One of the ways that David Tepper is seeking to move the Carolina Panthers forward is by adopting the use of advanced analytics as a means of making more informed decisions. And as the Panthers prepare for their second season under Tepper, they are looking to make a new hire in the pursuit of an analytics-based approach.

On the American Statistical Association's job board, the Panthers have listed a job opening for a Head of Football Research. According to the job description, the Head of Football Research "will direct a small team in analyzing data and providing insights on all aspects of football operations, including game preparation, in-game decision-making, player evaluation, athlete performance & health, and player contracts." The Head of Football Research will be responsible for building and developing statistical models to analyze the game of football, and communicate the results of such analysis to the appropriate parties in football operations.

In their search for a Head of Football Research, the Panthers are aiming high (Which likely eliminates online armchair coaches and general managers from consideration). The Panthers are seeking a candidate with at least five years of professional experience in mathematics and related fields, preferably with a Master's Degree or Doctorate in their given field, and experience with cloud-computing programs.

Since buying the Panthers last year, one of the major points of David Tepper's agenda has been the advance the way the Panthers do business, as they had come to be notably old-school compared to the rest of the league. Advanced analytics have come to be utilized by nearly every team in the league, including the Panthers to a certain extent. But speaking at the NFL Owner's Meetings in Phoenix, Panthers head coach Ron Rivera stated that working with Tepper has given him a greater appreciation for the numbers side of football.

"He's a numbers guy, so when you talk about the analytics of football, taking the time to step back and look at those things and analyze some of the data we have and how to best use it," said Rivera in a March report by Bill Voth of the Panthers. "Everything from the GPS the players are wearing, all the Next Gen Stats we get, to the analytics of fourth-down plays."

Of course, not all decisions can (or should) be made solely on the basis of analytics. However, the past several years have seen teams utilize analytics-based approaches to their operations very successfully: Namely the Philadelphia Eagles and head coach Doug Pederson, whose brand of aggressive decision making is based largely on analytical insights.

That approach would ultimately net the Eagles their first Super Bowl triumph. And as the Panthers seek to win a first Super Bowl for themselves, they will soon have yet another weapon to utilize in their pursuit of such a goal.