Organization: Green Sports Alliance

Position Title: Executive Director

Position Title: Board of Directors

Location: United States (Remote/Hybrid)

Search Contact: Prodigy Search

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BACKGROUND

Founded in 2010, the Green Sports Alliance is a national non‐profit organization with a mission to help sports teams, venues, and leagues enhance their environmental performance. The Alliance inspires professional sports leagues, college conferences, sports governing bodies, colleges, teams, venues, their partners and millions of fans to embrace renewable energy, healthy food, recycling, water efficiency, safer chemicals and other environmentally preferable practices.

Alliance members represent over 400 organizations and fans representing 17 leagues in 16 countries. The Green Sports Alliance is based in Portland, OR and is a fast‐growing organization that is making a meaningful difference in the sports industry and for the environment.

SUMMARY

The next Executive Director of the Green Sports Alliance and Green Sports Alliance Foundation will be a visionary leader who sits at the intersection of sports, sustainability, and impact. This dynamic role calls for someone who can rally the power of teams, leagues, venues, and brands to drive bold climate action and social progress across the global sports and entertainment landscape.

As the chief executive, the Executive Director sets the GSA’s strategic direction, ensures organizational and financial health, and inspires a passionate team to deliver innovative programs, partnerships, and events that bring sustainability to life through sport. They will champion collaboration, data‐driven storytelling, and collective action to advance the Alliance’s mission.

The successful candidate knows that the path to a more sustainable future for sports isn’t built in isolation, it’s built through collaboration and partnerships across leagues, venues, and brands. They will lead with passion, purpose, and credibility to advance the Alliance’s mission: leveraging the cultural influence of sports to build a more sustainable world.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Organizational Leadership & Strategy:

• Lead the development and execution of the Alliance’s long‐term strategic vision and annual operating plan.
• Foster a high‐performing, inclusive, and collaborative organizational culture rooted in teamwork and innovation.
• Guide the continued evolution of the Alliance’s strategic pillars: advocacy, energy, water, materials, mobility, food, nature, and resilience.
• Act as a translator and facilitator between the worlds of sport and sustainability, ensuring insights, data, and best practices are accessible and actionable for teams, leagues, and venues.

Business Development, Revenue & Partnerships:

• Drive business development, sponsorship, and membership growth across leagues, teams, and sustainability partners.
• Build strategic relationships with professional and collegiate leagues, the Sports Greening Movement, Play to Zero Members, and global sustainability initiatives.
• Develop innovative partnerships and revenue models including events, education platforms, and joint campaigns that advance both mission and margin.
• Represent the Alliance in sponsorship negotiations and major partnership pitches with authenticity and authority.

Operations, Finance & Administration:

• Oversee budgeting, financial health, and performance management in partnership with finance staff and the Board Treasurer.
• Support and supervise staff through clear KPI’S, professional development, and accountability.
• Maintain strong internal systems, compliance, and risk management practices.
• Oversee the Foundation’s programs and grantmaking to ensure mission alignment and measurable impact.

Board Engagement & Governance:

• Serve as the principal liaison to the Board of Directors, ensuring alignment on mission, strategy, and outcomes.
• Partner with board leadership to identify and recruit diverse voices from across sports, business, and sustainability sectors.
• Provide clear, strategic, data‐driven updates on performance, impact, and financial health.

Program Oversight & External Engagement:

• Oversee creation and execution of key programs and events, including the Green Sports Alliance Summit, regional meetups, webinars, and playbooks.
• Serve as the primary spokesperson and brand ambassador for the organization engaging confidently with athletes, executives, and the public.
• Ensure integration and consistency across all campaigns, education efforts, and partnerships.
• Champion the organization’s leadership role in the global sport and sustainability ecosystem.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Minimum 8–10 years of progressive leadership experience in sports management, sustainability, nonprofit, or related sectors.
• Demonstrated success in strategic planning, organizational leadership, and partnership development.
• Strong understanding of the sports/entertainment ecosystem, venue/league/partner dynamics, and/or environmental sustainability initiatives.
• Excellent public speaking, relationship-building, and communications skills.
• Experience leading diverse, distributed teams.
• Former collegiate or professional athletes, or individuals with deep sports industry experience, are strongly encouraged to apply.
• Multilingual candidates welcome.

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CONTACT INFORMATION

Founded in 2007, Prodigy Search, located in the New York City suburb of Freehold, NJ, boasts over 80 years of experience in the sports and entertainment business. As a renowned nationwide leader in senior-level executive search, Prodigy Search has honed its business principles and expertise, establishing itself as the largest boutique recruiting agency in North America. We recruit with integrity, purpose, and passion.