Senior Director, Advocacy

Overview

We are Tennis! The USTA (United States Tennis Association) is the national governing body for the sport of tennis and the leader in promoting and developing the sport’s growth on every level in the United States, from local communities to the crown jewel of the professional game, the US Open.

Why Work for the USTA? We are a passionate team of staff and volunteers focused on growing the sport of tennis and making it accessible to all. We are committed to removing barriers and creating opportunities for ALL to participate. Don’t know tennis? Don t worry, you can still find yourself in the game!

The Senior Director of Advocacy is a senior strategic leader partnering with the Managing Director of Advocacy to develop and execute USTA national and grassroots advocacy strategy. This role will lead cross-organizational advocacy initiatives, serve as the primary liaison to national business units and the 17 USTA Sections, and manage the launch and adoption of a robust Learning Management System (LMS) and national ambassador cohorts.

The Senior Director will be a visible public spokesperson for the USTA’s advocacy work, advise internal leaders and external partners, and apply a consulting mindset to support diverse stakeholders in building advocacy capacity. Grassroots advocacy experience is strongly preferred.

As a member of the Section Development Team, the Senior Director will have a primary orientation to supporting section needs and goals. As a member of the Advocacy & Resource Strategy Team, the Director will work with the Director of Grants Strategy and other staff to align advocacy efforts with grants and fundraising efforts — including a holistic approach to supporting partners with a combination of advocacy, grants, and fundraising best practices.

• Serve as a strategic partner to the Managing Director, Advocacy in developing and executing USTA’s national and grassroots advocacy strategy.
• Lead priority national advocacy initiatives from planning through execution, measurement, and refinement.
• Identify emerging policy, funding, and advocacy opportunities and risks relevant to USTA’s mission and business priorities.
• Establish goals, KPIs, and evaluation frameworks to measure advocacy effectiveness and inform continuous improvement.
• Ensure advocacy activities align with organizational strategy, governance requirements, and legal compliance.

• Alongside robust Digital and IT Teams, oversee the design and launch of a Learning Management System (LMS) to scale advocacy training across staff, volunteers, ambassadors, and section partners.
• Develop and manage national ambassador cohorts, partnering with advocacy and administrative staff to manage recruitment, onboarding, curriculum development, activation, and performance measurement.
• Build grassroots advocacy capacity by providing tools, playbooks, and training that empower local leaders and volunteers.
• Serve as mentor and coach to individual ambassadors for high priority projects and programs.

• Serve as the primary liaison between the Advocacy function and USTA national business units to align priorities, coordinate campaigns, and integrate advocacy into broader organizational initiatives.
• Act as the day-to-day point of contact for advocacy efforts across the 17 USTA Sections, providing strategic guidance, consultation, and coaching.
• Serve as primary contact to the Advocacy Committee with clear lines of communication, aligning expectations and leveraging their energy and expertise.
• Apply a consulting mindset to support varied stakeholder needs, adapting strategies to different geographies, capacities, and organizational cultures.

• Represent the USTA as a visible public spokesperson at conferences, events, coalition meetings, and in media engagements related to advocacy initiatives.
• Build and manage relationships with external partners, coalitions, and allied organizations to advance shared advocacy goals.
• Provide high-level advisory and consulting support to senior leaders,…