Toronto Blue Jays Baseball Operations- Entry Level Opportunities

The Toronto Blue Jays are seeking highly motivated and creative entry level employees to assist with day-to-day tasks within various areas of their Baseball Operations department, including but not limited to Scouting, Player Development, High Performance, and Research and Development/Analytics. The start and end dates are flexible depending on candidate availability and both full-season and partial-season candidates will be considered. These positions will be based in Toronto, ON; Dunedin, FL; or one of our affiliate locations throughout Canada, the United States, and Dominican Republic. All positions are paid.

There are several roles with different primary focuses, with more detail on each broad type of position provided below. To the extent that you’re interested in a specific focus you may reflect that in your application, but you only need to submit one application to the program and all applications will be considered for possible fits. These job categories are intentionally broad, and a successful candidate may be considered for a role that involves a blend of these responsibilities, or in an entirely different area that is more suited to their unique experiences and skills. Many baseball careers are non-linear and an entry level role in any of these areas could ultimately lead to a career in a different area.

Across all roles, the Blue Jays are seeking:

• Demonstrated passion for baseball and excellent reasoning, problem-solving, creative thinking, and communication skills. 
• Strong interpersonal skills to communicate effectively with a wide range of individuals. 
• Demonstrated ability to work independently and self-direct work. 
• Excellent attention to detail and time management skills. 
• The ability to work evenings, weekends, and holidays as required by the baseball calendar. 

The Blue Jays see diversity and employment equity as foundational to creating a successful culture.
Applicants who may not traditionally feel empowered to apply for a job in this field are strongly
encouraged to apply.

You may receive an email asking you to complete a more detailed follow-up application regarding your interests and employment goals. Please ensure that baseballresumes@bluejays.com is allowed in your email system.

Player Development Technology
In this role, candidates passionate about working directly with coaches and players will be embedded with teams at the Blue Jays’ development complexes (Dunedin, FL and Boca Chica, D.R.) and affiliate teams (Dunedin, FL; Vancouver, BC; Manchester, NH; Buffalo, NY). On a daily basis, you will be with your team as the point person for video, technology, and data resources. This may include helping to deploy and operate technology both in practice and game settings, organizing/cataloguing/reviewing video and data, helping to define and track player goals, and supporting longer-term R&D and Player Development projects. You will also assist with the logistical needs of the team (including Minor League Operations, Nutrition, and High Performance departments), and potentially on-field activities (BP, fungos, catching pens). Fluency with Microsoft Office is required; experience with a range of baseball-related data capture systems (BATS, Portable Trackman, Rapsodo, Diamond Kinetics, etc.) would be helpful, as would experience with video editing and review software. Spanish proficiency is also helpful, and may be required in some cases. If you’re interested in learning about the rhythms of a pro baseball season and passionate about a career in using data and technology to help players get better, this could be a good fit for you.

Operations (Scouting, Baseball Operations, Player Development)
Candidates will use their excellent organizational skills and high attention to detail to support the logistical and administrative functioning of the scouting, player development, or baseball operations departments. This could include data entry and cleaning, assisting with the coordination and execution of player evaluation projects, maintaining and organizing video and data resources, and helping to stay on top of departmental administrative functions (expense reports, compiling statistics and rosters, meeting logistics, etc.). If supporting our Player Development department, you may be asked to help integrate technology into on-field work, administer player plans, translate documents to/from English and Spanish, and help with scheduling for players and staff. Strong knowledge of Microsoft Office, particularly Excel, is important for this role; familiarity with baseball rules and regulations may be beneficial, and Spanish proficiency may also be helpful (or required in some cases).

Advance Scouting
In this role, candidates will use their strong knowledge of the game of baseball to support our Major League team in game-by-game and series-by-series preparation. This could include a wide range of activities, such as collecting and organizing statistics for reports, conducting ad-hoc research and analysis on players or the game of baseball generally, watching video to provide written evaluations and insights, and supporting on-field data and video collection. Strong time management and organizational skills are important, and skills with things like R, Shiny, and similar tools would be helpful plusses.

Research & Development
Candidates will use their analytical and programming skills to help identify and research baseball questions. Proficiency in self-directed research work using tools such as R, Python, and SQL in at least one, and ideally multiple, of the following areas is important: data acquisition, organization, and cleaning; modelling/machine learning; data visualization and/or automated reporting; and statistical summary techniques. Experience with advanced modelling techniques or other specialized skills (Computer Vision, Neural Networks, Bayesian Modeling, Anomaly Detection, Time Series etc.) would be beneficial, but not necessary. You may present work to a variety of audiences (fellow researchers, front office members, coaches, or players), and may use the results of research to contribute to player evaluations at key junctures. Additional duties may include providing logistical support to major events on the baseball calendar (Draft, Trade Deadline, etc.) and other general departmental support.

Baseball Systems Development
Candidates for this role will help to create, update, and support web applications and databases that are used throughout baseball operations; a moderate to high level of experience in computer science, web and/or database development, software engineering, or a related field is quite important. A portfolio of work showing your past experiences in these areas is also helpful. Duties may include working with end users to gather requirements, engineering systems to acquire and store new datasets, or doing front-end web design work on baseball information systems. You will have the opportunity to experience and provide logistical support to key points on the baseball calendar.

Biomechanics/Sports Science
Candidates for this role have a strong academic background in Biomechanics, Physics, Sports Science, or a related field and are passionate about applying their expertise to baseball. This could be in a research/data analysis focused capacity (ie. using data to create research/analysis that is used to drive decisions and help players improve), a role that is more hands-on with players and other development and performance staff (ie. working with players and staff in a real-time data capture setting to provide live movement feedback), or somewhere in the middle. In all cases, you would work closely with player development, R+D, and high performance staff to collaborate on research, contribute to player development goals, and support data capture and organization. You would be expected to individually stay on top of the latest research and resources in the field of biomechanics and sports science. Experience with statistical programming, modelling, and visualization tools is very helpful, but not required.

To Apply:
To apply, please follow this link.

The content in this posting was created and provided solely by the Toronto Blue Jays.

Baseball Research & Development Intern

Location: Nationals Park, Washington, DC
Status: Part-Time

Description
Internships are a key way for us to find future full-time members of our department, with many of our senior department members beginning as interns. While a pathway to a full-time position is not assured, many of our former interns have found full-time opportunities with the Nationals or other MLB clubs. While internships ideally span from Opening Day to November 1st, we’re open to candidates that may not be available for this entire period.

The Washington Nationals are committed to creating a diverse environment and are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, marital status, personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, family responsibilities, matriculation, political affiliation, genetic information, disability or veteran status.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Use R to build statistical models to answer a primary baseball research question under the direction of a Baseball R&D team member
• Communicate findings through written reports, presentations, and informal conversations
• Design and build informative data visualizations for use in automated reports or internal web applications

Requirements:

Education and Experience Requirements

• Experience analyzing datasets and training statistical models using R, Python, or equivalent
• Has or is pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree from a four-year college or university, preferably in Data Science, Statistics, Mathematics, Computer Science or related field
• Willingness to relocate to Washington, DC
• Authorized to work in the United States

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities necessary to perform essential functions

• Ability to complete statistical modeling projects
• Ability to listen and incorporate feedback
• Enthusiasm for learning new skills related to programming, statistical modeling, and data visualization
• Passion for baseball and desire to work in baseball operations
• Working knowledge of sabermetrics and modern quantitative baseball evaluation concepts

Physical/Environmental Requirements

• Office: Working conditions are normal for an office environment. Work may require occasional weekend and/or evening work. Occasional long hours may be required during draft, trade deadline, or postseason.
• Interns can attend all home games but are not required to. Meals are provided to staff during games.

To Apply:
To apply, please follow this link.

The content in this posting was created and provided solely by the Washington Nationals.

Player Development Video & Information Trainee

Status: Part time

POSITION OVERVIEW:
The Player Development Video and Information Trainee will provide a service to an Atlanta Braves affiliate through charting live baseball games and providing video and information to Braves coaches, coordinators, and front office personnel. This role manages all aspects of the assigned affiliate’s video, technology, and advance scouting operation and aims to provide an experience that prepares the ideal candidate for a future role in the baseball industry.

RESPONSIBIITIES:

• Capture video and collect data for each game of the full minor league schedule of an assigned affiliate (home games and team travel to road games, postseason included)
• Manage a network of cameras set up to collect high-quality video from multiple angles
• Attach, edit, and upload video following each game daily
• Assist in the deployment and utilization of all Braves technology equipment at assigned affiliate
• Support the coaching staff/players with ad-hoc video/technology requests as assigned
• Participate in the affiliate’s advance scouting process and produce associated materials for the coaching staff
• Attend Braves’ Spring Training camp in Venice, FL to undergo training of all video, technology, and advance applications
• Participate in periodic calls with the Baseball Operations group in Atlanta
• Other duties as assigned

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS:

• Prior baseball experience (High School, College, or Professional preferred)
• Advanced knowledge of baseball rules, scoring, and statistics
• Possess an understanding of pitch types and have the ability to identify them in a fast-paced environment
• Exceptional verbal communication skills and computer skills
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Willing to relocate to a Braves minor league affiliate from April through Mid-September
• The ability to safely lift and transport equipment weighing 25 lbs. or more
• The ability to climb ladders and successfully place equipment from variable positions and heights
• Flexible schedule: able to work nights, weekends, and holidays
• Bachelor’s degree
• Able to successfully complete a background check

The Atlanta National League Baseball Club, LLC is an equal opportunity employer. A diverse workforce representing varied backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences is key to delivering on our business promise to our fans and the communities we serve. All qualified candidates are welcome to apply.

To Apply:
To apply, please follow this link.

The content in this posting was created and provided solely by the Atlanta Braves.

Direct Links (Please see full job postings below):

Quantitative Analyst Associate
Software Engineer Associate

Quantitative Analyst Associate (Spring/Summer 2024)

Department: Baseball Research & Development
Reports to: Assistant Director, Baseball Research & Development
Status: Hourly Part-Time Seasonal

Position Overview:
As a Quantitative Analyst (QA) Associate, you help shape The Phillies Baseball Operations strategies by processing, analyzing, and interpreting large and complex data. You do more than just crunch the numbers; you carefully plan the design of your own studies by asking and answering the right questions, while also working collaboratively with other analysts and software engineers on larger projects.

Using analytical rigor, you work with your team as you mine through data and see opportunities for The Phillies to improve. After communicating the results of your studies and experiments to Baseball Operations leadership and executive staff, you collaborate with front office executives, scouts, coaches, and trainers to incorporate your findings into Phillies practices. Identifying the challenge is only half the job; you also work to figure out and implement the solution.

Responsibilities:

• Conduct statistical research projects and manage the integration of their outputs into our proprietary tools and applications (e.g., performance projections, player valuations, draft assessments, injury analyses, etc.)
• Communicate with front office executives, scouts, coaches, and medical staff to design and interpret statistical studies
• Assist the rest of the QA team with their projects by providing guidance and feedback on your areas of expertise within baseball, statistics, data visualization, and programming
• Continually enhance your knowledge of baseball and data science through reading, research, and discussion with your teammates and the rest of the front office
• Provide input in architecting the storage of baseball data

Required Qualifications:

• Deep understanding of statistics, including supervised and unsupervised learning, regularization, model assessment and selection, model inference and averaging, ensemble methods, etc.
• Meaningful work experience with statistical software (R, S-Plus, SAS, or similar), databases, and scripting languages such as Python
• Proven willingness to both teach others and learn new techniques
• Willingness to work as part of a team on complex projects
• Proven leadership and self-direction

Preferred Qualifications:

• Possess or are pursuing a BS, MS or PhD in Statistics or related (e.g., mathematics, physics, or ops research) or equivalent practical experience
• 0-5+ years of relevant work experience
• Experience drawing conclusions from data, communicating those conclusions to decision makers, and recommending actions

Please note: A cover letter is required for all applications. It should not exceed one page and must include a brief overview of why you are interested in this role and what makes you a good fit. It would be helpful to reference any applicable work you have done in school, through work experience, or any other side projects related to baseball or sports analytics.

To Apply:
To apply, please follow this link.

Software Engineer Associate (Spring/Summer 2024)

Department: Baseball Research & Development
Reports to: Director, Baseball Research & Development
Status: Hourly Part-Time Seasonal

Position Overview:
The work of a Software Engineer (SWE) Associate at The Phillies extends well beyond merely coding. As a SWE you contribute fresh ideas in a variety of areas, including information retrieval, networking and data storage, security, machine learning, natural language processing, UI design and mobile to shape the evolution of The Phillies baseball analytics systems.

Our ideal engineers will have a versatile skill set, be enthusiastic to handle new challenges and demonstrate leadership qualities. You will work closely with end-users across Scouting, Player Development and the Major League Coaching Staff while building software tools from the ground up. By identifying appropriate design specifications through collaboration with those end-users, you will build applications that conform to user needs.

Specific areas of focus may include, but are not limited to, the draft, free-agency, player valuation, player development, in-game strategy, and injury prevention. As a SWE you will have the opportunity to use your technical expertise to create software solutions that impact decision-making at The Phillies.

Responsibilities:

• Improve existing platforms and design new proprietary applications to be used directly by the GM and executive staff
• Collaborate with front office executives, scouts, coaches, and medical staff regarding the design and technical specifications of software solutions for Baseball Operations
• Work together with Baseball R&D department to help optimize the Phillies baseball analytics systems, including crafting solutions to efficiently and effectively synthesize, organize and present data from multiple third-party sources
• Help to augment the technical knowledge of the entire Baseball Operations department by providing training, mentorship and support on the use of all applications and tools built by the team

Required Qualifications:

• Possess or are pursuing a BS degree in Computer Science, similar technical field of study or equivalent practical experience
• Software development experience in one or more general purpose programming languages (including but not limited to: Java, C/C++, C#, Go, Objective C, Python or JavaScript)
• Interest and ability to learn new technologies as needed
• Experience working with two or more from the following: web application development, Unix/Linux environments, mobile application development, design thinking, machine learning, natural language processing, and data architecture
• Proven willingness to both teach others and learn new techniques
• Proven leadership and self-direction

Interested applicants should submit both their resume, cover letter, and an answer to the following question:

What is your favorite programming language to use and why do you like it? (250 word limit).

Tip: There’s no defined right or wrong answer. Responses are used to get some insight into your thoughts on what is important in software engineering.

Please submit your resume and question response no later than Sunday September 18, 2023. Applications without a question response will not be considered.

To Apply:
To apply, please follow this link.

The content in this posting was created and provided solely by the Philadelphia Phillies.