About the GSSL

For 50 years, the Greater Seattle Soccer League (GSSL) has been a cornerstone of the amateur soccer community in the Greater Seattle area. We're passionate about the beautiful game and dedicated to providing a fun, competitive, and well-organized league for adult players of all skill levels. As Seattle evolves, so must we. Our mission now includes diversifying our player base to reflect the city’s vibrant multicultural population, modernizing operations to compete with semi-pro leagues, and creating pathways for higher level play. We seek an Executive Director to lead this transformation while preserving our core values and stabilizing day-to-day operations.

The Opportunity

GSSL is at a pivotal moment. We're seeking a dynamic and forward thinking Executive Director to lead us through a period of exciting transformation. The ideal candidate will be a strategic leader with a hands-on approach, capable of honoring our rich history while driving innovation and inclusivity, and will address the root causes of past challenges. This is an opportunity to make a significant impact, ensuring GSSL not only remains relevant in a competitive landscape but becomes a true reflection of Seattle's diverse and passionate soccer community. You'll be instrumental in evaluating and modernizing our operations, fostering a more inclusive player base, and strengthening our position within the local soccer ecosystem. If you're someone who thrives on challenges, is passionate about soccer, and has a knack for bringing people together, we want to hear from you!

Key Responsibilities

As the Executive Director, you will be responsible for the overall leadership and management of GSSL, ensuring the successful execution of our mission and strategic goals. Your key responsibilities will include:

Strategic Leadership & Vision: 

• Develop and implement a clear vision and strategic plan for GSSL's future, focusing on growth, inclusivity, and operational excellence.
• Identify and explore new opportunities to enhance the league's offerings and reach.
• Stay informed about the evolving soccer landscape, including the rise of semi-pro leagues, and develop strategies to maintain GSSL's competitive position.

Operational Oversight & Modernization:

• Work directly with staff to facilitate and oversee day-to-day league operations, ensuring efficiency and effectiveness.
• Evaluate and modernize all aspects of GSSL's business operations, identifying and implementing improvements to processes and workflows where needed.

Financial Management & Sustainability:

• Direct GSSL's financial goals, objectives, strategies, and budgets.
• Manage income and expenses according to approved budgets, ensuring fiduciary responsibility for GSSL's assets.
• Provide timely and informative financial reports to the Board. Lead the annual budgeting proposal process.

Community Engagement & Inclusivity:

• Actively listen to the needs of the GSSL community (players, managers, referees) and implement improvements to meet those needs.
• Develop and execute strategies to attract and retain a more diverse player base that reflects the diverse demographics of the Greater Seattle area.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with members, staff, the Board, other soccer associations, local entities, and officials.

Staff Management & Development:

• Direct and manage GSSL staff, including organizational structure, professional development, motivation, performance evaluation, discipline, compensation, personnel policies, and procedures.
• Foster a positive and collaborative work environment where staff feel supported and empowered.

Board Relations & Communication:

• Partner with an engaged Board of Directors to advance GSSL’s strategic goals.
• Attend board meetings; prepare regular reports to keep the Board informed on league status, financial performance, and emerging opportunities or challenges.
• Implement policies and directives of the Board, and ensure alignment with GSSL’s bylaws, constitution, and mission.

League Integrity & Values:

• Promote the values of sportsmanship, passion for the sport, and respect for players, referees, and the league.
• Focus on making GSSL a respected and valued amateur league within the region.

Operational Tasks:

• Oversee day-to-day league functions, including field and game scheduling, staff assignments, and payroll processing, with a focus on efficiency and accuracy.
• Maintain compliance with tax/employment regulations.
• Ensure timely communication with players, referees, team managers, and Board members on operational updates.

Qualifications and Experience

The ideal candidate will possess a combination of experience, skills, and personal qualities that will enable them to successfully lead GSSL. These include:

Soccer/Community Experience:

• A deep understanding of the soccer community (through playing, coaching, or league administration) is strongly preferred. 
• Familiarity with adult soccer culture, preferably through involvement in GSSL or a comparable league.

Leadership & Management:

• Minimum of 5 years in a senior leadership role, ideally overseeing diverse teams and functions in a nonprofit, community based, or sports organization.
• Proven ability to establish a vision and lead strategic initiatives.
• Comfort and experience working with a Board of Directors that is fully involved in setting goals and reviewing performance.
• Bachelor’s Degree or comparable experience required.

Business & Financial Acumen:

• Experience managing budgets, financial reporting, and forecasting.
• Familiarity with QuickBooks or equivalent accounting software is a plus.
• Able to interpret and respond to key metrics (membership trends, seasonal enrollment).

Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI):

• Demonstrated commitment to embedding DEI principles into organizational culture and strategy.
• Experience engaging multicultural communities is highly desirable.

Communication & Collaboration:

• Excellent interpersonal, public speaking, and writing skills.
• Skilled at building relationships with a variety of stakeholders, from players and coaches to city officials and sponsors.
• Experience managing remote staff or volunteers a plus.

Organizational & Project Management:

• Detail-oriented, with the ability to juggle multiple responsibilities such as scheduling, payroll, and event planning.
• Oversee GSSL’s IT environment, including software evaluation, integration, and usage policies.
• Ensure that scheduling, financial, and membership systems interact efficiently and that staff are trained in best practices for data management and security.
• Comfortable analyzing and improving operational processes.

Equal Opportunity Employer

GSSL is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity at our organization. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, national origin, gender, sexual orientation, age, marital status, veteran status, or disability status. We encourage all qualified individuals to apply.