Guided by the belief that dogs make a difference by being the best partner a human can have in the field, on the job, or in a competition event, UKC is a community for people and dogs to pursue excellence together. Founded in 1898, UKC has been dedicated to enhancing the lives of Dogs That Do More, and their owners, by providing essential resources to help owners and breeders make informed decisions. The dog-human bond is celebrated through family-friendly programs highlighting the instincts and heritage of purebred and mixed-breed dogs alike at over 18,000 licensed events annually.

United Kennel Club is seeking a highly motivated and experienced individual to join our team as an All-Breed Sport team leader. In this role, you would grow to handle all activities related to the All-Breed Sports team from communicating with customers to leading the strategic plan for UKC’s All-Breed Sports team, sports, and programs.

This role is based in Kalamazoo, Michigan.

We are looking for a driven and detail-oriented team member who:

• Has experience in leading, managing and developing highly productive teams
• Has proven record in managing successful projects across multiple functions
• Has strong ability to foresee upstream and downstream impacts and implications
• Has a strategic, customer and growth-focused mindset
• Holds an understanding of team management best practices and KPIs
• Has excellent diplomatic and communication skills, able to resolve conflicts in a firm and fair manner
• Has the ability to travel to events throughout the year
• Has familiarity with UKC events and sports, judging, club office involvement, or accomplishments with UKC
• Has proficiency with MS Outlook, Teams, Word, and Excel

Your core responsibilities would be to:

• Develop and lead strategic plan for UKC’s All-Breed Sports team and their continued growth
• Supervise day-to-day operations of the All-Breed Sports team and develop efficient team procedures, best practices, and standards
• Facilitate effective communication across departments to create comprehensive project plans with defined timelines and deliverables
• Deliver clear and concise project status reports
• Communicate with customers, clubs, and judges regarding sport-specific questions, and be escalation point of contact for complaints
• Travel to and represent UKC at national events throughout the United States
• Stay informed on the latest industry techniques and methods

Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in a related field or equivalent experience
• Minimum of 2 years of experience in team management, project management, event planning, or similar field
• Strong organizational and communication skills
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team
• Knowledge of dog sports rules and regulation preferred, particularly in obedience, rally, agility, and conformation events
• Passion for dogs and dog sport community preferred

If you love leading a team and enjoy working in a dynamic environment, we want to hear from you. Join us at United Kennel Club and help us promote and grow the exciting world of dog sports.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: From $45,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee discount
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Monday to Friday

Experience:

• Team management: 2 years (Preferred)
• Project leadership: 1 year (Preferred)
• Events management: 1 year (Preferred)

Ability to Relocate:

• Portage, MI 49002: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person