Director, Product Strategy

WHO IS USA LACROSSE

USA Lacrosse a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation is a Recognized Sports Organization of the United States Olympic & Paralympic Committee who proudly serves the sport by bringing the energy and excitement of our efforts to players coaches and officials every time they step on the field. We collaborate with passionate experts across the sport to create opportunities for people to enjoy the sport learn about the game and keep participants safe ensuring everyone feels welcome.

As the National Governing Body of mens and womens lacrosse in the United States we support more than 400000 members to provide national leadership structure and resources to fuel and unify the sports growth and enrich the experience of its players coaches officials parents and program leaders.

USA Lacrosse believes a diverse team best positions our organization to fulfill its mission. We strive to attract and maintain a team of talented and dedicated professionals who represent the diverse nature of our membership and the national lacrosse community. We are committed to a team culture that ensures everyone feels welcomed valued included and heard.

Mission

As the National Governing Body of lacrosse in the United States USA Lacrosse fuels the growth enriches the experience and fields the best National Teams.

Core Values

• We Influence - Written and Verbal Communication
• We Serve - Customer Focused
• We Create & Innovate - Creativity
• We Collaborate - Peer Relationships
• We are Humble & Honest - Integrity and Trust
• We Embrace Individuality - Diversity
• We Have Fun Work Hard and Play Hard

If this aligns with who you are and what you are looking for in an organization keep reading.

POSITION SUMMARY

USA Lacrosse is looking for an experienced Director Product Strategy to join our team and lead the long-term strategic vision for USA Lacrosses membership product strategy. This individual will make informed strategic decisions by analyzing and using the data to understand what products will provide value to our members. You will work cross-departmentally to support our mission focusing on member products benefits and services to drive membership value acquisition engagement and retention to grow our member base and the sport of lacrosse throughout the United States.

You will evaluate and deliver core benefits and services in areas such as athlete protection and safety liability and accident insurance coverage rules of the game coach and officials education national advocacy and any other programs that will foster the growth of lacrosse and value to our members. This critical role will partner with the Chief of Staff Business Intelligence to define and drive the strategic framework and direction across all membership categories (Player Coach Official Program Leader and Fan). You will serve as a consultant by collaborating with team members across all departments to deploy forward-looking strategies to build multi-year plans that will help solve business problems cultivate innovation and create new growth opportunities for USA Lacrosses membership to ensure return on investment.

If you are an analytical thinker with proven product development experience not only setting strategy but also using data to understand what the stakeholder values to come up with innovative ways to enhance membership this could be a great opportunity for you. You will work with a team of dedicated and talented professionals to support our mission and continue to grow our membership and lacrosse in the United States as we head to the LA28 Olympics and beyond.

A Typical Day Looks Like

Long-Range Product Strategy

• Leads the strategy for USA Lacrosses Long-Range Plan consulting with the leadership team (LT) cross-departmental teams and key stakeholders to align priorities inform decision-making and ensure all initiatives and product offerings support our goals to double participation to 4M reach 800000 annual members earn $50 million in annual revenue and field the best National Teams for LA28 and beyond.
• Serves as the advisor for the multi-year strategic roadmap for USA Lacrosse membership products and services by defining where the organizations near term and long-term needs are and builds the frameworks to get there.
• Defines and communicates the long-term value proposition for each USA Lacrosse membership category (Player Coach Official Program Leader and Fan) integrating the organizations full portfolio of member benefits and services including but not limited to insurance products coach and official educational resources publications (i.e. USA Lacrosse Magazine) player development tools access initiatives growth programs and National Team investments into clear differentiated and compelling membership value narratives.
• Continuously monitors the external landscape through monitoring and researching comparable membership organizations national governing bodies subscription-based associations and sport governing bodies to identify strategic opportunities to inform long-range planning.
• Translates strategic plans into annual operating priorities working with department leaders to define and align resources timelines and expected outcomes.

Data Strategy & Product Insights

• Builds and maintains a data-driven foundation for all product strategy decisions including but not limited to acquisition funnel analysis product and service utilization rates and member satisfaction.
• Designs and executes research programs to ensure a data-driven approach to all decision-making.
• Analyzes and synthesizes quantitative data and qualitative insights into strategy to allow data-driven decision making at the leadership level.
• Identifies and investigates early signals of risk (i.e. declining renewal rates benefit underutilization segment softness) and builds proactive strategies to address them before they become organizational problems.

Cross-Functional Strategic Partnership

• Leads the annual strategic planning processes with department leaders building integrated plans to account for each teams role in driving membership acquisition engagement and retention.
• Serves as the strategic connector between membership and the broader organization aligning Membership & Regional Growth Marketing & Content Business Intelligence Partnerships Sport Experience and IT around a shared membership vision.
• Facilitates collaboration with key business areas for cross-departmental engagement including but not limited to setting measurable goals and KPIs ensuring messaging and creative direction align with USA Lacrosses strategy to drive awareness and engagement for all products and member benefits helps identify potential partners to strengthen the membership value proposition aligns educational content with the broader organizational product strategy captures and analyzes the necessary data to make business decisions and ensures the digital infrastructure and user interface exists to guarantee a positive members experience.

Strategic Execution

• Serves as the primary strategic liaison for business leaders across the organization by proactively engaging functional partners to socialize proposed strategic updates gather input and build the cross-functional alignment needed before strategies move to execution.
• Secures alignment and owns the strategy document that translates the agreed direction into a clear structured written strategy that articulates the rationale goals target segments success metrics and resource requirements.
• Develops detailed execution plans for each approved strategy by defining milestones workstreams owners timelines and dependencies across all involved functions to ensure accountability.
• Remains actively engaged throughout the execution phase partnering with business leaders and their teams to remove obstacles monitor progress against plan and course-correct in real time to drive successful outcomes.
• Conducts structured post-execution reviews to capture lessons learned measure actual results against strategic goals and apply findings to strengthen future planning cycles.

Is This You

• 7 years of progressively responsible experience in product strategy membership or consumer subscription businesses with a track record of driving long-range growth at the organizational level.
• Proven experience in a membership association strategy consulting sport media national governing body or mission-driven nonprofit organization preferred.
• Background in subscription strategy loyalty program development or multi-tier benefit design a plus.
• Knowledge of A/B testing methodology pricing optimization and conversion rate analysis.
• Demonstrated ability to lead with a growth mindset with the ability to make timely data-informed pivots when conditions change.
• Demonstrated ability to build and lead multi-year strategic plans that connect data and insights to executive decision-making and measurable outcomes.
• Ability to take complex data and concepts and simplify them to tell a clear and concise story in an easy to understand manner.
• Advanced analytical skills with experience in segmentation lifetime value modeling churn analysis pricing strategy and acquisition funnel diagnostics. This includes being comfortable building and presenting your own analysis and recommendations.
• Ability to think in systems communicate with clarity and earn the trust of colleagues cross-departmentally.
• Proven success leading cross-functional strategic initiatives in matrixed organizations influencing without direct authority and aligning diverse teams around shared goals.
• Exceptional written and verbal communication skills with the ability to communicate complex strategy into clear compelling narratives for a broad audience including board members senior leadership and functional partners.
• Experience preparing executive briefings board materials and long-range planning documents.
• Intermediate to advanced computer skills with working knowledge of Microsoft 365 products including Word Excel PowerPoint Outlook and Teams and knowledge of CRM or analytics platforms (i.e. Salesforce Tableau or comparable tools). This includes the ability to learn new software and programs.
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a team with a hands on mentality. This includes the ability to be self-managed to work in a hybrid (in-office/work from home) environment.
• Strong organizational skills ability to multi-task problem solve and meet required deadlines.
• Discretion to handle sensitive and confidential matters and information.
• Ability to present a professional persona and presence to build relationships and establish credibility.
• Commitment to diversity equity and inclusion as a driver of organizational and strategic success.
• Willingness to be flexible with work schedule to work occasional nights and/or weekends to support USA Lacrosse events in support of our mission as needed.
• Willingness to learn about the sport of lacrosse and appreciate the needs for developing funds to fuel its development and growth.
• Ability to align with USA Lacrosses Mission Vision and Values to support our initiatives and organizational goals.

Expected Hours of Work

This position is generally expected to work Monday through Friday from 8:30am to 5:00pm and occasionally requires longer hours or weekend work as related to events and other business needs. This is a hybrid position and works from the headquarters office in Sparks MD three (3) days a week with the flexibility to work from home two (2) days a week.

Compensation & Benefits Overview

The base pay range for this position is $90000.00 to $105000.00 commensurate with experience plus opportunity for annual incentive pay.

USA Lacrosse offers a competitive benefits package including but not limited to:

• Medical Dental and Vision insurance with multiple options (eligible the first of the month following 30 days of employment).
• Generous company paid Life and AD&D insurance.
• Company paid Long Term Disability (LTD) at one year of employment.
• 403(b) retirement plan (eligible immediately upon hire) including a 4% employer contribution after one year of employment.
• Generous PTO company paid holidays bereavement jury duty and parental and maternity leave.
• Additional voluntary insurance options such as supplemental benefits through Colonial and Nationwide pet insurance.
• Discounts on USA Lacrosse merchandise.
• Free onsite gym at HQ office.
• Free parking.

Travel Requirements

Travel may be necessary up to 25% of the time (local regional). Travel would involve the following mode(s) of travel: car train or air. Some out of area and overnight travel may be expected.

EEO Statement

USA Lacrosse is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to providing an environment of mutual respect. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race color religion sex (including pregnancy gender identity and sexual orientation) parental status national origin/ancestry age disability genetic information (including family medical history) political affiliation military status veteran status or any other status/characteristic protected under federal state or local law. USA Lacrosse believes diversity and inclusion among our team is critical to our success as an organization and we seek to recruit develop and retain the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool.

Required Experience:

Director