Director, Health And Innovation

Overview /Objective:

The Director of Health and Innovation for the National Football League (NFL) is responsible for working to advance strategies to decrease player injuries and enhance the safety of the game.

The Director is joining the NFL at a critically important time when the organization has made unprecedented investments into medical research, biomechanical engineering, epidemiology, and data analytics, all designed to accelerate science, and identify new technologies and means of preventing and treating injuries, as well as to improve overall safety.

Responsibilities:

• Support managers at each Club to ensure League initiatives are executed. Ensure all education of League wide protective equipment research and findings is reported to the League and disseminated.
• Triage feedback from Clubs and vendors; provide vendor and internal support to ensure timely response to critical issues.
• Liaison between League Office and Club Personnel including Sports Science, Training, Strength and Conditioning, and Equipment and Field Managers at the NFL Clubs.
• Manage injury reduction task forces and assist in development of goals. Lead the execution of the strategies, convene the participants, analyze the results and make recommendations to improve the health and safety of the game.
• Work collaboratively with internal company partners in finance, marketing, sponsorship, legal, football operations, and management council to execute health and safety programs and initiatives.
• Collaborate with vendors and external sources for software, equipment, and services related to player health and safety.
• Lead various innovation initiatives, including strategic goal setting and operational execution.

Required Qualifications:

• Minimum 8 years of Program and/or Project Management
• Minimum 5 years industry relevant experience in Research, Medical, Engineering, Sports Science, Athletic Training or similar positions
• Minimum 8-10 years experience in a professional work environment
• Demonstrated excellence in collaborating with others to achieve desired health and safety outcomes
• Communication skills (written and verbal) which are equally effective with large and small audiences and on a one-to-one level
• A style that is open to change and innovation, with an ability to delegate yet control, set high standards and work collaboratively to implement change
• Bachelor’s degree (or greater)

Preferred Qualifications:

• Previous experience in professional or collegiate sports
• Working knowledge of American Football (enhanced knowledge a plus)

Other Key Attributes / Characteristics:

• Ability to identify innovation opportunities and incorporate them in ongoing work
• Unquestionable integrity, with an ability to command respect both within and outside of the organization
• Lives the mission, vision, culture and values of the NFL
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, including the ability to persuade and negotiate effectively and be politically savvy. Recognized as a great listener, learner and strategic contributor.
• A strong sense of urgency and a bias for action in making sound decisions based on a combination of analysis, experience, judgment and personal/business maturity
• Leadership style that builds and maintains a climate of caring, respect and trust and inspires commitment from others to achieve organizational goals

Physical Demands:

• None

Travel:

• 20%

Salary / Pay Range

• This job posting contains a pay range, which represents the range of salaries or hourly rates that the NFL believes, in good faith, at the time of this posting that it might be willing to pay for the posted job in the location(s) specified. The NFL expects to hire for this position near the middle of the range. Only in truly rare and exceptional circumstances, where an external candidate has experience, credentials or expertise that far exceed those required or expected for the position, would the NFL consider paying a salary or rate near the higher end of the range.

Terms /Expected Hours of Work:

• The NFL is committed to building a diverse, equitable and inclusive work environment that reflects our incredibly diverse fan base. We provide an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all employees and applicants without regard to status as protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.
• NFL employees are required to work 40 hours per week. This role will require time in excess of 40 hours per week and weekends. FLSA Exempt.
• The NFL maintains a Flexible Workplace Policy that provides members of our workforce with opportunities to periodically work from a location of their choice, while maintaining a priority on in-person work at an NFL office, which enables us to more effectively collaborate, connect and build a workplace culture that will drive our continued success.