Director of Football Analytics & Artificial Intelligence

Position Function:

The Director of Football Analytics and Artificial Intelligence leads advanced scouting efforts for the Mississippi State University football program, builds and applies predictive models that support game planning and prospect evaluation, and manages all scouting and analytical software. This position provides high-level administrative support to the football coaching staff in support of the offensive initiatives of the program, serves as the program's liaison to the MSU Athletics Data and AI Lab, and assists in maintaining relationships with high school coaches across the state. This position will report to the Head Football Coach.

Salary Grade :  15

Please see Staff Compensation Structure for salary ranges.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Lead advanced scouting operations for game-by-game opponents.
   
2. Build and maintain predictive models for opponent tendency, situational play-calling, and personnel usage.
   
3. Develop decision support tools for in-game and week-of planning, such as fourth-down and two-point analysis.
   
4. Produce self-scout tendency analysis identifying the program's own predictability patterns.
   
5. Build and maintain evaluation models supporting high school and transfer portal prospect identification.
   
6. Mentor offensive and defensive analysts in the development of scouting reports and analytical work.
   
7. Evaluate technological systems and provide recommendations on which software to purchase, use, or develop in-house.
   

Position Function:

The Director of Football Analytics and Artificial Intelligence leads advanced scouting efforts for the Mississippi State University football program, builds and applies predictive models that support game planning and prospect evaluation, and manages all scouting and analytical software. This position provides high-level administrative support to the football coaching staff in support of the offensive initiatives of the program, serves as the program's liaison to the MSU Athletics Data and AI Lab, and assists in maintaining relationships with high school coaches across the state. This position will report to the Head Football Coach.

Salary Grade :  15

Please see Staff Compensation Structure for salary ranges.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Lead advanced scouting operations for game-by-game opponents.
   
2. Build and maintain predictive models for opponent tendency, situational play-calling, and personnel usage.
   
3. Develop decision support tools for in-game and week-of planning, such as fourth-down and two-point analysis.
   
4. Produce self-scout tendency analysis identifying the program's own predictability patterns.
   
5. Build and maintain evaluation models supporting high school and transfer portal prospect identification.
   
6. Mentor offensive and defensive analysts in the development of scouting reports and analytical work.
   
7. Evaluate technological systems and provide recommendations on which software to purchase, use, or develop in-house.
   
8. Manage all scouting and analytical software used by the football program.
   
9. Serve as the football program's liaison to the MSU Athletics Data and AI Lab.
   
10. Break down game film and provide full statistical analysis of the offense.
    
11. Scout the football team's in-season games.
    
12. Scout the football team's practices in fall, spring, and in-season.
    
13. Maintain consistent communication with head coaches from high schools around the State of Mississippi, serving as a liaison for the Mississippi State coaching staff in helping to identify high school prospects.
    
14. Host high school and junior college coaches at practices and other functions throughout spring and summer.
    
15. Ensure appropriate use standards are followed for artificial intelligence tools, including what program and student-athlete data may be entered into third-party or generative AI systems.
    
16. Ensure analytics and artificial intelligence practices comply with NCAA and SEC rules, including recruiting evaluation limits.
    
17. Maintain data security and confidentiality standards for student-athlete information.
    
18. Perform other duties as assigned by the Head Football Coach, Offensive Coordinator, and Associate Athletic Director for Football Administration.
    

Supervisory Responsibility
This position may oversee staff, including but not limited to analysts, fellows and student workers.

The above essential duties are representative of major duties in this position. Specific duties and responsibilities may vary based upon departmental needs. Other duties may be assigned to the above consistent with the knowledge, skills and abilities required for the job. Not all of the duties may be assigned to a position.

Minimum Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree with three years of experience in football operations, scouting, or analytics, including demonstrated experience building and applying statistical or predictive models.

Preferred Qualifications:

Master’s degree in analytics, statistics, data science, or a related field. Experience in football analytics, advanced scouting, or data analysis at an NCAA Division I institution. Proficiency with statistical programming and data tools such as Python, R, or SQL. Experience with football video and analytics platforms.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

1. Ability to function independently solving problems and making decisions.
   
2. Ability to prioritize and schedule work for efficient operations.
   
3. Ability to work a flexible schedule to include nights and weekends.
   
4. Must have excellent oral and written communication skills.
   
5. Ability to travel extensively.
   
6. Knowledge of football scheme, terminology, and game strategy sufficient to produce and interpret advanced scouting analysis.
   
7. Ability to build, validate, and maintain statistical and predictive models, and to explain their outputs and limitations to a non-technical audience.
   
8. Ability to translate coaching questions into analytical problems and return answers on a game-week timeline.
   
9. Ability to evaluate analytical and video software and translate technical capability into practical recommendations for the coaching staff.
   
10. Knowledge of NCAA and SEC rules applicable to recruiting contact and evaluation.

Working Conditions and Physical Effort

1. No unusual physical requirements. Requires occasional or light lifting. Work is performed both indoors and outdoors, including attendance at practices and games in varying weather conditions.
   
2. Frequent externally imposed deadlines set and revised beyond one's control; interruptions influence priorities; difficult to anticipate nature or volume of work with certainty beyond a few days; meeting of deadlines and coordination of unrelated activities are key to position; involves conflict-resolution or similar interactions involving emotional issues or stress on a regular basis.
   
3. Job occasionally requires walking, sitting, reaching, talking, hearing, and handling objects with hands.
   
4. Job occasionally requires standing, stooping, kneeling, crouching, crawling, and lifting up to 25 pounds.
   
5. Vision requirements: ability to see information in print and electronically.

Instructions for Applying:

Please attach your Resume and cover letter to the Application.

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:

Mississippi State University is an equal opportunity institution. Discrimination is prohibited in university employment, programs or activities based on race, color, ethnicity, sex, pregnancy, religion, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, genetic information, status as a U.S. veteran, or any other status to the extent protected by applicable law. Questions about equal opportunity programs or compliance should be directed to the Office of Civil Rights Compliance, 231 Famous Maroon Band Street, P.O. 6044, Mississippi State, MS 39762, (662) 325-5839.

What do I do if I need an accommodation?

In compliance with the ADA Amendments Act (ADA), if you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation in order to apply for a position with Mississippi State University, please contact the Department of Human Resources Management at tel: (662) 325-3713 or ada@hrm.msstate.edu.

If you have any questions regarding this policy, contact the Department of Human Resources Management at (662) 325-3713 or ada@hrm.msstate.edu. Upon request, sections of this job listing are available in large print, and readers are available to assist the visually impaired.

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