WHO IS USA LACROSSE

USA Lacrosse, a non-profit organization, is the governing body of men’s and women’s lacrosse in the United States, leading the U.S. National Teams Program and establishing universal standards. With nearly 400,000 members, we provide national leadership, structure, and resources to fuel and unify the sport's growth and enrich the experience of its players, coaches, officials, parents, and program leaders. 

USA Lacrosse believes a diverse staff best positions our organization to fulfill its mission. We strive to attract and maintain a team of talented and dedicated professionals who reflect the diverse nature of our membership and the national lacrosse community. We are committed to a staff culture that ensures everyone feels welcomed, valued, and included.

Core Values

• We Influence - Written and Verbal Communication
• We Serve - Customer Focused
• We Create & Innovate - Creativity
• We Collaborate - Peer Relationships
• We are Humble & Honest - Integrity and Trust
• We Embrace Individuality - Diversity
• We Have Fun – Work Hard and Play Hard

If this aligns with who you are and what you are looking for in an organization, keep reading. 

POSITION SUMMARY

USA Lacrosse is looking for a Manager, Athlete Protection & Safety to partner with the Director, Center for Sports Science & Safety to develop and oversee the USA Lacrosse Athlete Protection & Safety program. You will get to help guide athlete protection and safety by developing and maintaining policies, guidelines, educational programs, reporting, and adjudication services for the Athlete Protection & Safety program, as well as monitor other risk management activities related to this program. This role is crucial in providing USA Lacrosse’s athletes and members a safe, healthy, and positive sport participation environment, always keeping diversity, equity, and inclusion in mind.

If you have experience in an athlete protection or social services role protecting children and are passionate about keeping kids safe while participating in athletics, this could be an excellent opportunity for you. You will get to work for a mission-based organization alongside a team of talented, dedicated, and passionate professionals who want to grow the game of lacrosse safely and responsibility, allowing us kids play the game….maybe even in the Olympics one day.

A Typical Day Looks Like…

• Serves as the subject matter expert (SME) for athlete protection and safety practices and develops, updates, and implements internal standard operating procedures (SOPs) for Athlete Protection & Safety processes.
• Manages the background screening and abuse prevention education offerings for USAL coach and official members. This includes continually developing new material and content to address trends and needs within the area of Athlete Protection & Safety.
• Manages and develops relationships with internal and external stakeholders and service providers (e.g., NCSI, law enforcement, investigators, etc.). 
• Serves as the point person for receiving misconduct reports and managing all communications related to ‘red flags,’ and appeals submitted to USA Lacrosse. This includes managing them and escalating to the appropriate parties to ensure they receive the attention and resolution necessary and overseeing the adjudication process for appeals submitted to USA Lacrosse.
• Serves as the staff liaison to the Misconduct and Appeals Review Subcommittee (MARS). This includes coordinating and leading MARS meetings.
• Collects and reports on program metrics (i.e., background screenings, abuse course completions, misconduct complaints, member suspensions/terminations, etc).
• Communicates progress and status of policies, complaints, investigations, hearing procedures, appeals, and final resolutions. This includes making recommendations for changes in practice and policies as appropriate.
• Serves as a subject matter expert (SME) for ongoing development and updating of training programs and resources for internal team members, leadership team, and USAL members. This includes remaining current on best practices for risk management related to Athlete Protection & Safety standards and policies.
• Serves as a SME for leagues, clubs, camps, and tournaments regarding risk management related to Athlete Protection & Safety to ensure a positive and safe experience and environment. 
• Serves as the primary liaison for all matters related to abuse prevention issues with external institutions (i.e., USOPC, US Center for SafeSport, other NGBs).
• Works with program leaders to ensure the values of Athlete Protection & Safety are integral to all USAL’s strategy, efforts, and programs.

Is This You…

• At least 3 years of professional experience working in the area of social services, child protective services, law enforcement, legal services for families, sports safety, or other similarly related field/discipline. 
• Experience working in a sport National Governing Body (NGB) is highly preferred.
• Experience developing and implementing educational programs to inform and raise awareness around abuse prevention and risk mitigation strategies.
• Ability to collect, organize, and analyze data to create understandable reports so the organization can make informed decisions. 
• Ability to exercise professionalism, discretion, and confidentiality when dealing with personal information and/or cases brought by our members and involving the appropriate internal and external parties. 
• Proven experience establishing and building relationships and rapport with individuals while dealing with sensitive information. 
• Strong organization skills with the ability to multi-task and manage simultaneous projects, attention to detail, and the ability to regularly communicate with and build strong, positive relationships with staff and volunteers.
• Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skill with the ability to provide clear communication of technical and legal language in a manner that is easily understood by the everyday person.
• Intermediate to advanced computer knowledge, preferable with Microsoft 365, including Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, and SharePoint. 
• Strong attention to detail with the ability to multi-task and respond to changes and needs as they arise in a fast-paced environment, while meeting necessary deadlines and keeping projects on track. 
• Ability to work collaboratively with internal and external colleagues while maintaining the necessary level of communication.
• Ability to work both independently and as part of a collaborative team in a fast-paced, hybrid (in office/work from home), dynamic environment.
• Willingness to learn about the sport of lacrosse and appreciate the need to develop, grow, and fuel the growth of the sport with diversity, equity, and inclusion in mind.
• Ability to align with USA Lacrosse’s Mission, Vision, and Values and Strategic Plan to support our initiatives and organizational goals to support our members. 

Expected Hours of Work

This position is generally expected to work Monday through Friday from 8:30am to 5:00pm and occasionally requires longer hours or weekend work as related to events and other business needs. This is a hybrid position and works from the headquarters office in Sparks, MD three (3) days a week with the flexibility to work from home two (2) days a week. 

Travel Requirements

Travel may be necessary up to 10% of the time (local, regional). Travel would involve the following mode(s) of travel: car, train, or air. Some out of area and overnight travel may be expected.

EEO Statement