FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
USATF CEO Search Update, Job Description
USA Track & Field's Personnel Committee, in collaboration with its
third-party search firm, has developed the job specifications and ideal
qualities for USATF's next CEO. Candidates from a large pool of applicants
for the position currently are being evaluated by the Personnel Committee.
A handful of finalists will be interviewed by the USATF board, with the new
CEO likely to be hired by the end of the first quarter of 2011.
Position Summary
Title: Chief Executive Officer
Reports to: USATF Board of Directors
Location: Indianapolis, Indiana
Ideal Candidate:
The ideal candidate is an accomplished executive / business leader with
proven ability and success in growing revenue, managing a staff of
professionals and working productively with a strong, diverse board of
directors. He/she will be a passionate, responsive leader and diplomat,
skilled at business management, collaboration, evangelizing, and a team
player. They must be an excellent communicator who is skilled at building
consensus, issue management and dispute resolution. Will work effectively
with the board of directors and across a complex, diverse and at times
politically charged volunteer organization to accelerate the realization of
the USATF vision and strategic plan. They will have the courage, personal
drive, passion and enthusiasm to both understand and successfully navigate
a dynamic and highly political environment striving toward improved
relations with all USATF constituencies in the USA and globally, while
inherently understanding what empowers the volunteers and how in turn they
are empowered by them.
It is vital that they are someone who is either in or has a long history
with the sport of track and field who possesses true passion for the sport
and has an intimate knowledge of how the sport is organized and operates
from the grassroots to the World Championships and Olympic Games to gain
immediate trust from the key stakeholders. It is a given that this person
has deep experience in the nuts and bolts of marketing, broadcasting and
media/sponsorship sales; what sets them apart is their strengths in both
disciplines and ability to deliver unprecedented results and elevate the
USATF brand.
Willing to take actions to inspire and energize others around the vision
for USATF's future while demonstrating primary concern for leading and
motivating others to achieve the organizations goals. This individual must
respect and be highly respected by subordinates, peers, and superiors and
builds a culture of “for the athletes” that permeates the National Office.
A leader with integrity who inspires loyalty, trust and following and can
influence and energize people and teams, and make cross-region,
cross-organizational cooperation happen. Possesses the intellect and
executive presence to paint the big picture and become a collaborative
partner who is capable of contributing to broader sports conversations
beyond their functional expertise.
Candidate Specifications
Role and Responsibilities:
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and staff of USATF work to carry out the
policies set forth by the organization's volunteer constituency and
administer the day-to-day duties of the organization. The CEO is the
spokesperson and will lead all aspects of USATF with integrity and in
accordance with the USATF 2009 Strategic Plan, and Board policies while
giving appropriate consideration to the rules and policies of the
International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF - the world
governing body), and the United States Olympic Committee (USOC).
Core Competencies:
·A Passionate Leader. Dynamic personality who knows how to motivate,
inspire and empower to drive the team for results. Conveys a sense of
urgency that fosters a culture of consistently meeting if not exceeding
expectations. Has the emotional intelligence to rise above the noise and
frustrations that arise from change to see their actions through to
positive conclusions for all.
·Innovative Marketing and Sales Professional. Savvy in marketing and
building a business while being passionate about selling the sport to the
fan base, sponsors and television. Knows how to leverage their own
connections and the connections of others to open doors and drive revenue.
Continuously developing new ways of “creating events and buzz” that will
allow USATF to exceed sponsors activation expectations and contribute to
harnessing the growth of running, building the fan base and everyone's
engagement in the sport at both the grassroots and professional level.
·Supporter of Athletes and Volunteers. Knows that USATF exists because of
and for the athletes. Recognizes that the athletes and volunteers will
embrace a leader who embraces them and understands their value and deals
constructively with their idiosyncrasies with compassion. Speaks to them
and for them in a way that demonstrates they understand them and gives them
voice. Fights for and protects their interests.
·Skilled Team Builder. Enjoys building and leading teams with diverse
perspectives and talents while creating a great place to work for their
people where individual and team victories are celebrated and everyone is
held accountable for delivering results. Highly effective at collaborating,
builds alliances and rapport within the organization from the board level
to the grassroots and with partners. Respects and gets along easily with
people; will develop and mentor the team.
Specific Responsibilities:
·Strategy. In conjunction with the Board and other senior management, is
responsible and accountable for growth and development of USATF and track
and field as a major sport. Develop USATF's short and long-term operating
plans consistent with the overall strategic plan and designed to grow
revenues and move USATF on an accelerated growth path.
·Communication. Operates with an open door and an open mind. Solicits input
and perspective on key issues and projects and is an active listener who
builds consensus and finds the common ground in resolving issues. Keeps the
board, volunteer constituencies and staff informed and up to date on
important issues and developments in a productive give-and-take manner and
follows through on commitments. Deals effectively with the media.
·Revenue. Responsible for leading the sales effort and the team in the
acquisition, maintenance, and retention of sponsors. Sell at high levels;
coordinate the advertising, promotion, and public relations activities to
assure growth of the USATF brand and the sport of track and field. Develop
marketing strategies that consider USATF as a whole as well as the
promotion of specific events and athletes.
·Performance. Event management and innovative presentation of track and
field not just athlete "relations" but programmatic support of athlete
development (training centers, summits, sports science, etc.) – and the
expectation of creating/supporting an environment that maximizes athlete
performance, and brings results on the world stage (the USOC might list
this as the #1 responsibility of the role).
·Development. Programs and event management support for non-professional
athletes & participants of all ages (particularly youth, but also for
adults of all ages) skillful, strategic support and leveraging of the USATF
Foundation entity.
·Innovation. Translate fresh ideas, innovative new thinking and
conventional best practices from various industries into USATF's context to
ensure that USATF stays on the leading edge of marketing and develops a
powerful brand presence for USATF across America and the world. Experienced
with "new media" (internet, webcasts, social networking, virtual
communities, etc.)
·Culture. Strengthen and maintain a can-do, goal-oriented, entrepreneurial
environment that stresses employee performance, responsiveness, teamwork,
management credibility, success and a servant-leader culture. Develop the
National organizational focus on the customer service and athletic
excellence in a way that gains and maintains the confidence of all
constituencies.
·Resources. Directs and coordinates business activities, costs, operations,
and forecast data to determine progress toward stated goals and objectives.
Sets and meets budgets that reflect tough choices and financial
constraints. Knows how to creatively use all the talent available to
leverage the staff and volunteers alike.
Experience Requirements:
·Previous CEO / President / COO or equivalent leadership experience
preferred.
·Minimum 10 years executive level corporate executive experience and a
track record of growth and success where best practices are utilized with
significant business management and strategy development experience.
·Minimum 5 years sports marketing, joint venture, licensing, sponsor
relationship experience whereby the person understands the way the sports
industry operates today as well as in the rapidly changing new media world.
·Candidate could well have been a world-class track and field athlete.
Person is competitive in daily life but not at the expense of others and
knows that accomplishing this mission comes with an attitude that failure
is not an option.
·Experience with developing a strategic and visionary plan in tune with a
dynamic environment that will be universally accepted and executed with
measurable success.
·Has established relationships with business CEOs, media moguls, and sports
leaders that can be leveraged.
·Has experience and insights in both the business world and the non-profit
world coupled with negotiation skills (re: TV deals, sponsor contracts,
meet director deals, athlete demands, etc.)
·Joint Venture experience and the ability to work with multiple parties and
constituents to accomplish goals and objectives.
·Ability to convey a passion for track and field and be a natural
spokesperson who embraces and represents the heroes of yesterday and
tomorrow
·Ability and understanding of how to make track and field more relevant in
the hearts and minds of a domestic and global audience in the highly
competitive sports industry
·Understanding of today's youth and next generation in order to attract,
relate and promote the future audience as well as track and field athletes
of tomorrow.
·The political instinct and acumen with skills in issues management and
dispute resolution as well as the maturity to operate on many levels
intellectually while bringing diverse groups to consensus, always knowing
the overall success of USATF in serving the athletes so that they can excel
is the most critical and essential outcome.
·The ability to build positive relationships with the board, the staff and
the volunteer leadership.
·Person has a sense of humor and can handle pressure, crossfire and operate
in a challenging environment where not everything is always completely
under their control.
·A strong reputation of authenticity, integrity, and accomplishments with
peers and other industry executives that will garner instant credibility
within the USATF, USOC, and sponsor families.
·The CEO should be a master of resources who will draw upon both staff and
volunteer leaders in successfully selling USATF to external partners to
increase participation and build spectator / viewer / reader interest in
the sport at all levels.
·Excellent communication skills, including written, verbal, and
presentations. Excels in presenting the athletes and the sport in the
media.
·A proven record of hiring exceptionally talented individuals who work as a
team.
·The proven ability to build on the organization's financial stability, as
well as maintain growth.
·Experience with successfully and strategically addressing controversial
topics with the media.
Compensation
Compensation includes competitive base salary, bonus tied to results.
About USA Track & Field
USA Track & Field (USATF) is the National Governing Body for track &
field, long-distance running and race walking in the United States. USATF
encompasses the world's oldest organized sports, the World's #1 Track &
Field Team, the most-watched events at the Olympics, the #1 high school and
junior high school participatory sport, and more than 30 million adult
runners in the United States: www.usatf.org.
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