USCF Job Opening: Director of Events
By USCF   
March 5, 2015
The United States Chess Federation (USCF) is accepting applications for the position of Director of Events. The USCF is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering people one move at a time. The USCF is the national governing body for chess and serves over 85,000 members.

Position Overview:

Reporting to the Executive Director, the Director of Events is responsible for the execution of all USCF National and International Events, including staff training, management, logistics coordination, program evaluation, and budget oversight.

The Director of Events is not required to reside in the vicinity of the USCF office in Crossville, TN, but will be expected to travel on a as needed to staff and Executive Board meetings as well as USCF National Events. Applicants should expect to travel regularly.

Duties and Responsibilities:
  • Oversees all events-related contract management and serves as the primary contact for all event-related vendors and sponsors. Negotiates the contracts for future National Events organized by the USCF. Visits potential sites for future USCF National Events.
  • Organizes the following USCF National tournaments: National High School, National Junior High, and National Elementary Championships and every four years the SuperNationals, the fall National K-12 Grade Championship, and the U.S. Open (including the U.S. Open Blitz and U.S. Open Game 15) and any additional events as directed by the Executive Director.   
  • Cultivates and oversees all event-related sponsorships for USCF events and programs.
  • Reviews bids and provides guidance for smaller National events organized by USCF affiliates.  These presently include the U.S. Championship, U.S. Women's Championship, U.S. Junior Championship, the U.S. Junior Girls' Championship, U.S. Senior Open, National Open, U.S. Women's Open, U.S. Junior Chess Congress, National Youth Action, U.S. Masters, U.S. Game 10, U.S. Game 30, U.S. Game 60, U.S. Amateur Team (North, South, East & West), U.S. Amateur (North, South, East & West), U.S. Blind and the All-Girls National Championship.
  • Manages budgets for all USCF events, providing timely updates to USCF Executive Director and VP of Finance. Provides oversight for event-related budgets and accounting, ensuring tournament fees, expenses and income are processed and acknowledged in a timely manner.
  • Develops budget proposals for events and tournaments for players representing the U.S. at international events, including the World Chess Olympiad, World Team Championships, World Youth Chess Championships and Pan-American Youth Championships.  
  • Plans and coordinates the attendance of U.S. players in International Events. Oversees the activities of the office staff dealing with rating reports, both FIDE and USCF. Oversees the activities of the office staff processing FIDE federation transfers, titles and licenses.
  • Provides guidance to staff and USCF members on matters related to tournament organization, tournament directing, titles and procedures used by the USCF and FIDE.

Preferred Hiring Qualifications

  • Knowledge of event planning practices, procedures, and operation.
  • Knowledge of computer software and hardware, such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint.
  • Effective time management and organizational skills.
  • Experience supervising full-time staff.
  • Ability to manage multiple priorities, pay attention to detail, supervise and exhibit excellent customer service.
  • Ability to communicate effectively verbally and in writing. 
  • Knowledge of chess tournaments and their space requirements.
  • Understanding of the game of chess.
  • Knowledge of USCF and FIDE rating systems, FIDE title regulations, and FIDE federation transfer regulations.
  • Experience working with 501(c)(3) organizations.
Salary: Commensurate with qualifications and experience.
 
Application: Interested applicants should submit (in PDF format) (1) a letter of interest, (2) resume, (3) three references, and (4) a writing sample no longer than two pages to [email protected] by April 6, 2015. Review of the applications will begin immediately and will continue until the position is filled.

The United States Chess Federation is committed to having an inclusive community, and as an Equal Opportunity Employer, does not discriminate in its hiring or employment practices on the basis of gender, race or ethnicity, color, national origin, religion, age, disability, family or marital status, or sexual orientation.