Sporting HR Lead

Boston Legacy FC

$120K — $145K *
Business Services
8 - 10 years of experience
Job Overview by Ladders

Qualifications

  • 8+ years of progressive HR or HR business partner experience, particularly in employee relations and conflict resolution.
  • Substantial experience with workplace investigations and sensitive employee relations matters.
  • Strong understanding of how a sporting organization operates and its internal dynamics.
  • Proven mediator and facilitator with a capacity to maintain neutrality and build trust.
  • Practical knowledge of employment law regarding workplace conduct and investigations.
  • Experience designing and administering HR training programs focused on employee relations.
  • Exceptional emotional intelligence and judgment, recognized as a credible partner.

Responsibilities

  • Serve as the dedicated HR business partner for the sporting organization, collaborating closely with leadership.
  • Act as a neutral point of contact for employee relations issues, guiding resolutions.
  • Lead workplace investigations, conducting thorough fact-finding and reporting outcomes.
  • Mediate disputes within the sporting organization, coaching teams through conflicts.
  • Advise leadership on fostering communication and collaboration among staff members.
  • Own the performance management processes, directing goal-setting and feedback cycles.
  • Develop and implement HR training programs on conflict resolution and workplace standards.

Benefits

  • Comprehensive health coverage including medical, dental, and vision plans.
  • 401(k) plan with employer match for financial planning.
  • Paid time off, sick leave, and recognized holidays for work-life balance.
  • Unique matchdays and event access, enhancing engagement with the club.
  • A tight-knit, mission-driven culture where every voice matters.
Full Job Description

The Role

Boston Legacy FC is seeking a Director of Sporting Human Resources to serve as the dedicated employee relations and HR business partner to our sporting organization. Reporting to the Chief Operating Officer/Chief Legal Officer and partnering closely with the General Manager, this role is embedded with the sporting side of the Club, supporting our coaching staff, technical and performance teams, athletic training and medical staff, and football operations.

This is a builder role for an experienced HR Business Partner who is skilled at navigating complex interpersonal dynamics, resolving conflict, and building trust in a high-performance environment. You will serve as the primary, trusted point of contact for employee relations matters within the sporting organization: fielding concerns, leading investigations, mediating conflict between staff members and departments, and advising sporting leaders on how to handle sensitive personnel situations with fairness and consistency. You will also own the performance management cadence, feedback structures, and manager coaching that help build a healthy, accountable, high-trust sporting environment - one that is built to win on and off the pitch.

This is primarily a staff-facing role. All recruiting, HR administration, and payroll functions are owned by the Club's business-side People Operations team, allowing you to focus entirely on employee relations, conflict resolution, and strengthening the sporting culture.

Key Responsibilities

  • Serve as the dedicated employee relations and HR business partner to the sporting organization, reporting to the COO/CLO and partnering closely with the GM and sporting department leaders.
  • Act as the neutral and confidential point of contact for employee relations matters across sporting staff - fielding concerns, conducting intake, and determining appropriate paths to resolution.
  • Lead workplace investigations for the sporting organization, including fact-finding, witness interviews, documentation, and recommended outcomes, in close partnership with Legal.
  • Mediate conflict between individuals, teams, and departments within the sporting organization, coaching leaders and staff through difficult conversations and disputes.
  • Advise sporting leadership on team dynamics, communication, and collaboration across coaches, athletic trainers, medical and performance staff, the GM, and soccer operations.
  • Own the performance management cadence for sporting staff, including goal-setting, structured 1:1 frameworks, and regular feedback cycles, with an eye toward surfacing and resolving issues before they escalate.
  • Build leadership capability across the sporting staff, coaching and enabling coaches, technical staff, and department heads to manage their teams and handle conflict effectively.
  • Build and administer HR training programs and own the LMS for the sporting department, with an emphasis on manager training in conflict resolution, respectful workplace conduct, and employee relations fundamentals.
  • Partner with the business-side People team and Legal to ensure consistent, well-documented handling of employee relations matters, while recruiting, HR administration, and payroll remain with that team.
  • Help define and reinforce the cultural standards, behaviors, and norms of a championship-caliber sporting organization.
  • Stay current on employee relations and employment law best practices from other NWSL and professional sports teams, and continually evolve internal processes.
  • Travel to home matches and select away matches and events as needed, while maintaining a primary on-site presence in Massachusetts with the team.

Qualifications

  • 8+ years of progressive human resources or HR business partner experience, with substantial experience in employee relations, conflict resolution, or workplace investigations - including time supporting a sporting or professional sports organization.
  • Demonstrated experience conducting workplace investigations and handling sensitive employee relations matters with discretion, fairness, and sound judgment.
  • Demonstrated understanding of how a sporting organization operates and how its people work together, including the relationships and interdependencies among coaches, athletic trainers, medical and performance staff, general managers, and soccer operations.
  • Proven skill as a mediator and facilitator of difficult conversations, with the ability to remain neutral and build trust with staff and leaders alike.
  • Working knowledge of employment law as it relates to workplace conduct, harassment and discrimination complaints, and investigations.
  • Hands-on experience designing and delivering HR training programs and administering LMS platforms, ideally with a focus on manager and employee relations training.
  • Exceptional emotional intelligence, maturity, discretion, and judgment, with the ability to be a credible, neutral partner trusted by leaders and staff alike.
  • A builder's mindset - comfortable creating structures, programs, and processes from the ground up in a start-up environment, and driving consistent results.
  • Willingness and ability to travel to matches and events, and to work evenings and weekends as the schedule requires.
  • Must be able to successfully complete a Boston Legacy FC background check as well as a separate background check as required by the NWSL.

What We Offer

At Boston Legacy FC, we believe taking care of our team off the pitch is what allows us to compete at the highest level on it. Our benefits and culture reflect that commitment:

  • Competitive Compensation - salary commensurate with experience, qualifications, and market.
  • Comprehensive Health Coverage - medical, dental, and vision plans for employees and eligible dependents, plus mental health support.
  • Financial Future - 401(k) plan with employer match to help you invest in what's next.
  • Time to Recharge - paid time off, sick leave, and recognized holidays.
  • Behind-the-Scenes Access - experience matchdays, events, and club moments as an essential member of the team building Boston's professional women's soccer club from day one.
  • A Founding Team Culture - join a tight-knit, mission-driven group where every voice matters, ideas move fast, and the work you do leaves a lasting mark on the club, the league, and the city.

The pay range for this role is:

120,000 - 145,000 USD per year (Boston Office)

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