Regional Sport and Unified Champion Schools Director - Region 9

Department: Programming

Relationships :

• This position reports to the Regional Executive Director.
• Supports all assigned schools, developing interpersonal relationships within each school building.
• Will work closely with regional staff in the Three Rivers Region to support community-based activities and competitions.

Location: This position will be located in the Three Rivers Region office in Pittsburgh, PA.

Position Summary

The Sport & Unified Champion Schools (UCS) Director position will be essential in supporting and managing school-based inclusion programming in the Three Rivers Region of Pennsylvania, focusing on Pittsburgh Public Schools and supporting community integration. Additionally, this position will assist with meeting overall Special Olympics Pennsylvania (SOPA) strategy goals and objectives. This individual will work directly with teachers, coaches, student leaders, and administrators in assigned schools and help them manage quality UCS programming. This consists of Interscholastic Unified Sports (IUS), interscholastic school teams composed of students with and without intellectual disabilities who train and compete as equal peers, collaborative inclusive youth leadership, and whole-school engagement activities designed to promote awareness, education, and acceptance.

Key Responsibilities:

This position will assume the following responsibilities to support the Programming department’s goals and objectives, specifically in school-based Unified Champion School initiatives. This position will be responsible for significant aspects of this project to include but not limited to:

1. Develop and manage relationships with key staff and student leaders at assigned schools. Provide them with the resources, direct guidance, and support needed to achieve excellence in the following UCS components to ensure quality outcomes:

a. Interscholastic Unified Sports (IUS)

i. Train coaches and ensure they implement the principles of Unified Sports in their practices and competitions.

ii. Provide recruitment strategies and support to ensure sufficient special education and general education students are enlisted and committed to forming IUS teams.

iii. All Special Olympics PA policies and rules are being followed.

iv. Competition management meets the quality standards established by SOPA. This includes sufficient well-trained officials and volunteers, rule enforcement, knowledge of the protocols, and necessary venue elements.

v. Provision of all materials and resources for effective and well-managed practices and competitions.

vi. Collecting the required paperwork and entering data and information into the SOPA database.

b. Inclusive Youth Leadership

i. Work with the school faculty liaison to ensure an inclusive youth leadership club (students with and without intellectual disabilities) has an effective student governance structure, articulated goals and planned activities, and an understanding of how best to engage students with and without disabilities.

ii. Provide guidance and resource support to meet the UCS program objectives.

c. Whole School Engagement Activities

i. Ensure the school is conducting a minimum of two- and preferably three- school-wide engagement activities led by students that promote education and awareness about inclusion and social justice through sports, anti-bullying, and other school climate focus areas.

ii. Provide the necessary guidance, resources, and materials for successful outcomes.

iii. Have the inclusive youth leadership club conduct these activities with other school groups, such as the student council.

d. School Sustainability

i. Engage the inclusive youth leadership club in fundraising activities, such as a Cool Schools Polar Plunge, to support UCS.

ii. Help develop plans to meet an established goal by enlisting the involvement of other students and groups throughout the school.

iii. Share registration materials and actively promote ideas and best practices.

2. Community Integration

a. Create/update resource materials yearly to include transitions between grade levels and from school to community programs.

b. Work with SOPA Regional staff and local program volunteers to develop local transition plans in line with the SOPA Strategic Plan.

c. Develop a tracking system and report bi-annually.

3. Fulfill the following additional responsibilities for Special Olympics PA and UCS:

a. Grant reporting

i. Manage monthly UCS grant report.

b. Expense/Budget management

i. All expenses will be filed with SOPA and appropriate grants.

c. Support community-based activities, trainings, and competitions with the region in coordination with the Three Rivers Region staff.

Qualifications :

• Project management experience with proven ability to work and collaborate in diverse environments; ability to multi-task and meet deadlines in a fast-paced, ever-changing environment
• Ability to work and communicate effectively with teachers and high school students with and without intellectual disabilities
• Demonstrated successful experience motivating, leading, and engaging teachers and students
• An understanding and background in sports management and inclusion programming
• Excellent presentation and communication skills, both verbal and written
• Strong computer skills, proficient in the use of Microsoft Office software is required
• Bachelor’s degree in education, sports management, leadership or related field preferred, but not required
• Experience working in school-based environments or programs is beneficial
• Willing to chaperone youth with and without intellectual disabilities
• Open to frequent travel, primarily throughout western Pennsylvania

Minimum Requirements:

• Flexible schedule to include limited nights and weekends with overnight travel as needed to support initiatives
• Have own reliable transportation, good driving history, and valid driver’s license
• Criminal history checks and fingerprinting are required of all SOPA employees during their employment. Your employment is conditional, pending the results of the background check.

APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS

Serious applicants should send a cover letter, resume, and salary requirement to [email protected].

No phone calls will be accepted. Resumes sent for positions other than this posting will not receive a response, and communications from recruiters will not be acknowledged.

Equal Opportunity Employer Statement:

Special Olympics Pennsylvania is proud to be an equal-opportunity employer. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, national origin, political affiliation, sexual orientation, marital status, disability, neurodiversity, age, parental status, socio-economic background, military service, or any other characteristic or status protected by applicable law. We are committed to creating a workplace that reflects our communities and where everyone feels empowered to bring their whole, authentic selves to do their best work.

Organization Overview:

Special Olympics Pennsylvania (SOPA) provides year-round training and competition in 21 Olympic-type sports to over 15,000 individuals with intellectual disabilities. For over 50 years, SOPA and its nine regions have utilized the transformative power of sports to change lives, foster community, and promote inclusion. Through programs like Healthy Athletes and Unified Sports, SOPA addresses health needs and fosters inclusion by bringing together individuals with and without intellectual disabilities as equal teammates. To learn more, visit

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $48,318.40 - $60,398.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee assistance program
• Flexible schedule
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Parental leave
• Retirement plan
• Vision insurance

Work Location: Hybrid remote in Pittsburgh, PA 15205