Manager of Programming, Chicago Fire Foundation

The Chicago Fire Football Club (Chicago Fire FC) is an American professional soccer club that competes in Major League Soccer (MLS), the top U.S. domestic league. Founded on October 8, 1997, on the 126th anniversary of the Great Chicago Fire, the Club began play in 1998 as one of the League’s first expansion franchises. The Fire have won six major domestic titles, including the 1998 MLS Cup; the 1998, 2000, 2003, and 2006 Lamar Hunt U.S. Open Cups; as well as the 2003 MLS Supporters’ Shield.

The Club recently announced plans to build a $750M+ privately financed downtown stadium in Chicago in 2028. The stadium will anchor Chicago’s newest neighborhood, the 78, a 62-acre development and entertainment district located along the Chicago River just south of Roosevelt Road. For more information on our bold plans, visit DearChicago.com.

Additionally, the Club recently opened the state-of-the-art $100M Endeavor Health Performance Center in March 2025 that has set the standard for North American training facilities. With tremendous growth and expansion, the Club is laying the foundation for an audacious and ambitious vision that will transform the brand and the company in the coming years.

At Chicago Fire FC, we’re on a mission to entertain, serve, and unite Chicago by delivering excellence on and off the pitch to ensure a world-class experience. As a club we let our values guide everything we do: we uphold uncompromising integrity, show respect for all at all times, never settle for less, constantly innovate, and hold ourselves relentlessly accountable.

Position Overview:

Chicago Fire Football Club is seeking a motivated and dedicated professional to oversee the Club’s charitable programs. Reporting to the Director, Development and Foundation Programs, the Manager of Programming will oversee the planning, implementation and evaluation of the Club’s proprietary P.L.A.Y.S. Program and leading immense growth over the coming years.

Job Responsibilities:

• Manage day-to-day operations of the P.L.A.Y.S. Program in its entirety
• Develop program schedules, calendars, and implementation plans
• Collaborate with research team and assist with evaluation of all program measurements and data collection
• Support curriculum implementation and continuous improvement initiatives
• Serve as the primary liaison with school administrators, teachers, and community partners
• Cultivate and maintain positive relationships with school staff and stakeholders
• Coordinate logistics with partner schools, including scheduling, communication, and site support
• Ensure program compliance with organizational policies and sponsor commitments
• Recruit, train, supervise, and support program coordinators, coaches and volunteers
• Manage program budgets and resources including forecasting and expense tracking
• Develop communications, tools and other resources needed for programming
• Assist director with preparation of program reports for leadership, funders and foundation board
• Collaborate cross-functionally to achieve strategic club goals and assist with execution of additional Foundation programs and fundraisers
• Attend all CFFC home games, all Chicago Fire Foundation events, and other club events as requested
• Administrative tasks and other duties as assigned

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in related field preferred (Education, Social Work, Non-Profit Management)
• 3 - 5+ years of experience managing youth, school or non-profit programming
• Exceptional communication, both verbal & written, interpersonal skills and ability to manage programming and events
• Experience supervising staff or volunteers
• Knowledge of youth soccer development and social-emotional learning practices
• Highly organized with proven time management skills and experience creating efficient systems to juggle multiple projects simultaneously
• Possesses a spirit of flexibility, a positive outlook and the ability to move projects forward with urgency and cooperation
• Strong knowledge and understanding of the Chicago market and community
• Passion for community impact and alignment with the values and mission of Chicago Fire
• Ability to work non-traditional hours, in non-traditional settings, including all home games (or other work events) that fall on nights, weekends, and/or holidays

Preferred Qualifications:

• Spanish language fluency
• Bachelor’s degree in related field (Education, Social Work, Non-profit Management)
• Deep understanding of the Chicago philanthropic and community landscape.
• Experience working in a fast paced or start up environment

Compensation:

• This role offers a salary range of $60,000.00 - $70,000.00
• Final salary is determined by carefully considering the applicant's background, experience, and qualifications. Base pay may vary significantly based on geographic location, job-specific knowledge, skills, and overall experience. This role is classified as Full-time, exempt
• This role is bonus eligible based on club-wide goals
• Additional benefits & perks: Official Chicago Fire FC Website

Please note:

• Chicago Fire FC is committed to fostering, cultivating, and preserving a culture of diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion. Our diversity initiatives start with the recruitment and selection process; therefore, we’d like to welcome all diverse candidates to apply to opportunities within our Club.
• CFFC is committed to providing equal employment opportunity and maintaining a workplace for employees and applicants for employment that is free from discrimination. The Company does not discriminate in employment opportunities or practices on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, ancestry, ethnicity, citizenship, age, veteran or military status, disability, sexual orientation, sexual orientation or expression, marital status or any other characteristic protected by law. This policy governs all aspects of employment, including hiring, promotion, compensation, discipline, termination, and access to benefits and training.
• If, because of a medical condition or disability, you need a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application process, please contact the People and Culture Department at [email protected] to let us know the nature of your request and your contact information.

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