[Hiring] Vice President of Football Operations @Fritz Pollard Alliance Foundation

Role Description

The Vice President of Football Operations for the Fritz Pollard Alliance/Fritz Pollard Alliance Foundation (FPA) plays a central leadership role in advancing the mission of the FPA by supporting equitable access, opportunity, and advancement across professional football. This position will report directly to the FPA Executive Director and it is a remote role.

The FPA Vice President’s primary responsibility is the development and stewardship of the FPA Ready List, and support of the candidates on that list. The selected candidate also will work in close partnership with the Executive Director to advance the organization's other strategic priorities, and manage stakeholder engagement and member services.

This role requires deep knowledge of the NFL ecosystem, strong relationship management skills, strategic insight into hiring cycles, and a commitment to inclusive leadership in professional football. This role is a part-time role and it is expected that several months throughout the year will be busier than others. Specifically, significant hours will likely be contributed from November through May, whereas workload during the months of June through October will be lighter.

Primary Responsibilities

• Ready List Development & Stewardship
  • Develop and maintain a comprehensive and dynamic list of qualified candidates of color prepared to compete for key leadership positions, including:
    • Club President and equivalent roles
    • General Manager and equivalent roles
    • Assistant General Manager and equivalent roles
    • Head Coach
    • Coordinator positions
    • Assistant Coach positions
  • Cultivate and maintain relationships across the NFL ecosystem to identify emerging and established talent for inclusion on the Ready List.
  • Maintain consistent and confidential communication with candidates before and after interviews, providing appropriate support and engagement.
  • Engage with club decision-makers and league leadership before and after hiring cycles to ensure full and fair consideration of Ready List candidates.
  • Provide individualized support as needed to the candidates on our Ready List.
  • Lead the annual meeting with the NFL Commissioner and League executives (typically in early December) to review the Ready List and advocate for FPA members in advance of the hiring cycle.
• Membership Outreach & Engagement
  • In collaboration with the Executive Director, support efforts to:
    • Rebuild and re-engage FPA membership at key league events, including the Senior Bowl and NFL Combine, through both group and individual meetings.
    • Conduct virtual and in-person meetings with members at the Club level to support engagement and relationship building.
    • Support membership fundraising efforts in alignment with organizational goals.
• Consulting, Education & Career Development
  • Working closely with the Executive Director, mentor and advise coaches, scouts, executives, and FPA members on:
    • Performance evaluations
    • Contract considerations
    • Career planning and progression
    • Interview preparation
    • Job market dynamics
    • Professional expectations within the NFL ecosystem
  • Deliver presentations and workshops to NFL coaches, team executives, League office personnel, and other stakeholders on:
    • Career pathways in professional football
    • A variety of leadership competencies as appropriate to support participants' professional growth and career development
    • Data-informed perspectives on diversity, inclusion, equity, and opportunity
  • Serve as a trusted advisor to individuals navigating football-related career transitions, supporting long-term professional growth and leadership development.
• FPA Engagement & Governance
  • Support FPA efforts to advance its strategic priorities to achieve operational excellence and mission advancement.
  • When appropriate, present updates and reports to the FPA Board of Directors regarding Ready List activity, member engagement, and other FPA initiatives.
  • Support the Executive Director in advancing partnerships across the League, clubs, and broader football ecosystem.
  • Support FPA team efforts to plan and execute regular programming and events.

Qualifications

• Deep knowledge of the NFL hiring ecosystem and club leadership structures.
• Strong, credible relationships across professional football.
• Demonstrated commitment to equity, access, and inclusive leadership.
• Exceptional communication, discretion, and stakeholder management skills.
• Experience advising senior-level leaders in high-performance environments.
• Demonstrated experience as an executive leader in the football ecosystem.