Executive Director

Executive Director: Renton Rowing Center

About Renton Rowing Center

The Renton Rowing Center (RRC), located at the southernmost end of Lake Washington, is a sculling-focused club centered around providing accessible rowing opportunities to underserved communities and creating a welcoming environment for everyone. Renton Rowing Center’s mission encourages people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds to discover community on and off the water. RRC is home to about 52 youth athletes and 60 adult members, and hundreds of Learn-to-Row participants ages 11-70 . RRC provides hundreds of visitors access to South Lake Washington through rowing and summer kayak and stand-up paddle board rentals.

The Position

Renton Rowing Center is seeking a dynamic Executive Director (ED) to lead and expand our community-focused rowing programs. This full-time leadership position provides strategic vision, oversees staff and volunteers, manages finances, drives fundraising, and strengthens community engagement. The ideal candidate is a collaborative, inclusive leader committed to fostering a high-performing team, cultivating donor and volunteer relationships, and ensuring our programs meet the needs of current and future athletes. Reporting to the RRC Board of Directors (BoD), the ED will grow with and within RRC. The ED is an energetic, creative leader who increases our impact in the Renton community.

The ideal Executive Director builds proactive, inclusive teams and: 

1. Excels in a work environment where multiple priorities, projects and relationships require simultaneous action;
2. Deeply appreciates the role of sport in the development of youth;
3. Serves with enthusiasm as the primary RRC ambassador in the community;
4. Commits to a welcoming boathouse by building meaningful connections with the communities we serve and actively contributing to a thriving and inclusive community at RRC;
5. Executes the short- and long-term strategies of the RRC Board of Directors (i.e., financials, fundraising, organizational growth, etc.);
6. Provides strategic vision and leadership, translating goals into actionable programs and measurable outcomes;
7. Manages a team of 5–10 coaches and office staff, fostering a positive, inclusive, and high-performing culture;
8. Mentors staff and program leaders, ensuring professional development, accountability, and safety;
9. Oversees finances, including budgeting, expense monitoring, reporting, and diversifying revenue streams (program fees, grants, donations, and events);
10. Leads philanthropic efforts, cultivating relationships with donors, sponsors, and volunteers; 
11. Manages Parent Leadership Team engagement;
12. Plans and executes events such as regattas, open houses, fundraisers, and community gatherings;
13. Manages organizational communications, including newsletters, social media, and outreach campaigns;
14. Gathers and analyzes feedback through surveys to guide program improvement and organizational decision-making; and
15. Builds strong relationships across staff, volunteers, athletes, families, and the broader community to ensure programs meet the needs of current and future participants.

Role Expectations and Responsibilities

The Executive Director is responsible for the many aspects of managing a growing rowing club. The position is supported by the volunteer Board of Directors, youth parents, athletes, and other community members. The following expectations and responsibilities are critical to success in this role:

Leadership

The Executive Director serves as the primary leader of the RRC community, guiding the organization with a clear vision and measurable progress. The ED defines strategic priorities and goals, implements programs, allocates resources, and coordinates staff and volunteers to achieve organizational objectives. This role manages a team of 5–10 coaches and customer service personnel, mentoring young coaches and program directors while fostering a collaborative and inclusive culture. The Executive Director builds strong relationships across the organization and the broader community, maintaining an open-door approach while navigating difficult conversations when necessary. The ED measures outcomes, reviews performance, and refines strategy through annual strategic plans, quarterly progress reviews, and impact metrics, ensuring rowing programs continue to meet the needs of current and future participants.

Philanthropic and Community Engagement

The Executive Director is responsible for fostering strong engagement across the rowing community while cultivating a positive and inclusive organizational culture. This role promotes a sense of community among staff, coaches, athletes, and families by encouraging collaboration, open communication, and shared commitment to the program’s mission. The ED oversees the planning and execution of community and fundraising events that strengthen relationships and support organizational goals. Additionally, the ED utilizes surveys and feedback tools to gather input from stakeholders, evaluate program effectiveness, and inform continuous improvement, ensuring the organization remains responsive to the needs of its community. The ED expands partnerships with the Renton School District, the Renton Parks and Recreation and Facilities departments and other community organizations to build career success.

Financial Management

The Executive Director provides strong financial stewardship to ensure the organization’s long-term sustainability and transparency. In collaboration with the treasurer and bookkeeper, the ED develops and manages the annual organizational budget, monitors income, expenses, and cash flow to maintain financial stability, and ensures responsible allocation of resources aligned with strategic priorities. The ED oversees accurate and timely financial reporting for the BoD, donors, and other stakeholders, and works to diversify revenue streams through program fees, grants, donations, and fundraising events to support the continued growth and impact of the rowing program.

Human Resource Management

The Executive Director builds and supports a high-performing team of staff, coaches, and volunteers who deliver safe, inclusive, and high-quality rowing programs. The ED is responsible for recruiting, hiring, and supervising staff and coaching personnel while fostering a positive organizational culture grounded in teamwork, safety, and respect. The ED provides leadership, mentorship, and professional development opportunities to support staff growth and effectiveness. The ED also establishes clear performance expectations and accountability systems to ensure strong program delivery and alignment with the organization’s mission and values.

Event Planning

The Executive Director facilitates and oversees events that strengthen community engagement and support the organization’s mission and strategic goals, such as regattas, open houses, fundraising activities, and community gatherings. The ED coordinates staff and volunteers to ensure successful event operations and manages event logistics including scheduling, promotion, and follow-up. The ED ensures that all events reflect the mission and values of the rowing program while fostering connection among athletes, families, donors, and the broader community. The ED also evaluates event outcomes to inform improvements and enhance future engagement and fundraising efforts.

Qualifications include:

• Coaching, administrative and professional experience that demonstrates ability to fill the roles and responsibilities of the position;
• Experience working with youth and/or youth athletic programs;
• Rowing experience required, rowing coaching experience strongly preferred;
• Proven leadership experience in nonprofit management, sports programs, or community organizations;
• Strong financial and fundraising acumen;
• Experience and comfort working in a multicultural environment;
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills;
• Commitment to fostering an inclusive, collaborative, and mission-driven culture;
• Grant writing experience;
• Must satisfactorily complete a background check.

Personal Attributes:

• Demonstrated cultural awareness, including knowledge of themselves and the cultural lenses they bring to interactions. The ED will understand different perspectives; interact respectfully with cultures other than their own; and cultivate meaningful relationships with people who have different cultural frameworks.
• Prior experience working with a diverse population and demonstrated equity and inclusion mindset. The ED should be aware of their own identity and biases, identify and overcome others’ biases. The ED actively works to create an inclusive environment.
• The ED is team oriented, with a strong work ethic; is a listener with excellent communication skills and a passion for serving under-resourced youth.
• The ED is able to collaborate effectively with coaches, BoD, volunteers, parents, and community members to achieve shared goals.

Salary and Benefits:

• Salary range: $50,000 to $70,000 annually depending on experience.
• 3 weeks Paid Time Off annually.
• RRC will reimburse up to $350 monthly for independently-acquired Dental, Vision and Health insurance.
• Reimbursement for cell phone expenses. 
• Flexible work schedule; must be present for Youth programs.       
• Board of Directors committed to your professional development through mentoring, programs, and training.
• Access to rowing, Lake Washington, and fitness equipment.

Application:

Interested applicants should send a letter of interest and resume with three references to RRC Board of Directors Chair Kent McCleary at executivecommittee@rentonrowingcenter.org. Applications will be reviewed on or before April 10, 2026.