National Sports Leadership Director

NATIONAL SPORTS LEADERSHIP DIRECTOR
Make the Difference, Athletic Director
100% Flexible 100% Remote or Hybrid

Our best days can inspire excellence.

### POSITION OVERVIEW
Voice Up connects people to their purpose and is seeking a visionary National Sports Leadership Director to lead the integration of our Purpose Metric and Sports & Mental Health Internship programs across the sports ecosystem.

This position will connect youth sports leagues, high school athletics, collegiate programs, and professional sports organizations to Voice Up's mission of discovering purpose through innovative and simple mental health habits.

The ideal candidate will be an innovative coach and leader who understands how complex ecosystems interact and can maximize the integration of diverse skills and talents to achieve our goal: connecting people to their purpose across all sports disciplines. This role requires someone who can see beyond traditional athletic development to create a comprehensive framework where sports becomes a vehicle for purpose discovery and mental wellbeing.

### MISSION IMPACT
As the National Sports Leadership Director, you will be instrumental in expanding Voice Up's global movement that currently serves students spanning over 100 colleges and universities.

Working in partnership with Oklahoma Wildcats Academy and other innovative organizations, you will help trailblaze a new approach to mental and behavioral health support for athletes who are becoming our future leaders, entrepreneurs, and small business owners.

### KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

#### Purpose Metric Implementation & Expansion
- **National Adoption Strategy:** Develop and execute a comprehensive strategy to introduce the five-minute Purpose Metric assessment across all levels of sports organizations.
- **Coach Education:** Create training programs that equip coaches to utilize purpose profiles for enhanced athlete development and team cohesion.
- **Impact Measurement:** Implement systems to track the effects of purpose-driven development on athletic performance, team dynamics, and individual wellbeing.
- **Cross-Sector Integration:** Bridge athletic departments with academic institutions, businesses, and community organizations to create holistic support systems.

#### Sports & Mental Health Internship Program
- **Program Expansion:** Scale our remote Sports & Mental Health Internship program nationally, creating opportunities for high school seniors, undergraduate, and graduate students.
- **Curriculum Development:** Refine and enhance internship content focused on sports psychology, athlete mental health, and purpose-driven leadership.
- **Mentorship Network:** Establish a national network of sports professionals who can serve as mentors to interns and program participants.
- **University Partnerships:** Secure academic credit arrangements with colleges and universities across the country.

#### Ecosystem Development
- **Youth Sports Integration:** Create developmentally appropriate adaptations of the Purpose Metric for youth sports leagues and junior programs.
- **Division I Relationships:** Build strategic partnerships with Division I athletic departments to implement the Purpose Metric at the highest collegiate level.
- **Professional Sports Connections:** Establish relationships with professional sports organizations to demonstrate the impact of purpose-driven development on elite performance.
- **Cross-Discipline Adaptation:** Ensure the Purpose Metric and internship programs are effectively tailored for all sports disciplines, from team sports to individual competitions.

#### Thought Leadership & Advocacy
- **Public Speaking:** Represent Voice Up at national conferences, workshops, and events as a thought leader in purpose-driven athletic development.
- **Content Creation:** Contribute to Make The Difference publication and other Voice Up media platforms with insights on sports, purpose, and mental health.
- **Research Collaboration:** Partner with Voice Up's Research Division to advance understanding of how purpose discovery impacts athletic performance and wellbeing.
- **Media Engagement:** Serve as a spokesperson for Voice Up's approach to purpose-driven athletics in national and international media.

### QUALIFICATIONS

#### Experience & Expertise
- **Coaching Background:** Minimum 10+ years of experience in athletic coaching, sports leadership, or athletic administration with demonstrated success in developing athletes holistically.
- **Program Implementation:** Proven track record of successfully implementing innovative programs across multiple organizations or levels of sports.
- **Mental Health Advocacy:** Demonstrated commitment to advancing mental health awareness and support within athletic contexts.
- **Organizational Leadership:** Experience in executive or senior leadership roles with responsibility for strategic vision and program execution.

#### Network & Relationships
- **National Connections:** Strong existing network of coaches, athletic directors, and sports leaders across the nation who trust and respect the candidate's perspective and vision.
- **Cross-Sector Relationships:** Established connections across educational institutions, sports organizations, and business communities.
- **Influence Capacity:** Ability to leverage personal credibility to open doors and facilitate program adoption at institutional levels.

#### Knowledge & Skills
- **Sports Ecosystem Understanding:** Comprehensive knowledge of how different levels of sports (youth, high school, collegiate, professional) interact and influence each other.
- **Mental Health Literacy:** Strong understanding of contemporary approaches to mental health support, particularly in athletic contexts.
- **Purpose Development Framework:** Ability to grasp and articulate the connection between purpose discovery and athletic/personal development.
- **Systems Thinking:** Capacity to see how complex systems interact and identify strategic intervention points for maximum impact.

#### Personal Attributes
- **Visionary Leadership:** Ability to inspire others with a compelling vision for how sports can transform lives through purpose discovery.
- **Entrepreneurial Mindset:** Comfort with ambiguity and eagerness to pioneer new approaches in traditional environments.
- **Relationship Builder:** Natural ability to connect with people across diverse backgrounds and perspectives.
- **Purpose-Driven:** Personal alignment with Voice Up's core principles of collaboration, humility, precision, patience, and empathy.

### IDEAL CANDIDATE PROFILE
The ideal candidate will embody the integration of athletic excellence with purpose-driven leadership. They will be someone who has experienced firsthand the limitations of traditional approaches to sports development and is passionate about creating new pathways that honor the whole person. This individual will understand from personal experience how connecting to purpose transforms athletic performance and life trajectory, and will bring both credibility within the sports community and innovative vision for what's possible when athletics becomes a vehicle for purpose discovery.

### WHY JOIN US
This position offers the rare opportunity to transform how we approach athletic development across the entire sports ecosystem. As the National Sports Leadership Director, you will:

- **Pioneer a New Approach:** Lead the integration of purpose discovery into athletic development at every level of sports.
- **Create Lasting Impact:** Help shape a generation of athletes who understand their purpose beyond competition.
- **Join a Global Movement:** Become part of Voice Up's mission to connect humanity to purpose through accessible mental health support.
- **Work Across Boundaries:** Engage with diverse stakeholders from youth sports coaches to Division I athletic directors to professional sports leaders.
- **Build Something Revolutionary:** Help create a new paradigm for how athletics contributes to human flourishing and community wellbeing.

### ABOUT VOICE UP
Voice Up Publishing Incorporated is dedicated to connecting individuals with their life's purpose through structured internships, research initiatives, educational programs, and collaborative community building. Our revolutionary five-minute monthly self-assessment tool is redefining how organizations approach mental wellbeing and purpose development in team environments, from high school athletic departments to corporate boardrooms.

Our approach is grounded in five core principles:
- **Collaboration:** Fostering meaningful connections between students, professionals, and community members
- **Humility:** Embracing a learning mindset that acknowledges everyone's potential for growth
- **Precision:** Implementing carefully structured programs to effectively guide individuals toward their purpose
- **Patience:** Recognizing that discovering one's purpose is a journey that requires time and reflection
- **Empathy:** Maintaining an open, growth-oriented perspective that welcomes new ideas

In partnership with Oklahoma Wildcats Academy and through initiatives like our Sports & Mental Health Internship program, we are creating a comprehensive ecosystem where athletic development serves as a pathway to purpose discovery, entrepreneurship, and lifelong success.

### APPLICATION PROCESS
Send to info@ellingtonbooks.com 
Qualified candidates should submit:
1. A comprehensive resume highlighting relevant experience in sports leadership and program implementation
2. A personal statement describing your vision for how sports can serve as a vehicle for purpose discovery and mental wellbeing
3. Three professional references who can speak to your ability to build trust-based relationships and implement innovative programs

Please send application materials to info@ellingtonbooks.com with "National Sports Leadership Director" in the subject line.

*Voice Up Publishing Inc. is an equal opportunity employer committed to building a diverse team that reflects the communities we serve. We particularly encourage applications from individuals who have experienced firsthand the transformative potential of purpose-driven athletic development.*