Manager, Sport Development (Temporary)

Position: Manager, Sport Development
Reports to: Senior Manager, Sport Development & Sport Partnerships
Department: Sport & Competition
Location: Washington, DC (hybrid; in office 3 days/week)

This position is a 1-year contract with the opportunity for extension.

Organization Overview

Founded in 1968, Special Olympics is a global movement to end discrimination against people with intellectual disabilities. We foster acceptance of all people through the power of sport and programming in education, health, and leadership. With nearly four million athletes and Unified Sports® partners and one million coaches and volunteers in more than 170 countries, Special Olympics delivers more than 30 Olympic-type sports and nearly 50,000 games and competitions every year. Learn more at SpecialOlympics.org. 

Position Overview
Special Olympics International is seeking a dynamic and experienced individual for the position of Manager, Sport Development. This position reports to the Senior Manager, Sport Development & Sport Partnerships, and will work in close collaboration with the Sport Development team as part of the Sport & Competition department. The candidate will play a crucial role in the development of their assigned sports, Swimming and Golf, including working closely with sport partners, leading sports development initiatives, and advancing the mission of Special Olympics through sports programming. They are responsible for the successful development of their assigned sports, inclusive of technical manuals and operations, budgets, administering grants, updated resources, and management of partnerships with relevant international sport federations and governing bodies.

Responsibilities
• Develops and maintains Special Olympics relationships with sport partners, including the Michael Phelps Foundation, TopGolf as well as International Federation partners, such as World Aquatics and the International Golf Federation
• Lead the successful development of assigned sports, Swimming and Golf, across the Special Olympics movement
• Ensure the timely update of resources, including Coaching Guides, Sport Rules, and additional sport development resources as identified
• Work closely with identified Special Olympics Regions and National Programs to develop Swimming & Golf, inclusive of distributing, tracking, and evaluating grants
• Contribute to the successful planning and competition of assigned sports at Special Olympics World Games
• Gather, compile, and analyze data on assigned sports to inform development approach
• Responsible for oversight of Global Sport Resource Teams (for assigned sports) and liaisons with Regional Sport Directors
• Support the planning & coordination of communications activities connected to assigned sports
• May represent Special Olympics at international sports and federation events, conferences, and forums
• Advocate for the inclusion of individuals with intellectual disabilities in mainstream sports activities and competitions, with particular emphasis on Swimming and Golf
• Collaborate closely with the global sports community to champion the values of Special Olympics and the inclusion of individuals with intellectual disabilities
• Create annual reports for MPF and Topgolf and may contribute to additional funding proposals for swimming and golf development
• Performs miscellaneous job-related duties as assigned

Qualifications:
• Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, Sport Management or a related field, or equivalent experience
• Experience working with International Sports Organizations
• Desired experience working with Special Olympics or a similar nonprofit
• Familiarity with research, record keeping and reporting
• Experience in project planning and implementation
• Experience working with people with Intellectual Disabilities and/or other disability populations

While we value relevant experience and skills, we also recognize the potential for growth and the transferability of talents. We encourage candidates to apply even if they don't meet every single criterion listed. Your unique perspective and abilities might just be the perfect fit for our team!

Special Olympics provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

**Special Olympics is an E-Verify Employer**