Knoxville Track and Field Club, Inc. is seeking a new Executive Director to lead our organization into its next chapter. The position description below outlines the responsibilities and preferred qualifications for the role. Interested candidates should submit a resume and cover letter using the form on this page; all submissions are routed directly and confidentially to the search committee for review. We look forward to hearing from you.
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Knoxville Track and Field Club, Inc. Executive Director

The Executive Director serves as the chief executive officer of the Knoxville Track and Field Club, Inc., a Tennessee nonprofit corporation (the “Club”), and is responsible for advancing the Club’s mission through strategic leadership, sound financial management, operational excellence, and strong community engagement. Working in partnership with the Board of Directors, the Executive Director implements the strategic priorities established by the Board, oversees day-to-day operations, ensures the effective delivery of programs and events, cultivates relationships with members, sponsors, donors, volunteers, and community partners, and leads initiatives that promote the Club’s long-term sustainability and growth.

The Executive Director reports directly to the Board of Directors and is accountable to the Board for the overall leadership, management, and performance of the organization. The Executive Director is responsible for implementing the policies and directives established by the Board and for ensuring that the Club operates in accordance with its mission, governing documents, applicable laws, and sound nonprofit management practices.

Primary Responsibilities

The Executive Director is responsible for, among other duties assigned by the Board of Directors:

  • Providing strategic leadership to advance the Club’s mission and long-term goals.
  • Serving as the primary liaison between the Board of Directors and the Club’s operations by keeping the Board fully informed of organizational activities and performance and ensuring compliance with Board directives.
  • Providing organizational leadership by directing the Club’s daily operations, staff, volunteers, and resources.
  • Managing the Club’s finances, including budgeting, financial reporting, internal controls, and stewardship of organizational assets.
  • Developing and strengthening membership, community partnerships, and stakeholder engagement.
  • Overseeing the planning, implementation, and evaluation of Club’s programs, services, and events.
  • Leading fundraising initiatives, donor development, sponsorships, grants, and other resource development efforts.
  • Directing marketing, communications, public relations, and brand management activities.
  • Recruiting, developing, and supporting volunteers and volunteer leadership.
  • Ensuring appropriate risk management practices and compliance with applicable federal, state, and local laws, regulations, and organizational policies.
  • Establishing performance measures and evaluating organizational effectiveness to support continuous improvement.
  • Performing such other duties and responsibilities as may be assigned by the Board of Directors.
Preferred Qualifications

Preferred qualifications include:

  • Bachelor’s degree in nonprofit management, business administration, sports management, or a related field; advanced degree or relevant professional certification (e.g., CAE, CFRE) a plus.
  • Minimum 3–5 years of progressive leadership experience in nonprofit management, association management, or a membership-based organization, including direct accountability to a volunteer Board of Directors.
  • Demonstrated success in nonprofit financial management, including budgeting, financial reporting, internal controls, and working with external auditors or accountants.
  • Proven track record in fundraising and resource development — annual giving, major/individual donor cultivation, corporate sponsorship sales, and grant writing/management.
  • Experience planning and executing community-facing events, ideally road races, track meets, or other athletic/recreational events, including logistics, permitting, risk management, and vendor/contractor coordination.
  • Experience recruiting, training, and managing volunteers and volunteer leadership structures.
  • Marketing and communications experience, including brand management, digital marketing, social media strategy, and public/media relations.
  • Familiarity with membership management, CRM, or race-registration platforms (e.g., RunSignUp, RaceRoster, or comparable systems).
  • Knowledge of USA Track & Field (USATF) governance, event sanctioning, and road racing industry standards.
  • Personal experience or genuine engagement with the running/track and field community.
  • Experience building partnerships with local government, schools, parks and recreation departments, tourism boards, and corporate sponsors.
  • Strong written and verbal communication skills, with experience presenting to and advising a Board of Directors.

This position description is intended to provide a general overview of the role and is not an exhaustive list of all duties or responsibilities. The successful candidate will be required to execute a written Employment Agreement containing a more detailed description of the position, performance expectations, compensation and benefits, reporting relationship, and other terms and conditions of employment.