Now Hiring: Chief Executive Officer, Ontario Basketball

Join us in shaping the future of basketball in Ontario! As the governing body for basketball in the province, Ontario Basketball is embarking on an exciting journey to elevate the sport to unprecedented levels of success and accessibility. We are seeking a dynamic and innovative Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to lead our passionate team, drive strategic initiatives, and champion the growth of basketball at all levels.

This is a unique opportunity to leave your mark on the sport, impacting communities, athletes, coaches, officials, and administrators across Ontario. If you’re ready to make a difference and leave a lasting legacy through our sport, we invite you to step up and lead the charge with us. Apply now and be part of our future!

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About Ontario Basketball Association

Ontario Basketball (OBA) is the governing body for basketball in the province. A member of Canada Basketball, the national governing body for basketball, OBA is the largest provincial basketball organization in the country. OBA is a non-profit entity and receives financial support from the Ontario Ministry of Heritage, Sport, Tourism and Culture Industries. The organization was incorporated in 1977, but its history dates back to over 80 years ago.

Ontario Basketball is led by a Board of Directors, who set the strategic direction for the organization. Professional staff and volunteer committees carry out the day-to-day activities to advance OBA’s mission and priorities and to support its 185 members clubs and nearly 50,000 players, coaches and administrators.

OBA oversees basketball development in the province through the provision of programs and services aimed at meeting the needs of the evolving provincial, national and global basketball landscape. OBA promotes basketball development in accordance with Long-Term Athlete Development (LTAD) and Canadian Sport for Life (CS4L) principles, and endeavours to support participants in all stages of development, from building physical literacy to developing high performance athletes to facilitating lifelong participation as athletes, coaches, officials and administrators.

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Chief Executive Officer – Skills & Qualifications

Leadership:

  • Strategic Planning: Develops a cohesive atmosphere that enhances unity within the basketball community, employing strategic planning to steer the organization towards common goals.
  • Visionary Leadership: Leadership that fosters a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement. Develop team initiatives and processes including recruitment, professional and leadership development, recognition, and retention.
  • Community and Public Relations: Building and maintaining a positive public image for the OBA, and advocating for basketball and its benefits to communities across Ontario.
  • Communication: The ability to communicate effectively with a variety of audiences, including the media, membership, stakeholders, and the broader community.
  • Inclusive Leadership: Embraces inclusive leadership to build a community where basketball acts as a unifying force, ensuring all levels of participation are valued.

Resource Development:

  • Funding Partnerships: Actively develops and sustains positive working relationships with funding partners, ensuring a stable and growing stream of financial support for the OBA.
  • Relationship Building: Initiates and nurtures key relationships and partnerships with the aim of advancing the sport, contributing to the OBA’s sustainable growth and wider community impact.
  • Community Engagement: Cultivates partnerships with community organizations, enhancing basketball’s reach and fostering an environment where athletes, staff, and volunteers can thrive.
  • Sponsorship Development: Identifies and secures strategic corporate sponsorships, negotiating deals that benefit both the OBA and its partners, ensuring long-term and mutually beneficial relationships.

Governance:

  • Board Support: Supports the Board in setting the strategic direction, offering insight and information on crucial organizational issues to aid in informed decision-making.
  • Board Facilitation: Provides comprehensive administrative and operational support to the Board and Committees, ensuring smooth functioning and effective governance.
  • Governmental Relationship Management: Takes the lead in managing relationships with governmental agencies, ensuring that the organization remains in full compliance with policies, regulations, and reporting requirements.
  • Policy Development: Oversees the development and implementation of policies that reflect the organization’s values and comply with regulations. Including human resource policies to set clear expectations for staff, minimizing risks associated with the onboarding and offboarding processes, and ensuring a smooth transition for incoming and departing talent.

Organizational Management:

  • Organizational Structure: Establishes and continuously monitors the organization’s staff structure, ensuring it is optimally aligned with the OBA’s long-term vision and strategic priorities.
  • Program Management: Skills in managing and overseeing programs and projects that advance the mission of the OBA, including athlete development programs, coaching education, and community outreach.
  • Performance Measurement: Establishing and utilizing key performance indicators (KPIs) and metrics to gauge organizational progress and make data-informed decisions.
  • Professional Development: Commits to the empowerment and development of individuals within the organization, encouraging a culture of professional growth, community engagement and sports excellence.
  • Service Delivery: Implements processes for quality service delivery across the organization, guaranteeing that all staff are equipped to provide exceptional service that aligns with the OBA’s standards of excellence.

Financial Management:

  • Financial Growth: Demonstrates an understanding of financial management with a proven track record in maximizing growth and identifying revenue streams for the OBA.
  • Budget Oversight: Maintains diligent oversight of the budget, ensuring all financial policies and procedures are followed, and organizational finances are managed responsibly and transparently.
  • Financial Reporting: Provides quarterly financial updates to the Board, maintaining communication and ensuring Board is informed and engaged with the OBA’s financial health.
  • Asset Management: Has a strong grasp of the organization’s assets and proactively identifies potential financial risks to safeguard the OBA’s resources and ensure fiscal responsibility.

Qualifications and Experiences:

  • Empathetic and Change-Driven Leadership: Ability to lead organizational transformation with empathy and effectiveness.
  • Accomplished People Management: Demonstrated success in leading teams, with a history of delivering programs and services effectively within budgetary constraints.
  • Human Resources Expertise: Proficient in managing staff and applying best practices in human resource management.
  • Financial Management Proficiency: Proven skills in budgeting, financial forecasting, and managing financial statements to ensure fiscal responsibility.
  • Revenue Generation and Sponsorship Management: Experienced in increasing revenue streams, securing corporate sponsorships, and managing relationships with funding partners.
  • Strategic Planning and Execution: Strong capability in strategic thinking and planning, with the ability to make sound judgments and execute plans effectively.
  • High-Performance Sports Leadership: Leadership experience within a high-performance sports-related environment or a similar competitive organizational setting.
  • Interpersonal and Collaborative Skills: Exceptional interpersonal skills and the ability to work collaboratively with a diverse range of stakeholders.
  • Board-Level Experience: Preferred experience in reporting to or collaborating closely with a Board of Directors.
  • Communication Excellence: Outstanding verbal and written communication abilities.
  • Bilingual Language Proficiency: Fluency in both French and English is an asset.
  • Educational Credentials: An MBA or degree in Sports Management is an asset.
  • Executive Leadership: Previous experience in an Executive Director role or similar leadership position.
  • Industry Networking: Established contacts within professional basketball leagues such as the NBA, G League, CEBL, NBA Canada, and with collegiate sports organizations like the NCAA, U Sports/OUA, CCAA/OCAA. Including senior level relationships with Canada Basketball, MLSE and CSIO.
  • Strategic Development Experience: Expertise in the development and implementation of a comprehensive strategic plan.
  • Governance Acumen: Experience with board and governance relations, demonstrating an understanding of organizational leadership at the executive level.
  • Government Relations: Extensive experience in liaising with government agencies and understanding public policy as it relates to sports organizations.
  • Knowledge of Basketball: Familiarity with the basketball landscape in Ontario and/or across Canada. Strong understanding of the club, rep, and high performance ecosystem is an asset.

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The employer is committed to creating an inclusive and diverse work environment and is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, creed, sex, sexual orientation, age, marital status, family status or disability.

The employer welcomes and encourages applications from people with disabilities. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process.

If you require any assistance or accommodation, please contact info@dunstanconsulting.ca.

How to Apply: 

Interested candidates should send their resume and cover letter to Jessica Raschella at jraschella@dunstanconsulting.ca. The deadline to submit an application is Thursday, March 28, 2024 at 4:00PM EST.