Job Opening: Urban Squash Director, Cincinnati Posted February 10, 2014
Position: The National
Urban Squash + Education Association seeks an Executive Director of
Emanuel Squash in Cincinnati, Ohio. The Executive Director, who should
be prepared to lead Emanuel Squash for a minimum of three years, will
launch the organization in the spring or summer of 2014 at Emanuel
Squash’s newly renovated three court youth center. The center, which
has classrooms and offices and is within walking distance of several
prospective partner schools, is in an architecturally rich and
up-and-coming neighborhood called Over the Rhine adjacent to
Cincinnati’s downtown business district. The Executive Director
will report to Emanuel Squash’s Board of Directors and her or his
responsibilities will include building an able and dedicated staff;
managing the program’s space in the building; creating and
strengthening partnerships with local schools, businesses, and
nonprofits; recruiting and retaining students and volunteers; raising
money and organizing fundraisers and other events; working with and
building Emanuel Squash’s Board of Directors, Board of Advisors and
Young Professionals Board; and other duties as needed or assigned.
We seek candidates who
are organized, hardworking, and comfortable raising money. Candidates
should also enjoy coaching, tutoring and mentoring young people from
under-served communities and cultivating personal relationships with
families. As the leader of the organization, the Executive Director
will be in control of her or his daily schedule, but candidates should
understand that the position demands considerably more than a typical
full-time job. For at least the first year, the Executive Director will
be present at virtually all of the program’s weekday and weekend
practices, and be regularly accessible outside of traditional work
hours.
In short, the
Executive Director will be responsible for ensuring that Emanuel Squash
is successfully launched and that it is well run, well supported, and
well respected in Cincinnati and beyond. It is a unique opportunity for
a talented and focused individual to lead an organization, become a
community leader, and make a difference in the lives of at-risk youth. Qualifications & Experience:
● Bachelor’s degree from a high quality university; graduate degree a plus ● High level of familiarity with the urban squash program model; past experience as a volunteer or staff member of an urban squash program highly desirable ● High quality English skills as a writer and speaker ● Experience as a squash player or squash coach Skills & Personal Characteristics: Leadership ●Capable of building,
managing, and a leading a team; proven track record in initiating and
successfully leading groups or projects. ●Natural, hands-on leadership skills and a pragmatic, business-focused approach to management. ●Organized, with the
ability to implement systems and processes while overseeing growth and
change; ability to work against tight deadlines under pressure. ●Entrepreneurial drive and desire to build from the ground up; able to effectively operate with little infrastructure. ●Sets extremely high
standards for self and colleagues. Provides strong leadership but
encourages input from colleagues in the decision-making process and
possesses good team-building skills. Communication ●Ability to fundraise, persuade, and rally groups to achieve a goal. ●Excellent
negotiation, influence, and presentation skills. Must have the
credibility necessary to lead meetings with accomplished professionals
from a variety of sectors. ●Exceptional interpersonal skills to build strong relationships with various stakeholders. ●Ability to work
effectively at all levels of the organization when needed, as a squash
coach, tutor, chaperon or more; exhibits the gravitas, charisma and
knowledge to be credible in all situations. Motivation/Culture Fit ●A sharp focus on delivering exceptional levels of service; a customer service orientation. ●Highly self-motivated and objective driven with a strong commitment to career. ●A pragmatic approach and the ability to thrive under pressure of constant change. ●The ability to connect socially with people of different ages, backgrounds, and interests. Start date: The
position can begin as early as January of 2014, with the recruitment of
students and tryouts beginning in April or May. However, candidates who
are interested in the position but cannot start before July are
encouraged to apply. For the right candidate, the position could start
(on a full-time basis) as late as July 1, 2014.
Commitment: 3 years minimum
Compensation &
Vacation: Commensurate with experience and qualifications. Salary
range: $50,000-$70,000, with the prospect for future increases based on
performance. Full health-insurance coverage included. The position
includes 5 weeks of vacation annually: 1 in December, 1 in the spring,
and 3 in the summer.
Application Process:
Interested candidates should send a brief, informal email to Peg Wyant
(peg@grandinproperties.com) to indicate interest. Subsequently,
candidates may be invited to send PDF copies of their resume and a
one-page cover letter that explains in more detail her or his
qualifications and reason for interest in the position. The letter
should be addressed to the four board members serving on Emanuel
Squash’s Executive Director Search Committee (Tom Shepherd, Dan Good,
Peg Wyant, and Tim Wyant) and sent to Peg Wyant.
Background: In the
fall of 2012, the Emanuel Community Center, which has served Over the
Rhine residents for 142 years, repurposed its mission to become an
urban squash and education program. Led by NUSEA and a group of squash
enthusiasts in Cincinnati, Emanuel Squash began rebuilding its Board of
Directors and raising the capital required to build squash courts in
what had been an indoor basketball court, and refurbish its classroom
and office space. With NUSEA’s assistance, Emanuel Squash has secured
over $150,000 in operations funding, and the organization is scheduled
to launch in the summer or fall of 2014 with at least two full-time
staff members and approximately 40 elementary and middle school
students. Emanuel Squash will have almost exclusive access to the
courts and classrooms at the Emanuel, and there is the possibility of
further court construction in future years.
Cincinnati: Located on
the Ohio River, Cincinnati is a city of hills with two major league
sports teams – the Cincinnati Reds and Cincinnati Bengals – eight
Fortune 500 Companies, and a population of two million. An affordable
place to live, Cincinnati has a friendly, Midwestern culture and a
highly regarded park system. The city has a strong squash community,
with six squash facilities, ten local squash professionals, and
longstanding commitment to junior development. The Emanuel Center,
which overlooks Music Hall and the newly renovated Washington Park, is
within easy walking distance of theaters, museums, stadiums, and
riverfront parks. Over the Rhine, where the Emanuel Center is located,
is enjoying a cultural and economic renewal and has become the city’s
most active entertainment and entrepreneurial district. It is also home
to one of Cincinnati’s poorest populations. Over 90% of the students in
the area’s schools qualify for the federal government’s free lunch
program. Board of Directors •
Randy Cooper • Kevin Dehner • Dan Good • Francy Hughes • Dhani Jones •
Don Mills • Harrison Mullin • Tom Shepherd F.D. Wilder • Peg Wyant •
Tim Wyant
