Job Description

USTA Director of Racquet Sports

The Director of Racquet Sports at the USTA National Campus is a nationally visible leadership role, responsible for the strategic and operational management of all racquet sports programming. This position requires a visionary, results-driven professional with a deep commitment to teaching excellence, innovation, team development, and the highest standards of operational execution.

The Director leads the delivery of inclusive, innovative, and industry-leading programming across tennis, pickleball, and padel. The role aligns closely with the USTA's mission, coaching competencies, and long-term strategic goals. The Director will guide a high performing team, oversee program development, instructional methodology, staff leadership, financial management, and stakeholder engagement, driving both participation and performance across diverse audiences and ensuring the continued evolution of racquet sport programming, operations, and community engagement.

Position Highlights:

• Full-time, non-teaching leadership role
• Five-day work week (excluding special events)
• Industry-leading paid time off (PTO)
• Strong leadership structure with Head Pro support
• Dedicated business management support team

Strategic Leadership and Vision

• Define and drive a multi sport strategy aligned with the USTA's mission and the Campus' vision.
• Represent the USTA's values and vision publicly, promoting national initiatives and driving participation through innovative programming.
• Foster a high performance culture grounded in accountability, inclusivity, and continuous improvement.
• Represent the National Campus and USTA on panels, at industry conferences, and in media when appropriate.

Program Development

• Lead a comprehensive slate of racquet sports programming, including youth, adult, adaptive, and high performance pathways.
• Oversee the development of inclusive, scalable programs across tennis, pickleball, and padel.
• Foster innovation in program delivery, technology use, and curriculum development.

Operational Excellence

• Design, implement, and manage all racquet sports programming (clinics, group training, camps, private instruction) with exceptional attention to detail and customer experience.
• Partner with campus operations and business managers to ensure seamless scheduling, court utilization, and resource coordination.
• Drive operational efficiency and excellence through systems, reporting, and consistent process improvement.

Instructional Leadership and Standards

• Maintain and elevate the highest standards of teaching excellence across all programs, ensuring alignment with USTA coaching competencies, player development principles, and performance pathways.
• Spearhead the development and evolution of the National Campus coaching methodology, based on world class instruction and athlete development.

Talent Management and Staff Development

• Recruit, hire, mentor, and manage a high performing team of Head Professionals and teaching staff.
• Establish clear performance objectives, conduct regular evaluations, and ensure professional development pathways through certifications and ongoing education.
• Create and implement internal training programs that emphasize consistency, professionalism, and continuous learning.
• Collaborate with events and facility teams to ensure exceptional on-site experiences.
• Drive the delivery of the Summer Fellowship Program in partnership with USTA Coaching.
• Actively support the Director of RSMA to integrate apprentices into core programming and operations.

Financial Management

• Develop annual budgets, program revenue forecasts, expense management, and operational plans.
• Collaborate with the finance team and Senior Director to build and manage the annual budget for Racquet Sports operations.
• Ensure all programs are financially sound, efficiently run, and aligned with growth and profitability targets.

Campus and Community Engagement

• Dedicate approximately 15-20 hours per week to oversee on court instruction (junior and adult clinics).
• Champion a respectful, inclusive workplace that values diversity of thought, background, and experience.
• Create a culture of inclusion, access, and growth through national outreach programs and partnerships.
• Build meaningful collaborations with national organizations, local schools, and USTA sections.
• Serve as Manager on Duty as needed and maintain strong communication with Campus Leadership.

Who You Are

• Extensive Leadership Experience: Minimum of 10 years of progressive leadership in racquet sports management, with a track record of national-level visibility and impact preferred.

• Multi-Sport Expertise: Deep expertise in tennis (required), with additional experience in pickleball and/or padel strongly preferred.

• Team & Program Leadership: Demonstrated success in leading diverse teams and managing large-scale, high-impact programs; proven ability to drive participation growth and operational profitability.

• Instructional Excellence: Strong foundation in curriculum design, coaching methodology, and instructional system development across varying levels of play.

• Strategic Operations Management: Proven ability to manage budgets, evaluate staff performance, and leverage data to inform strategic and operational decisions.

• Communication & Influence: Exceptional written, verbal, and interpersonal communication skills; experience presenting at industry conferences and leading professional development workshops.

• Collaborative Leadership: Demonstrated ability to build and maintain strong, collaborative relationships with internal teams, stakeholders, and external partners.

• Thought Leadership: Recognized contributor to the racquet sports community through speaking engagements, publications, or professional initiatives.

• Media & Public Presence: Strong public communication skills with a media-friendly presence considered a plus.

• Organizational Strength: Highly organized, with advanced skills in project management, planning, and critical thinking.

• Technical Proficiency: Comfortable using racquet sports-related software for scheduling, performance tracking, and operational oversight.

• Competitive Background: Certification in racquet sports and prior competitive playing experience strongly preferred.

What We Offer

At the USTA, we know people are our most important asset. For this reason, we offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to meet the needs of a diverse workforce!

Comprehensive benefits designed to meet your unique needs: Medical, dental, vision, access to doctors virtually, a flexible spending account to manage your health and dependent care expenses, and life and disability insurance are a small part of our offerings.

Time to recharge and energize: Generous paid time off policy - including vacation, sick, personal, and paid holidays, parental leave, and a paid winter recess.

Plan for your future financially and professionally: 401(k) with employer matching (up to 3%), promotional and growth opportunities, Learning and Development programs to learn on the job.

Mental and emotional wellness: Resources for overall well-being including mental health and meditation benefits.

Other cool perks: A personalized health management program, pet insurance, commuter benefits, identity theft protection, discounts with our network of partners, and fun events are just a few of the optional benefits available.

The expected range for the base salary for this position is $160,000-$170,000 plus a potential ICP bonus. This range does not include any additional pay or benefits for which a person may qualify. The actual base salary offered is determined by several variables, including, as appropriate, the applicant's qualifications for the position, the years of relevant experience, their unique skills, and the location from which they will be performing the job.

We strongly encourage you to apply if you're interested; we'd love to learn how you can "serve" our team with your unique experience!

USTA is dedicated to providing equal employment opportunities for all individuals, regardless of age, disability, national origin, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, pregnancy, veteran status, marital status, family status, alienage or citizenship status, creed, genetic information, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

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