Director of Legal Affairs and Compliance

Position Overview

The Director of Legal Affairs and Compliance for our MLS Next Pro team will lead all legal and compliance functions, ensuring the organization’s adherence to federal, state, local, and league regulations. This role is responsible for managing legal strategy, risk mitigation, contract oversight, and compliance protocols. As a senior leader, the Director will collaborate closely with team executives, operations, HR, and external partners, serving as a strategic advisor to leadership and a guardian of the team’s legal and ethical standards.

Key Responsibilities

Legal

• Serve as the primary legal advisor to the executive team, providing expert counsel on a broad range of issues, including employment law, intellectual property, commercial partnerships, and team governance.
• Oversee the drafting, negotiation, and management of key contracts with players, staff, vendors, sponsors, and partners to ensure terms are clear, compliant, and strategically advantageous.
• Design and implement legal policies and procedures across the organization to support regulatory compliance and best practices.
• Develop a proactive risk management framework, conducting assessments to identify potential liabilities and implementing preventive measures to safeguard the organization’s interests.

Compliance

• Ensure full compliance with MLS Next Pro league rules, local, state, and federal regulations, and internal policies.
• Lead the development and delivery of compliance training programs for team members, covering league rules, ethical conduct, anti-harassment policies, and code of conduct.
• Implement and manage regular compliance audits, ensuring adherence to legal requirements and identifying areas for improvement.
• Oversee investigations into compliance breaches, managing resolution processes and reporting to senior leadership and league authorities as required.

Qualifications

• Juris Doctor (JD) degree from an accredited law school.
• Member in good standing of a State Bar Association required.
• 5-7 years of experience in legal and compliance roles, ideally within sports, entertainment, or a related industry, with a demonstrated ability to lead a legal team.
• Advanced knowledge of sports law, contract law, compliance regulations, and risk management; experience with MLS or a similar sports league is preferred.
• Strong leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills, with experience working cross-functionally to support organizational goals.
• Ability to anticipate and address complex legal issues, with a strong sense of strategic planning and execution.
• Skilled at identifying legal and compliance challenges and implementing effective solutions.

Compensation

• Competitive salary, commensurate with experience.
• Health, dental, and vision insurance.
• Additional benefits, including game tickets, team merchandise, and participation in team events.

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability status, veteran status, marital status, citizenship status, sexual orientation, gender identity or any other characteristic protected by law.