Executive Director

About Chinooks FC

Chinooks FC is a non-profit youth soccer club based in Calgary, founded in 1974. The club serves boys and girls from grassroots programming through U19 competitive soccer, along with adult programs, and is currently pursuing progression through the Alberta Soccer and Canada Soccer club licensing pathway. Chinooks has a committed staff and coaching group, strong player and staff retention, and a track record of developing players who go on to compete at the college, university and professional levels.

The opportunity

Chinooks FC is hiring an Executive Director to lead a defined organizational reset.

The Executive Director will be the club's first dedicated, accountable operating leader, responsible for turning clear roles and financial discipline into daily practice and rebuild a volunteer coaching base. Candidates who are energized by building structure in a growing organization, rather than maintaining an existing one, will do well here.

Key responsibilities

Leadership, governance and strategy

• Serve as the club's lead ambassador, embodying Chinooks' values of commitment, character, culture and community with parents, players, coaches and partners.
• Act as the primary operational liaison with Alberta Soccer, Canada Soccer, Calgary Minor Soccer Association (CMSA) and other governing bodies.
• Work with the Board of Directors to renew and deliver the Club's strategic plan.
• Chair weekly Directors’ meetings with a prepared agenda; attend Board meetings and club Annual General Meeting.
• Maintain and enforce club policies and procedures in line with Canada Soccer and Alberta Soccer requirements and recommend policy updates to the Board as needed.
• Provide quarterly operations reporting to the Board, including progress against the priorities below.

Organizational reset and accountability

• Adopt and operationalize the club's roles and responsibilities framework across all staff, attaching clear expectations to contracts and performance reviews.
• Establish written service standards for member and staff communication and hold staff accountable to them.
• Address the culture of unclear ownership and inconsistent follow-through identified in the club's recent operational review, with a credible plan and visible early wins.
• Build a single, trusted line of operational authority so staff receive direction from one place.

Financial and operational management

• Own the annual budgeting cycle: draft budget for Board approval before indoor fee-setting, with revisions following indoor and outdoor registration close.
• Develop and execute a credible plan to close the club's structural operating deficit without reducing program quality, including staffing model and volunteer coaching decisions.
• Manage delegated spending within Board-approved limits and ensure operational spending stays aligned to budget.
• Develop and implement a fundraising program that strengthens and improves the club’s financial sustainability through sponsorship, donor and community partnership opportunities.
• Oversee registration and administration across all club programs, including CMSA-affiliated youth programming and the club's adult programs including financial processes delivered by the administrative team.

People and staff management

• Manage all staff contracts, onboarding and HR processes and resolve staff needs effectively.
• Support Technical Director in hiring, onboarding and role delegation for technical and coaching staff.
• Lead recruitment of a sustainable volunteer coaching base to reduce reliance on paid staff for on-field roles, with a stated first-year target for volunteer coach additions and associated cost savings.
• Set and monitor a fair, consistent pay structure for full-time, part-time and casual staff.

Programs, member experience and community

• Work with Technical Director to ensure programming from grassroots through to U19, for both boys and girls, and the club’s adult programs, is resourced and delivered consistently.
• Oversee member inquiries, complaints and escalations, and ensure a fair, documented process.
• Oversee Safe Sport-related complaints and concerns in partnership with the designated Safe Sport lead, ensuring matters are addressed fairly, promptly and in accordance with applicable policies.
• Maintain and grow community, sponsorship and facility partnerships in coordination with relevant committees.
• Develop practical strategies to improve program accessibility and ensure the club’s culture supports equity, inclusion and participation across the community.
• Monitor club communications, branding and digital presence for consistency with club values.

What success looks like in year one

• Roles and responsibilities framework adopted, communicated and reflected in staff contracts within first 90 days.
• Conduct weekly operational meetings using a structured agenda, with clear follow-through and accountability for completing action items by agreed-upon deadlines.
• Credible, costed plan to close the club operating deficit presented to the Board within the first 90 days, including a volunteer coaching target.
• Clear, current statement of the club's Canada Soccer and Alberta Soccer club licensing status, with an owner, cost and timeline for the next tier.
• Staff and Board feedback confirm measurable improvement in club direction, clarity and issue resolution.

Qualifications

Education

• Post-graduate education or degree in related field is an asset.

Required

• 5 to 8 years’ progressive experience in operations, general management or nonprofit executive leadership.
• Demonstrated experience leading organizational change, culture reset or turnaround, ideally with evidence of measurable results.
• Direct budget ownership experience, including identifying, closing and executing against financial gaps.
• People management experience and direct staff conflict resolution success, including difficult conversations and performance management.
• Strong written and verbal communication; comfortable presenting to a volunteer Board.
• Comfortable working the required hours in a hands-on, present capacity, particularly in year one.

Strongly preferred

• Youth sport, recreation, or membership-based non-profit organization experience.
• Familiarity with, or willingness to learn, Canada Soccer and Alberta Soccer club licensing frameworks and

CMSA administrative requirements.

• Experience building or scaling a volunteer program.
• Safe Sport principle working knowledge and screening requirements for youth focused organizations.

Not required

• A coaching background or deep technical soccer expertise. This role partners closely with Technical Director on soccer matters; the Executive Director's mandate is organizational, financial and cultural leadership.

Hours

Part time. Some evening and weekend availability is required, particularly around Board meetings, tryouts, tournaments and season transitions.

Compensation

Compensation is flexible and will be determined based on the candidate’s qualifications and level of experience.

How to apply

Interested candidates should submit a resume, cover letter and three professional references.

Chinooks FC is committed to a fair hiring process. Internal candidates are welcome to apply and will be assessed using the same process and criteria as all other applicants.