U17 Women’s Head Coach – U15-U17 Women’s Youth Excel Program Lead

Job Description

Overview

Canada Soccer is seeking a visionary and passionate Head Coach to lead the Women’s U17 National Team and be the Lead of our U15-U17 Excel Phase. This role is critical to the continued success of Canada Soccer’s Women’s National Team Program and involves the holistic development of elite female athletes aged under 17, preparing them for international competition and progression through the Women’s National Team pathway. The successful candidate will embody Canada Soccer’s values and demonstrate a strong commitment to advancing the women’s game in Canada.

Position Summary

Working Relationships

• Collaborates closely with the Sporting Director, technical and support staff, national teams operations, medical department and performance specialists.
• Maintains regular communication with national team coaches across age groups to ensure alignment with Canada Soccer’s women’s playing philosophy and the long term player pathway.
• Works with provincial and territorial member associations and professional clubs to identify, track and monitor top talent.
• Works alongside the Women’s EXCEL program and scouting staff to create a clear and consistent identification and development pathway for emerging talent.
• Engages with clubs, academies, and school programs to support holistic athlete development and scouting efforts.

Authority

• Leads all technical decisions related to the U17 Women’s National Team, including player selection, match tactics, and training design.
• Directs and evaluates staff performance during team camps and competitions.
• Represents the U15 to U17 programs within Canada Soccer and externally with stakeholders, as authorized by the Sporting Director.
• Exercises authority over player scouting strategy in collaboration with the high performance department.
• Acts as a technical ambassador for women’s youth soccer in Canada.

Scope of Services

• Plan, implement, and evaluate all technical aspects of U15 to U17 National Team camps, matches, and international competitions.
• Scout, monitor, and assess players across Canada and internationally who are eligible to represent Canada at the U15 to U17 level.
• Collaborate with the women’s technical team to ensure alignment with the overall national playing model and long-term player development framework.
• Provide developmental feedback to players and collaborate with their home environments to support long-term growth.
• Provide mentorship to staff and support the development of assistant coaches and team personnel.
• Contribute to the identification and tracking of players for future U20 and Senior National Team inclusion.
• Promote a positive and inclusive team environment that prioritizes athlete well-being, performance, and development.

Required Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Minimum National A License or equivalent international certification.
• Demonstrated experience coaching elite youth players, preferably within a national team, academy, or high-performance environment.
• Strong background in talent identification and player development within a structured player pathway.
• Proven ability to assess and track youth player progression from grassroots to elite levels.
• Proven track record in player development, team management, and international competition.
• Excellent communication, leadership, and organizational skills.
• Bilingualism (English and French) is considered an asset.
• Must be able to travel internationally and work irregular hours, including evenings and weekends.
• A current and valid police background check and Safe Sport Roster certification are required.

Please submit your résumé and expected salary expectations to Cathy Breda at careers@canadasoccer.com before May 23rd , 2025.

Please note that only those candidates selected for a potential interview will be contacted.

Canada Soccer is the official governing body for soccer in Canada. In partnership with its members, Canada Soccer promotes the growth and development of soccer in Canada, from grassroots to high performance, and on a national scale. Soccer is the largest participatory sport in Canada and is considered the fastest growing sport in the country.

There are nearly 1,000,000 registered Canada Soccer active participants in Canada within 1,200 clubs that operate in 13 provincial/territorial member associations. Our recruitment and selection processes and work environment are inclusive and barrier-free. Canada Soccer believes that a diverse team strengthens our organization.

CanadaSoccer provides equal opportunity for all applicants and do not discriminate on the basis of race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, record of offences pardoned or suspended, marital status, family status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by local law. Self-identification by candidates in the process is completely voluntary.

We welcome and encourage applications from people with disabilities.

Tagged as: Canada, Coach, Full Time, Leadership & Management, women's football