Director - Urban Youth Academy

This is a Full Time Job

Job Title: Director – Urban Youth Academy

Job Summary: Responsible for building, stewarding and implementing the vision of the Kansas City Urban Youth Academy (UYA). Provide strategic leadership for the UYA by working with the Vice President of Community Impact and Royals Charities Leadership to establish long-range goals, strategies, plans and policies.

The mission of the UYA is to empower Kansas's City's urban youth through baseball, softball, academic and social opportunities to be the leaders of tomorrow. The UYA is a complex that features four outdoor fields, a press box for educational programming, and a 38,000 square-foot indoor facility. The indoor facility houses an MLB-sized turf infield, four batting tunnels, four classrooms, and an athletic training room.

Position Accountabilities/Responsibilities:
• Responsible for the day-to-day operation of the UYA, as well as shaping the future of the organization through leadership and strategy
• Lead and mentor a diverse team of 10 FTE, and develop work and professional development objectives - holding the team accountable for performance
• Develop and ensure the execution of a sophisticated community impact strategy that drives measurable impact for the community and Club; and ensure there are systems in place for continuous impact measurement and evaluation
• Oversee the UYA budget and ensure sound financial and business operations for the UYA
• Enhance and/or develop, implement, and enforce policies and procedures of the UYA to facilitate operational excellence
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with leaders from the Club and the nonprofit, government, and business community
• Serve as official spokesperson for the UYA as this role serves as the primary face of the UYA; conducting interviews and representing the UYA at events
• Be visible in the community by proactively visiting schools and community organizations in order to help others understand the mission of the UYA and evaluate opportunities for partnership
• Ensure that programs, initiatives, and activations connect our employees, players, coaches, and ownership in meaningful ways the community
• Partner closely with the Community Impact, Brand and Comms teams to amplify the UYA's efforts in the community
• Maintain a direct line of communication with MLB Youth Department and other MLB Youth Academy Directors
• Establish a positive, productive, and professional work environment by modeling a commitment to excellence
• Meet regularly with the Community Impact Leadership Team and other leaders across the Club in business and baseball operations
• Lead and grow baseball/softball programming in support of the community impact department strategy with a focus on the urban core
• Oversees the progress of the recruiting, training, and evaluation of all coaches and players at the UYA

Position Qualifications, Skills, and Experience Required:
• A proven track record of building, developing and managing diverse teams and creating a positive and high-performing organizational culture
• Superior financial acumen including significant experience with developing and managing budgets
• Experience leading events, programs and large-scale activations with vendors and partners, and establishing sound risk-management policies, procedures and protocols
• Experience developing programs and partnerships and measuring short and long-term impact, including articulating success to internal and external stakeholders
• Strong problem-solving capabilities and demonstrated ability to quickly digest information and connect dots to determine future action
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills as well as the gravitas to serve as the principal spokesperson and advocate for the Royals and the UYA in the community
• Ability to develop programs and partnerships that amplify the Royals' commitment to making a positive impact in the community
• Excellent organizational and time management skills as well as the ability to meet deadlines
• Unquestionable judgement and exhibits the highest level of personal integrity and ethics
• Experience in baseball and/or softball as a player or coach, or passion for the role that baseball and sport can play in unleashing the human potential of the community
• Associate's or bachelor's degree is preferred, or equivalent combination of education and work experience
• Flexibility and the ability to work non-standard hours, including evenings, weekend and events

Physical Requirements:
• Ability to lift items weighing as much as 25 pounds
• Must be able to work in a seated position for majority of workday
• Must be able to be productive utilizing a computer keyboard and telephone
• Specific vision abilities include close vision and ability to adjust focus
• Must be comfortable walking to navigate the facility to access the office, concourse, etc.
• Must be able to work extended hours and/or weekends as required by deadlines and event scheduling

The physical demands described here are representative of those that may be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to see, talk, and hear. The employee frequently is required to sit for long periods of time; walk; use hands, handle, or feel.

This role is a Full-Time, Exempt opportunity that is eligible for Company Benefits, 401K, and PTO. This role is expected to have a standard 40-hour work week.

We also afford equal employment opportunities to qualified individuals with a disability. For this reason, the Kansas City Royals will make reasonable accommodations for the known physical or mental limitations of an otherwise qualified individual with a disability who is an applicant consistent with its legal obligations to do so, including reasonable accommodations applicable local, state and / or federal law. As part of its commitment to make reasonable accommodations, the Club also wishes to participate in a timely, good faith, interactive process with a disabled applicant to determine effective reasonable accommodations, if any, which can be made in response to a request for accommodations. Applicants are invited to identify reasonable accommodations that can be made to assist them to perform the essential functions of the position they seek. Any applicant who requires an accommodation in order to perform the essential functions please inquire with Human Resources by email at humanresources@royals.com.

We are an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.