USA Bobsled/Skeleton, Inc. (USABS) is the sole official National Governing Body (NGB) for the Olympic sports of bobsled and skeleton in the United States. USABS is responsible for enabling USA athletes to achieve sustained competitive excellence in National, World Cup and Olympic competition, for promoting and developing participation and public interest in the sports of bobsled and skeleton in the USA, and for operating consistent with the organization’s tax-exempt status in accordance with section 501(c)(3) of the IRS Code.

Overall Responsibilities

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is responsible for the organization's overall achievement of its mission and financial objectives by defining and executing its vision and strategy and through managing its day-to-day operations. As such, he/she is responsible for leading the organization’s business operations, managing and developing staff and coaches, and administering the policies and operations of the organization in accordance with the bylaws and policies established by the Board of Directors. The CEO is also responsible for building and sustaining a high performing culture consistent with the values of USABS. The CEO is the spokesperson and will lead all aspects of USABS with integrity and in accordance with the USABS strategic plan and Board policies while giving appropriate consideration to the rules, regulations and policies of the United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee (USOPC), the US Center for SafeSport (USCSS), and the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF). The CEO will oversee a $2.8M current annual budget, 10 coaches, 9 non-coaching staff, and 60 athletes.

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 volunteer board of directors. Proven revenue generation performance through the establishment and growth of corporate sponsorships, maintaining and enhancing sponsor relationships, and creative fundraising efforts is vital to the role and is a key candidate requirement. He/she will also be a passionate, responsive leader team player and diplomat, skilled at business management, collaboration, and political savvy. They must be an excellent communicator who is skilled at building consensus, issue/crisis management and dispute resolution. They will work effectively with the board of directors and across a complex, diverse volunteer organization to accelerate the realization of the USABS 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 strong relations with all USABS constituencies in the USA and globally, while inherently understanding what empowers the volunteers and how, in turn, they are empowered by these volunteers. It would be helpful, but not essential, if they are someone who is either in or has a long history with the sports of bobsled and skeleton (or other Olympic sport), who possesses true passion for the sport, and who has an intimate knowledge of how the sport is organized and operates technically from the grassroots to the World Championships and Olympic games to gain immediate trust from the key stakeholders. They must be willing to take actions to inspire and energize others around the vision for USABS’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 organization. A leader with integrity who inspires loyalty, trust and can influence and energize people and teams, and make cross-region, cross-organizational cooperation flourish. They must possess the intellect and executive presence to paint the big picture and be a collaborative partner who is capable of contributing to broader sports conversations and issues.

Core Competencies:

General Management Skills. An effective manager with a full range of general management skills including strategic planning/execution, effectively leading and managing staff, constituent management, and financial acumen. The CEO will be fully accountable for the organization’s financial, operational and competitive performance results.

Passionate Leader. Dynamic, charismatic individual who has a demonstrated history of successfully motivating, inspiring and empowering to drive the team for results. Conveys a sense of urgency that fosters a culture of consistently meeting or exceeding expectations on time and within budget. Has the experience and emotional intelligence to rise above the noise and frustrations that arise from change to see their actions through to positive conclusions for all.

Results-Driven Manager. A leader who will measure what matters and live by those results. This will entail establishing, reporting on, and driving operations through strategic measures and KPIs for the organization, the CEO position, and all direct reports. KPIs will encompass a balanced set of financial, operational and team performance/results metrics.

Skilled Team Builder. Has a successful record of 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.

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 media (television, streaming, social). Knows how to leverage their own connections, as well as connections of the board and others, to open doors and drive revenue. Demonstrated success in continuously developing new ways of “creating events and buzz” that will allow USABS to exceed sponsor activation expectations in growing the sport, building the fan base and everyone’s engagement in the sport at both the grassroots and high-performance level. Must excel at building, managing and enhancing relationships with current and new sponsors, including the ability to conceptualize and sell specific value propositions that are unique to each.

Supporter of Athletes, Coaches and Volunteers. Knows that the USABS exists because of and for the athletes. Recognizes that the athletes, coaches and volunteers will embrace a leader who embraces them, understands their value and deals constructively with their idiosyncrasies with compassion. Speaks to them and for them in a way that demonstrates a clear understanding of and empathy with the pressures of competing globally and gives them voice. Fights for and protects their interests, welfare and safety.

Preferred Experience:

Previous CEO/President/COO/GM or equivalent leadership experience (non-profit sector experience is a plus).
Minimum 5 years executive experience and a record of accomplishment of growth and success where best practices are utilized with significant business/financial 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 the rapidly changing digital world.
Willingness to reside in Lake Placid, NY and a commitment to spending significant time on site each year in Park City, Utah interacting with local leaders, track managers and sponsor executives.
Candidate could well have been a high-level 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.
Proven ability to build the organization’s financial stability, as well as maintain its growth.
Ability to convey a passion for the sports and be a natural spokesperson who embraces and represents the heroes of yesterday and tomorrow.
Ability and understanding of how to make bobsled and skeleton 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 generations in order to attract, relate and promote the future audience as well as the bobsled and skeleton athletes of tomorrow.
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 at serving the athletes so that they can excel at the highest level is the most critical and essential outcome.
Ability to build positive relationships with the board, the staff and the volunteer leadership.
Person has a sense of humor and can handle pressure and crossfire while operating in a challenging environment where not everything is always completely under their control.
Strong reputation of authenticity, integrity, and accomplishments with peers and other industry executives that will garner instant credibility within the USABS, USOPC, IBSF, and sponsor organizations.
The CEO should be a master-of-resources who will draw upon both staff and volunteer leaders in successfully selling USABS 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.
Proven record of hiring exceptionally talented individuals who work as a team.
Experience with successfully and strategically addressing controversial topics with the media.

Compensation

Compensation includes base salary, bonus tied to results, and a benefit package.
This job description is not intended to be an exhaustive list of all duties, responsibilities or qualifications associated with the job; other duties may be assigned.

USA Bobsled & Skeleton