WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT

Soccer Unity Project’s Workforce Development Program is a paid coaching program that combines meaningful work with intentional leadership development. We hire Junior Coaches (ages 14-18) and Senior Coaches (ages 19-24) to lead our summer GOALS program and support our winter, spring, and fall Grassroots programs. This is a paid coaching opportunity and a deliberate investment in developing the next generation of leaders, mentors, and community builders.

Junior and Senior Coaches

Junior Coaches are the entry point into coaching and leadership for high school students who want to give back to their community and develop as young leaders. Junior Coaches work alongside experienced coaches and staff, learning how to coach and lead programming for players ages 3-12.

Senior Coaches step into a mentorship role by serving as positive role models and supporting staff in developing Junior Coaches.They help lead programming, manage and track Junior Coach hours, and model what professionalism and accountability look like. Senior Coaches hold Junior Coaches to high standards while supporting their growth, taking on real leadership responsibilities within the program.

Coaches are on the field leading activities, supporting players of all skill levels, and helping create spaces where every young player feels seen, safe, heard, and inspired. Day-to-day work might include running a warm-up, managing a station, helping with equipment, handling attendance, or providing one-on-one support to a player who needs it.

Beyond the field, all coaches participate in weekly professional development sessions that connect their on field coaching experience to real world career and life skills.

Core Elements of the Program:

Paid coaching positions: Hourly wages, paid bi-weekly
Structured mentorship: Regular one-on-one check-ins with experienced coaches and program leaders
Professional development: Weekly sessions on career readiness, leadership, and transferable skills
Safe space for growth: An environment where mistakes are learning opportunities and accountability builds people up, not tears them down
Leadership pipeline: The program develops the next generation of coaches, leaders, and community members

How Growth Happens Here

Soccer Unity Project sets clear expectations: growth requires effort, communication, and accountability. Junior and Senior Coaches are responsible for taking an active role in their own growth and development. While staff and mentors provide support, guidance, training, and feedback, coaches are expected to show up with intention, remain open to learning, ask questions, and reflect on their experiences.

Junior and Senior Coaches participate in weekly professional development sessions throughout the program. Through reflection on their coaching experience, they learn how their on-field work connects to real-world skills.

Why This Matters

Young people in the Boston deserve to have leaders who look like them, who understand their community, and who are willing to invest in them. Our Junior and Senior coaches are those leaders. Parents, families, and community members witness young adults stepping into leadership roles on the field, managing teams, and modeling professionalism. When young players have coaches from their own neighborhoods, they understand that leadership is possible for them too.

Soccer Unity Project develops coaches who strengthen their communities by showing up consistently, modeling respect and accountability, and investing in young players' growth. This creates a cycle: young people are given the chance and support to lead, they discover what they're capable of, and they become the next generation of leaders and community builders. That's how we build community and advance equity in youth sports through the power of soccer.