Director, Strategy and Innovation

Global Sports Jobs Limited; United States; Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical benefits

Dental benefits

Vision benefits

Retirement plan

PTO

Job summary

Global Sports Jobs Limited, on the Special Olympics North America Unified Champion Schools (SONA UCS) team, seeks a Strategy and Innovation leader to drive data-driven insights and strategic planning across the division. The role manages up to eight U.S.

Programs and supports UCS excellence with timely analyses and trend reports. The position requires 7–10 years in senior leadership, strong collaboration skills, and proficiency with Microsoft 365 and Smartsheet.

Qualifications

• 7-10 years in a senior management or director role.
• Experience leading a team in a multilayer organisation.
• Strong data analysis and synthesis skills.
• Proficiency with Office 365 apps and Smartsheet.
• Ability to travel 5–8 times per year.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead the Strategy and Innovation functional area.
• Maintain and train SOPs for SI.
• Lead collection and analysis of Program data.
• Track implementation of strategic plans and drive UCS priorities.
• Support UCS Standards of Excellence and consultation processes.
• Create data trend reports for leadership and stakeholders.
• Lead webinars, trainings, and cross-functional meetings.
• Assist with CRM data migration and data synthesis for strategic deliverables.
• Log calls and meeting notes in department systems.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Data analysis

Stakeholder management

Communication skills

Travel readiness

Hybrid/remote work

SOP development

Tools

Microsoft Office 365

Smartsheet

Job description

About the Role

This role is a key member of the Insight, Innovation, and Impact Division on the Special Olympics North America Unified Champion Schools (SONA UCS) team, a division responsible for collecting and synthesising data to produce actionable insights for the SONA UCS department and U.S. Programs. The position works closely with functional areas and divisions across the SONA UCS department and the wider SONA region, while also managing a portfolio of up to eight U.S. Programs with the highest support needs. Its purpose is to ensure the sustainable growth and quality implementation of Unified Champion Schools in the United States.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the Strategy and Innovation functional area lead, responsible for the team's strategic decision-making and development.
• Maintain standard operating procedures for the Strategy and Innovation functional area, covering purpose and responsibilities, organising and sharing information, and connecting information across systems and sources, and train SI Regional Managers on these procedures to maintain buy-in.
• Lead the collection, tracking, and analysis of Program data to identify trends, gaps, and innovative opportunities, serving as a strategic thought partner to UCS Program staff.
• Track, monitor, and lead the implementation of assigned strategic plan strategies and drivers, and synthesise national UCS trends and opportunities to inform the management team's strategic planning efforts, outcomes, and goals, and the UCS Standards of Excellence.
• Maintain and update the UCS Department's Program quality tool, the UCS Standards of Excellence, develop a consultation process, and lead the Strategy and Innovation team in providing consultative support to U.S. Programs following their completion of the tool.
• Create timely data analysis and trend report summaries for the Office of Special Education Programs, SONA UCS, and the SONA leadership team.
• Lead and participate in webinars, trainings, and meetings that promote and advance UCS content and outcomes.
• Assist with and help manage the migration and accuracy of data to the customer relationship management (CRM) platform, and work with the Director Applied Research and Knowledge Translation and the Data Management Specialist to synthesise research and evaluation outcomes and internal monitoring data into strategic deliverables.
• Lead efforts to develop and maintain the UCS team's Program Support strategy framed around the UCS Standards of Excellence, and manage a portfolio of up to eight U.S. Programs, including holding monthly calls, fielding and triaging support questions and logging calls and meeting notes in the department's systems.
• Serve as the subject matter expert for the Programs in the portfolio by understanding each Program's specific UCS goals, strategies, activities, and outcomes.
• Represent the Insight, Innovation, and Impact Division in the development and updates of Program-facing platforms, and serve in a cross‑functional strategic role with the Learning and Development and Program Development functional area leads and on cross‑functional projects.
• Identify and develop processes and procedures to enhance team effectiveness and efficiencies, collaboration among UCS and SONA team members, and achievement of UCS goals and outcomes and establish effective communication strategies that promote positive and productive relationships with U.S. Programs and SONA staff.

Required Experience & Qualifications

• 7-10 years of relevant work experience, with the majority in a senior management or director role.
• Experience leading a team and navigating a multilayered organisation.
• Experience with providing technical assistance and support.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills.
• Strong data analysis and synthesis skills.
• Experience summarising data into actionable insights and strategy recommendations.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office 365 apps and Smartsheet.
• Ability to work effectively with individuals from a range of cultures and professional backgrounds.
• Ability to work independently, in project teams, and in hybrid or remote work environments.
• Must represent the organisation in a professional manner.

Preferred Skills

• Previous experience with Special Olympics.
• Understanding of disability, education/special education, and/or youth programming.
• Interest in travel for Program support site visits, meetings, conferences, or other events, with the position required to travel 5-8 times per year.
• Experience integrating and managing data from multiple sources.
• Experience giving virtual and/or in‑person presentations such as webinars and conferences.
• Interest in inclusion and sports.

Salary

• Actual compensation for this position may vary and will depend on multiple factors such as relevant qualifications, experience, education, and geographic location.

Benefits & Perks

• For USA-based staff, Special Olympics offers full‑time employees a generous and comprehensive benefits package, which includes medical, dental, vision, HSA, FSA, life insurance, disability, retirement, legal resources, and PTO.