Director, Strategy and Innovation

Position Title : Director of Strategy and Innovation

Department : Special Olympics North America, Unified Champion Schools

Reports to: Director of Research and Evaluation, Unified Champion Schools

Location : Washington, D.C. or Remote USA

Date and Length of Role: Full-time, Permanent

FLSA Status: Exempt

Salary range for US employees: $90,950 - $107,100

*Actual compensation for this position may vary and will depend on multiple factors such as relevant qualifications, experience, education, and geographic location.

Organization Summary

Founded in 1968, Special Olympics is a global movement to end discrimination against people with intellectual disabilities. We foster acceptance of all people through the power of sport and programming in education, health, and leadership. With nearly four million athletes and Unified Sports® partners and one million coaches and volunteers in more than 170 countries, Special Olympics delivers more than 30 Olympic-type sports and nearly 50,000 games and competitions every year. Learn more at

Position Summary

Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools® is an education-based strategy for schools Pre-K through college that intentionally promotes social inclusion by bringing together students with and without intellectual and developmental disabilities to create accepting school environments. The Director of Strategy and Innovation is a key member of the Insight, Innovation, and Impact Division on the Special Olympics North America Unified Champion Schools team (SONA UCS). This Division is responsible for collecting and synthesizing data to produce actionable insights for the SONA UCS department and U.S. Programs. The Director will work closely with functional areas and Divisions across the SONA UCS Department and wider SONA region, while also managing a portfolio of up to 8 U.S. Programs with the highest support needs to ensure the sustainable growth and quality implementation of Unified Champion Schools in the U.S. This position will be required to travel occasionally throughout the year.

Primary Responsibilities Strategy and Innovation (40%)

• Serve as the Strategy and Innovation functional area lead responsible for that team’s strategic decision-making and development
• With the Director of Research and Evaluation, maintain standard operating procedures for the Strategy and Innovation functional area, including purpose and responsibilities, organizing and sharing information, connecting information across systems and sources, Train SI Regional Managers on these procedures and maintain buy-in.
• With Director of Research and Evaluation, lead the team in the collection, tracking, and analysis of Program data to identify trends, gaps and innovative opportunities and serve as strategic thought partners with UCS Program staff.
• With Director of Research and Evaluation, track, monitor, and lead the implementation of assigned strategic plan strategies and drivers
• With Director of Research and Evaluation, synthesize national UCS trends and opportunities to inform the management team’s strategic planning efforts, outcomes, and goals, and the UCS Standards of Excellence.
• Maintain and update the UCS Department’s Program quality tool “UCS Standards of ” Develop a consultation process and lead the Strategy and Innovation team in the provision of consultative support to U.S. Programs following their completion of the tool
• With Director of Research and Evaluation, create timely data analysis and trend report summaries for the Office of Special Education Programs, SONA UCS, and SONA leadership team.
• Lead and participate in webinars, trainings, and meetings that promote and advance UCS content and outcomes.
• Assist with and help manage the migration and accuracy of data to customer relationship management (CRM) platform.
• Work closely with the Director, Applied Research and Knowledge Translation and the Data Management Specialist to synthesize research and evaluation outcomes and internal monitoring data; help translate findings into strategic deliverables

Program Support (30%)

• Lead efforts to develop and maintain the UCS team’s Program Support strategy framed around the UCS Standards of Excellence
• Manage a portfolio of up to 8 S. Programs including holding monthly calls, fielding and triaging support questions, logging calls and meeting notes in the department’s systems, etc.
• Serve as the “subject matter expert” of the Programs in the Director’s portfolio by understanding each Program’s specific UCS goals, strategies, activities, and outcomes.

Cross-Functional Collaboration (20%)

• Represent the Insight, Innovation, and Impact Division for the development and updates on Program facing platforms.
• With Director of Research and Evaluation, identify and develop processes and procedures to enhance team effectiveness and efficiencies, collaboration among UCS and SONA team members, and achievement of UCS goals and outcomes
• Establish effective communication strategies that promote positive and productive relationships with U.S. Programs and SONA staff. Serve in cross-functional strategic role with Learning and Development and Program Development functional area leads
• Represent functional area in cross-functional strategic role and projects
• In partnerships with Senior Manager of Grant Administration & Reporting, lead the development and execution of the annual subaward grant application and grant reporting materials
• Review applications for subaward recommendations in addition to monitoring monthly, midterm, and final reporting to ensure requirements are met

Supervision (10%)

• Supervise and support the Strategy and Innovation Regional Managers (east, central, west)
• Approve direct reports’ time off, time sheets, travel, and expense reports
• Develop direct reports’ annual goals and monitor progress
• Complete annual performance reviews for direct reports
• Serve as the UCS relationship manager to the Director, Organizational Development within the SONA Organizational Development department

Required Qualifications

• 7-10 years of relevant work experience, with the majority in a senior management or director role
• Experience leading a team and navigating a multilayered organization
• Experience with providing technical assistance and support
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills
• Strong data analysis and synthesis skills
• Experiencing summarizing data into actionable insights and strategy recommendations
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office 365 apps and Smartsheet
• Ability to work effectively with individuals from a range of cultures and professional backgrounds
• Ability to work independently, in project teams, and in hybrid or remote work environments
• Must represent the organization in professional manner

Desired Qualifications

• Previous experience with Special Olympics
• Understanding of disability, education/special education, and/or youth programming
• Interest in travel for Program support site visits, meetings, conferences, or other events (this position will be required to travel 5-8 times per year)
• Experience integrating and managing data from multiple sources
• Experience giving virtual and/or in-person presentations (webinars, conferences, )
• Interest in inclusion and sports

*For USA based staff: Special Olympics offers full-time employees a generous and comprehensive benefits package, which includes: medical, dental, vision, HSA, FSA, life insurance, disability, retirement, legal resources, and PTO.

Special Olympics provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

**Special Olympics is an E-Verify Employer**