, no matter their background, has the opportunity to play, learn, and thrive.

At our core, we are a global “football for good” network that together serves 4 million youth annually across 100+ countries. If this network were a soccer federation, we’d be the world’s third largest.

Common Goal USA leads efforts across the United States, North America, and the Caribbean to translate Common Goal’s global vision into local impact. Now, with the 2026 Men’s World Cup, LA28 Olympics, and Women’s World Cup 2031 on the horizon, we are growing our team with a goal of driving a five year plan that accelerates lasting social impact for the next generation.

THE POSITION: DEPUTY DIRECTOR

Common Goal USA is seeking a Deputy Director to join our Executive Director in a transformative leadership journey focused on translating mission into impact. We are seeking an experienced leader to champion our mission and elevate our impact on the global stage.

As Deputy Director you will work closely with the Executive Director, co-piloting Common Goal USA through a transformative era of growth. You’ll blend strategic insight with hands-on management to guide our community engagement, engagement, impact delivery, and operational strength. You’ll co-design high-impact partnerships, strengthen community capacity, and ensure the engine of our organization runs smoothly.

Your tasks

For an impact-minded, ambitious, community-builder that is comfortable building the plane as you fly it, this is a truly unique role at an ideal moment.

As part of an award-winning organization, you'll lead efforts to convene, connect, and grow the “football for good” community, deliver impact in collaboration with mission-aligned partners, and optimize soccer’s ability to shape a world where every young person can play, learn, and thrive.

Readiness to play into the match quickly and a deep understanding of football for good/ sport-based youth development are essential. Specifically, the Deputy Director has three main areas of responsibility:

Strategic Outcomes

Champion efforts to Strengthen Community, Power Collective Action, and Inspire System toward a universal Play-Learn-Thrive outcome framework across the region
Cultivate, support, and grow our network of “football for good” partners across North America & the Caribbean
Guide and ensure delivery of multi-stakeholder partnerships with measurable outcomes

Operational Excellence & Leadership

Lead day-to-day internal operations (Finance, People, Operations) of Common Goal USA’s small but growing team, ensuring efficiency and compliance, with support of the Executive Director and CGUSA’s HR and Bookkeeping partners.
Strengthen internal systems and a culture of accountability, clarity, and care.
Play a key role in budgeting, hiring, policy-making, and team development.

Leadership

Partner closely with the Executive Director and Board to steer Common Goal USA’s strategic evolution
Foster a high-performing, values-aligned team that reflects the diversity of the communities we serve and the global nature of the vision
Champion a dynamic, mission-centered culture of creativity, innovation, collaboration, and excellence in execution

Your profile

You have a proven track record in youth development, sport-for-good, community or network development, ideally with direct experience in football for good
You are an excellent communicator, skilled at simplifying complex concepts and inspiring people to action, ideally in both English and Spanish
You “get things done” proactively taking initiative and leading a team toward high performance with a higher purpose
You are an experienced leader who endorses openness, accountability and respect
You balance an entrepreneurial, growth mindset with a practical delivery, breaking big ideas down into tangible strategies and steps.
You are a self-directed learner with experience navigating change.
You have a collaborative approach at the core, with a history of working in partnership and/or within a collective, ideally with demonstrated experience working cross-culturally and across countries.

Our offer

We aim to bring the same intentionality and equity to our teaming as we do to our mission work. This is a new position in the organization, so there is openness to flexing the position for the right fit.

The current vision for the position is:

Salary: Aligned to a leadership position within the sport for youth development sector and and based on internal equity and regional cost-of-living adjustments.

Benefits:

Medical, dental, and vision insurance via our partners at JustWorks
Paid holidays, generous PTO, and flexible leave
Health Advocate and One Medical support
Opportunities to shape future team policies and benefits

Perks:

Participation in global convenings, World Cup-aligned events, and speaking engagements
Professional development opportunities and global exchange
Remote-first flexibility with travel for convenings and key events
Joining a global team of 18 nationalities, speaking more than 12 languages, and a global community of nearly 16,000 practitioners and leaders across 100+ countries committed to using soccer as a force for good

Note that this position may work remotely from anywhere in the USA, with a preference for Eastern or Central time zones and proximity to an airport. We are open to discussions with experienced personnel based within the broader North America and Caribbean region.

How to apply

Common Goal values representation from the communities we serve and highly encourages those who have worked within “football for good” or sport-based youth development to apply. Kick things off by submitting your CV via the link below. We strive to provide a inclusive and fair recruitment process for all and therefore ask you not to submit a picture of yourself with your application. Your application will be screened against the position-specific criteria. The first step in the recruitment process will then be a first interview, followed by a presentation and a potential final call.

Common Goal is an equal opportunities employer and strongly committed to fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment, free from discrimination and harassment. We encourage applications from all suitably qualified and experienced people.

About us

Common Goal is a global NGO that activates the power of football to bring people together and deliver positive society-wide change.  

As a football-focused network we work to connect the cultural and financial influence of the football industry with local organisations all around the world that use the beautiful game to dismantle inequalities and build a better future for all.  

Our network works in more than 200 communities and over 116 countries to deliver change through football to young people. With decades of work in the field of football for good, we have seen that real, transformative impact is possible, through the shared joy that football brings.

Deputy Director (m/f/d)

Permanent employee, Full-time · USA