USATF CEO Job Description, from Jill Geer/USATF, note by Larry Eder

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.

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.