Who We Are

We are Tennis! The USTA (United States Tennis Association) is the national governing body for the sport of tennis and the leader in promoting and developing the sport’s growth on every level in the United States, from local communities to the crown jewel of the professional game, the US Open.

Why Work for the USTA?

We are a passionate team of staff and volunteers focused on growing the sport of tennis and making it accessible to all. We are committed to removing barriers and creating opportunities for ALL to participate. Don’t know tennis? Don't worry, you can still find yourself in the game!

The Role

The Senior Director of Advocacy is a senior strategic leader partnering with the Managing Director of Advocacy to develop and execute USTA national and grassroots advocacy strategy. This role will lead cross-organizational advocacy initiatives, serve as the primary liaison to national business units and the 17 USTA Sections, and manage the launch and adoption of a robust Learning Management System (LMS) and national ambassador cohorts. The Senior Director will be a visible public spokesperson for the USTA’s advocacy work, advise internal leaders and external partners, and apply a consulting mindset to support diverse stakeholders in building advocacy capacity. Grassroots advocacy experience is strongly preferred.

As a member of the Section Development Team, the Senior Director will have a primary orientation to supporting section needs and goals. As a member of the Advocacy & Resource Strategy Team, the Director will work with the Director of Grants Strategy and other staff to align advocacy efforts with grants and fundraising efforts - including a holistic approach to supporting partners with a combination of advocacy, grants, and fundraising best practices

Strategy & National Advocacy Leadership

• Serve as a strategic partner to the Managing Director, Advocacy in developing and executing USTA’s national and grassroots advocacy strategy.
  
• Lead priority national advocacy initiatives from planning through execution, measurement, and refinement.
  
• Identify emerging policy, funding, and advocacy opportunities and risks relevant to USTA’s mission and business priorities.
  
• Establish goals, KPIs, and evaluation frameworks to measure advocacy effectiveness and inform continuous improvement.
  
• Ensure advocacy activities align with organizational strategy, governance requirements, and legal compliance.
  

Grassroots Mobilization, Training & Capacity Building

• Alongside robust Digital and IT Teams, oversee the design and launch of a Learning Management System (LMS) to scale advocacy training across staff, volunteers, ambassadors, and section partners.
  
• Develop and manage national ambassador cohorts, partnering with advocacy and administrative staff to manage recruitment, onboarding, curriculum development, activation, and performance measurement.
  
• Build grassroots advocacy capacity by providing tools, playbooks, and training that empower local leaders and volunteers.
  
• Serve as mentor and coach to individual ambassadors for high priority projects and programs.

Cross-Organizational & Section Engagement

• Serve as the primary liaison between the Advocacy function and USTA national business units to align priorities, coordinate campaigns, and integrate advocacy into broader organizational initiatives.
  
• Act as the day-to-day point of contact for advocacy efforts across the 17 USTA Sections, providing strategic guidance, consultation, and coaching.
• Serve as primary contact to the Advocacy Committee with clear lines of communication, aligning expectations and leveraging their energy and expertise.   

• Apply a consulting mindset to support varied stakeholder needs, adapting strategies to different geographies, capacities, and organizational cultures.
  

Public Presence, Partnerships & Advisory Leadership

• Represent the USTA as a visible public spokesperson at conferences, events, coalition meetings, and in media engagements related to advocacy initiatives.
  
• Build and manage relationships with external partners, coalitions, and allied organizations to advance shared advocacy goals.
  
• Provide high-level advisory and consulting support to senior leaders, staff, and volunteers on advocacy strategy, messaging, and stakeholder engagement.
  
• Elevate USTA’s reputation as a credible, effective leader in national and grassroots advocacy.
  

Travel

 Domestic travel to sections and national events is an important component of the role

Who You Are

• Advanced degree (MPA, MPP, JD, MBA) a plus.
  
• 10–15+ years of advocacy experience, including public affairs, state/local government relations, legislative campaigns, grassroots organizing, or coalition building.
  
• Strong consulting and advisory skillset — comfortable operating as a trusted advisor to senior leaders, staff, volunteers, and external partners.
• Comfortable using data and evaluation to drive strategy, with experience setting KPIs and reporting dashboards.
  
• Experience managing vendors and budgets for technology implementation (LMS, CRM, advocacy tools).
  
• Excellent public speaking and written communication skills, with messages tailored to the audience - from first-time volunteer to national board of directors.
  
• Demonstrated leadership experience with the ability to manage complex projects with multiple stakeholders and competing priorities.
  
• Ability to build trust quickly with teams across varied geographies and organizational structures.
• Passion for tennis or community sport (no playing ability required).

Preferred

• Experience working within or with national sports or nonprofit organizations, and familiarity with volunteer governance models.
  
• Experience in sport-for-development, youth development, community engagement, or national membership organizations.
  
• Experience working with volunteers and board-led committees.
• This position is designated as "hybrid/flex" in Orlando FL. Any such position must meet the current USTA hybrid/flex requirements as updated from time to time.

What We Offer

At the USTA, we know people are our most important asset. For this reason, we offer a comprehensive benefits package designed to meet the needs of a diverse workforce!

• Flexibility: Our Hybrid with Flexibility approach combines a balance of remote working with in-office collaboration to spark teamwork and creativity.
• Comprehensive benefits designed to meet your unique needs: Medical, dental, vision, access to doctors virtually, a flexible spending account to manage your health and dependent care expenses, and life and disability insurance are a small part of our offerings.
• Time to recharge and energize: Generous paid time off policy - including vacation, sick, personal, and paid holidays, parental leave, and a paid winter recess.
• Plan for your future financially and professionally: 401(k) with employer matching (up to 6.5%), promotional and growth opportunities, Learning and Development programs to learn on the job, and up to $5,000 for tuition reimbursement.
• Mental and emotional wellness: Resources for overall well-being including mental health and meditation benefits.
• Other cool perks: A personalized health management program, pet insurance, commuter benefits, identity theft protection, discounts with our network of partners, and fun events are just a few of the optional benefits available.

The expected range for the base salary for this position is $120,000  - 140,000 plus a potential ICP bonus.  This range does not include any additional pay or benefits for which a person may qualify. The actual base salary offered is determined by several variables, including, as appropriate, the applicant's qualifications for the position, the years of relevant experience, their unique skills, and the location from which they will be performing the job.

Come One, Come All

We strongly encourage you to apply if you’re interested; we'd love to learn how you can “serve” our team with your unique experience!

USTA is dedicated to providing equal employment opportunities for all individuals, regardless of age, disability, national origin, race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, pregnancy, veteran status, marital status, family status, alienage or citizenship status, creed, genetic information, or any other status protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.