Description

The Executive Director (“ED”) serves as the chief executive officer of the Big Sky Ski

Education Foundation and is responsible for the strategic, operational, financial, and cultural

leadership of a high-performance winter sports organization serving alpine, nordic, freeride, and

masters athletes. BSSEF supports alpine race programming from U8 through FIS levels, nordic

race programming across all age groups, a developing freeride program, and a community-based

masters program at a rapidly emerging destination ski resort.

The ED will lead the organization through a period of significant growth, including expansion of

on-mountain training infrastructure, athlete support systems, fundraising capacity, community

partnerships, and the potential to develop integrated educational models with local schools. The

position requires a visionary leader who can balance elite athletic development with broad

community participation and organizational sustainability.

The Executive Director reports to the Board of Directors and works collaboratively with program

directors, coaches, parents, resort leadership, school administrators, donors, volunteers, and

regional and national governing bodies.

Requirements

Primary Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership

Execute BSSEF’s newly developed long-term strategic plan for athletic, organizational,

and infrastructure growth.

Position BSSEF as a premier regional and national winter sports development

organization.

Work with resort leadership to expand training venues, competition opportunities, lift

access, and mountain infrastructure.

Build a strong organizational culture centered on athlete development, sportsmanship,

accountability, and community.

Organizational Management

Oversee all operational aspects of alpine, nordic, freeride, and masters programming.

Provide guidance and oversight of hiring, onboarding, training and evaluation of full-time

and seasonal staff. Supervise senior staff, including Alpine Program Director, Nordic Director, Freeride

Director, operations staff, and administrative employees.

Coordinate and support ongoing coach education, professional development, and

certification requirements across the club.

Achieve and maintain a Gold Level Certification or higher within U.S. Ski &

Snowboard.

Ensure alignment across athletic programming, academics, athlete wellness, and

organizational priorities.

Develop policies, procedures, risk management systems, and operational standards.

Financial Oversight

Prepare and manage annual operating budgets and long-range financial planning.

Lead fundraising initiatives, including capital campaigns, annual giving, sponsorships,

grants, and donor cultivation.

Work with the Board on financial reporting, reserve planning, and infrastructure

investment strategies.

Identify new revenue opportunities through camps, events, partnerships, and community

programming.

Development & Community Relations

Serve as the public face of the organization within the ski industry and local community.

Cultivate relationships with donors, sponsors, alumni, governing bodies, and resort

ownership.

Promote strong parent engagement and communication.

Support athlete recruitment and retention efforts.

Pursue opportunities to partner and integrate with local schools.

Inform the BSSEF Board of Directors of significant partnerships and community

relationships.

Athlete & Program Development

Champion long-term athlete development models across all disciplines.

Support coaching staff recruitment, education, and retention.

Ensure programming balances competitive excellence with athlete well-being and

sustainability.

Oversee pathways from entry-level participation through elite national and international

competition.

Governance & Compliance

Work closely with the Board of Directors on governance and strategic initiatives.

Ensure compliance with SafeSport, U.S. Ski & Snowboard, NCAA considerations,

insurance requirements, and nonprofit regulations.

Maintain strong organizational risk management and safety standards.Qualifications

7–10+ years of leadership experience in ski racing, winter sports, youth athletics,

nonprofit management, or similar leadership experience in the private sector.

Demonstrated experience leading staff teams, organizational operations, and strategic

initiatives.

Proven success in fundraising, donor relations, sponsorship development, and community

partnerships, or similar cross-over experience procuring startup capital and early stage

funding and forming strategic partnerships and alliances in the private sector.

Experience managing budgets, financial planning, and organizational growth.

Excellent communication, relationship-building, and collaborative leadership skills.

Preferred: Strong understanding of alpine ski racing pathways, athlete development, and

U.S. Ski & Snowboard systems.

We recognize that strong candidates may not meet every listed qualification. If you believe your

experience, skills, and passion make you a strong fit for this role, we encourage you to apply. We

value diverse backgrounds and perspectives and welcome applicants who are excited to

contribute to our mission and community.

A competitive compensation package will be negotiated during the application process and will

be commensurate with experience.

To apply:

Interested candidates should submit a cover letter and resume outlining their

qualifications and interest in the position to matt@bssef.com. Applications will be

reviewed on a rolling basis until the position is filled.