The Director of Operations is responsible for the day-to-day leadership which includes the planning, coordination and execution all Detroit PAL athletic leagues, enrichment programs, community initiatives, events, facilities coordination, and operational support functions.
Reporting directly to the CEO, this position ensures programs are delivered safely, consistently, on schedule, within budget, and in alignment with Detroit PAL’s mission and strategic priorities.
The Director serves as the operational leader for Detroit PAL by building strong teams, improving systems, holding leaders accountable, solving operational challenges, and ensuring an exceptional experience for every participant, volunteer, coach, partner, and family.
This is a highly visible leadership role requiring strong operational discipline, people leadership, financial stewardship, and a commitment to continuous improvement.
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Lead the daily operations of all Detroit PAL athletic, enrichment, and community programs.
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Ensure programs are properly staffed, scheduled, equipped, and operating effectively.
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Develop and implement standard operating procedures across all program sites.
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Coordinate seasonal planning, program launches, and operational readiness.
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Ensure consistency in program delivery and participant experience across all locations.
Team Leadership & Program Execution
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Supervise Athletic Directors, Program Managers, and operational staff.
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Establish clear goals, performance expectations, and accountability measures.
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Conduct regular coaching, performance evaluations, and professional development.
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Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, customer service, and continuous improvement.
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Partner with Human Resources on recruiting, onboarding, retention, and employee development.
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Develop, document, and continuously improve operational processes and workflows
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Identify opportunities to improve efficiency, communication, and service delivery.
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Lead weekly operational meetings and coordinate activities across departments.
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Resolve operational challenges quickly while minimizing disruption to youth and families.
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Ensure operational systems support organizational growth and sustainability.
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Develop and manage budgets in collaboration with Finance.
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Monitor expenditures and resource utilization.
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Partner with Finance on forecasting, budgeting, and financial reporting.
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Build and maintain strong relationships with funders, school partners, and community organizations.
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Represent Detroit PAL at meetings, community events, and partner functions to promote collaboration and mission awareness.
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Ensure compliance with organizational policies, grant requirements, and applicable regulations.
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Promote participant safety and effective risk management practices.
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Ensure background checks, certifications, and required documentation remain current.
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Coordinate incident reporting, investigations, and corrective actions
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Oversee the development, scheduling, and implementation of Detroit PAL’s IMPACT Training.
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Partner with the Advancement Team by providing program data and operational support for grant applications, donor reporting, and fundraising initiatives.
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Collaborate with Marketing and Communications to support program promotion and participant engagement.
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Support strategic initiatives identified by the CEO and Board of Directors.
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Work collaboratively across departments to ensure organizational success.
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Coordinate the administration of programrelated grants, including outcome tracking, compliance monitoring, and timely reporting.
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Collaborate with the Development and Finance teams to ensure alignment of program design with grant requirements.
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Maintain thorough records of grant activities and outcomes to support organizational transparency and funder relations.
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Bachelor’s degree in business administration, nonprofit management, recreation, sports management, education, public administration, or a related field
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Minimum 5 years of progressive leadership experience in operations, program management, nonprofit management, youth programming, nonprofit operations, or athletics administration.
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Proven experience in supervising teams and managing programs or operations.
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Strong knowledge of program budgeting, grant reporting, and compliance requirements.
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Excellent communication, interpersonal, and problemsolving skills.
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Passion for youth development, community building, and sportsbased programming.
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Demonstrated success leading multiple programs, teams, or operational functions.
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Ability to work evenings and weekends as needed.
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Passion for youth development and community impact.
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Experience leading and working with crossfunctional teams.
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Experience in youth development, athletics, recreation, or community programming.
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Experience managing grantfunded programs.
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Lean, Six Sigma, EOS, or other continuous improvement training or certification
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Experience presenting operational performance to executive leadership or boards.
In partnership with the Detroit Police Department and community volunteers, Detroit PAL is helping youth find their greatness through athletics, academic, and leadership development programs. Detroit PAL is grateful for our long-standing partnership with the Detroit Police Department. For more than 56 years, we've worked hand-in-hand to provide Detroit's youth with safe spaces, positive role models, and opportunities for growth. This collaboration has been a cornerstone in our mission of helping youth find their greatness.
