Sports Manager

About Special Olympics Northern California

Special Olympics Northern California's (SONC) mission is to create an inclusive community where people with and without disabilities can make connections, develop healthy lifestyles, achieve success, and experience the joy of sports.

Sports Manager at Special Olympics Northern California (SONC) recruits, trains, and motivates team members on an ongoing basis. This individual is responsible for promoting the organization to enhance athlete participation at trainings and competitions within an assigned region and area. The Sports Manager builds and deploys new teams, manages existing teams, recruits and supervises coaches, and ensures all athletes receive a top‑quality training within the program.

This individual is also responsible for implementing local, regional and chapter competition events within the region or area. Oversees all aspects of existing and new competitions, as well as creates new competition opportunities. The Sports Manager is also expected to support competition‑related initiatives within the region, area, and program overall. The Sports Manager must reside in or very near the assigned region they oversee.

Candidates must live in or very near the Region as they are expected to report to the office in Pleasant Hill at least 2 days per week.

• Recruit, train, motivate and support Area Directors, Team Managers and Head Coaches via orientations, coaches’ clinics, and by continually sharing pertinent information with coaches and associated program participants/ members.
• Communicate with Area Directors, Team Managers and Head Coaches on an ongoing basis regarding program-wide sports policies, rules, and procedures.
• Develop strategies to increase athlete recruitment, retention, & participation at competitions.
• Prepare and share gathered data regarding competition metrics with Area Directors, Team Managers and Head Coaches, including presenting to groups, schools, and parent groups.
• Manage seasonal athlete registration system, including promoting registration and processing registrants.
• Conduct strategic planning meetings with Area Directors, Team Managers and Head Coaches on a regular basis to ensure groups remain apprised of sports activities.
• Communicate competition event information to parents, athletes, and coaches for upcoming seasons (newsletters, flyers, e‑mail blasts, or phone trees, etc.).
• Set up a training program that meets the standards set forth by SONC.
• Contact facility and negotiate the contract (written) and get all necessary insurance arranged before first practice commences.
• Make sure all training sites are properly equipped with sports equipment and coaches’ materials for start of program, order additional materials as necessary.
• Organize transportation to competitions as needed; review all registration materials for teams attending competitions in advance to ensure accuracy and make corrections as needed.
• Assist with the maintenance of the athlete information database and update the system for accuracy on a consistent basis.
• Ensure all athletes are receiving a quality training program that meets the minimum requirement of 6‑8 weeks in duration.
• Attend scheduled practices for local programs and ensure all participants, staff, coaches, etc. are receiving robust support.
• Continued efforts to secure in‑kind services for training needs; work with development staff to involve and/or cultivate possible donors that are created through the outreach efforts to volunteers and coaches.

• Management and oversight of invitational, regional, and chapter competitions.
• Identify needs and opportunities and build structure for invitational competitions.
• Secure competition venues, including all needed contracts and insurance coverage.
• Recruit all volunteer positions as program requires via the use of presentations, online recruitment, and other community outreach sources.
• Create, execute, and maintain a Games Management Team structure, including delegation of responsibilities…