SOPA – Philadelphia seeks Director.

Special Olympics Pennsylvania seeks an enthusiastic leader to serve as Director of its Philadelphia program. This exciting leadership opportunity will require the Director to strategically evaluate the presence and impact of Special Olympics programming in the city and develop a solid business plan calling for growth in both school and community-based activities keeping in line with the overall organizations five year Strategic Plan.

The ideal candidate will have proven experience in supervising staff, engaging the greater community and collaborating with groups and organizations that serve individuals with intellectual disabilities. The Director will be responsible for managing all aspects of programmatic activities in order to meet organizational goals including overall program health and athlete growth as well as working collaboratively with Special Olympics Pennsylvania’s VP of Development and Marketing to assure the program’s financial requirements are met through managing fundraising events, cultivating sponsorships, and other development opportunities as presented.

Reports To:    

Sr. Vice President Programming, Special Olympics Pennsylvania

Principal Duties and Responsibilities:
  • Responsible for developing and implementing a multi-year business plan that aligns with SOPA’s Strategic Plan by:
    • Working collaboratively with Special Olympics Pennsylvania, Special Olympics North America, and Philadelphia’s volunteer management team to establish and meet operational goals.
    • Continually assessing and improving the quality and availability of services offered to all eligible people with intellectual disabilities in Philadelphia.
  • Lead all day-to-day activities for Philadelphia. This includes:
    • Successful execution of “Interscholastic Unified Sports” (IUS) activities to include sports, whole school engagement, and youth leadership components in conjunction with School District of Philadelphia and other Philadelphia based schools. IUS is currently offered in 25 schools (middle and high schools) and there is an annual growth or expansion goal determined each spring for the following school year. This number is determined in alliance with the District personnel, budget allowance, and overall statewide IUS growth plan.
    • Expansion of community-based program activities to encompass all areas of the city.
    • Successful execution and growth of Young Athletes Programs across the city.
    • Show systematic athlete growth to the current 807 athletes and 340 Unified Partners. Current Business Plan (expires 2018) will require updating to reflect new goals, analysis of future activities, etc.
    • Supervision of staff and volunteers:
      • Staff –
        • Sports Director
        • Manager of Interscholastic Unified Sports Partnership
      • Volunteer committees including –
        • Management Team
        • Executive Advisory Board
      • Cultivating strategic partnerships with:
        • School District of Philadelphia
        • Philadelphia Parks and Recreation Department
        • Agencies and other Service Providers
        • Professional sports teams
        • Universities and colleges
      • Public awareness – identifies gaps and enhances the visibility of Special Olympics as a whole in Philadelphia market.
      • Establish partnerships and alliances with government, individuals, corporations, sports associations, schools, foundations, media outlets, and other nonprofits to generate resources and support.
      • Financial management including budget preparation, execution, and monitoring
      • Administration of policies and procedures
Candidate Must Demonstrate Experience In:
  • Supervision of staff and volunteer committees
  • Budget development and execution
  • Program development to include strategic planning skills, goal development, and management
  • Donor cultivation
  • Computer proficiency (able to utilize office software programs including database, spreadsheets, and word processing applications)
Required Qualifications:
  • Bachelor’s Degree in Business or related field
  • Five or more years in management positions with demonstrated positive operational results
  • Fundraising experience in establishing and managing sponsors and donors strongly desired
  • Nonprofit experience either in professional or volunteer positions
  • Commitment to travel throughout Philadelphia (with some statewide travel) as well as evenings and weekend work as needed
Desired Qualifications:
  • Special Olympics experience
  • Relationships and/or familiarity with businesses, sports teams, entertainment contacts, and media entities in Philadelphia

 

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS:

Submit a letter of interest, resume, salary history, references, AND salary requirements to careers@specialolympicspa.org

No phone calls will be accepted. Resumes accepted for this position only.

EOE/M/F/H/V

ORGANIZATION DESCRIPTION:

Special Olympics Pennsylvania provides year-round sports training and competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults (age 8-80) with intellectual disabilities. All training and competition opportunities are provided free of charge to athletes, enabling everyone to experience the benefits of Special Olympics that extend well beyond the playing field. The athletes of Special Olympics — nearly 20,000 strong in Pennsylvania — are constant reminders of all that is right with the human spirit. For more information, visit www.specialolympicspa.org.