Head Pickleball Professional

The Position:

The Head of Pickleball at Rally Charlotte will play a pivotal role in shaping and managing all aspects of pickleball-related activities and offerings at our flagship venue in Charlotte, NC. The three primary pickleball pillars at Rally are court reservations, open programming, and corporate events. The Head of Pickleball will be responsible for overseeing each of these pillars, striving to maximize court occupancy and player experience. Key responsibilities include managing current programming, proposing improvements and new programming, reporting on pickleball sales and trend analysis, organizing tournaments and events, leading junior associates, developing training programs, and attracting and retaining Rally's target audience. The role presents the opportunity to grow into a leadership position overseeing pickleball programs across multiple Rally venues.

Key Responsibilities and Duties:

Pickleball Programming Management and Execution:

• Oversee and maintain Rally's pickleball program offerings. This includes on-court instruction as well as managing Rally’s junior pickleball Associates to run programming in a way that is cost-effective and cohesive with Associate scheduling
• Collaborate with leadership to create and implement new programming that meets the company’s goals
• Collaborate cross-functionally with other Rally departments to organize and run quarterly events, programming, and tournaments.

Training and Development:

• Develop and manage Pickleball Associates; this includes hiring, training, and scheduling, as needed.
• Train our Captains (servers) on the basics of pickleball so that they can effectively communicate to our guests.

Pickleball partnerships and Inventory Management:

• Manage relationships with pickleball partners/vendors. This includes serving as the point of contact for pickleball vendors and being familiar with the key terms in Rally’s agreements with these partners.
• Maintain proper inventory of pickleball paddles, balls, equipment, and apparel. This includes inventory tracking and restocking procedures.

Community Engagement:

• Recruit and grow Rally programming. This includes regular communication with players and proactive recruitment efforts to bring new players into Rally.
• Regularly monitor and manage changes to the court schedule
• Manage relationships with community partners as they relate to our pickleball programming

Reporting and Collaboration:

• Provide regular reporting on pickleball sales and participation data
• Provide regular reporting and feedback to leadership on trends, concerns, and opportunities within the pickleball program.
• Collaborate with venue managers for pickleball tie-ins with F&B and Events.

Special Programming and Events:

• Propose and design special programming for holidays and other occasions.
• Execute approved special programming to enhance the Rally guest experience.

Labor and Inventory Management:

• Manage pickleball labor (associates) to meet company labor cost goals
• Ensure proper court maintenance.
• Create weekly schedule for Rally’s Pickleball Associates

Qualifications:

• Demonstrated expertise in pickleball instruction and program management.
• Previous experience in event planning and tournament organization.
• Management experience
• 5+ years coaching experience
• Knowledge of pickleball industry and trends

Skills:

• Strong leadership skills, including goal setting, motivating, training, and mentorship
• Excellent interpersonal skills and communication skills.
• Effective conflict resolution and problem-solving skills
• Collaboration and creativity. This position will require constant collaboration with other departments. The mindset to co-create is a must.
• Strong organization and time management skills
• Basic financial reporting; Excel proficiency While experience and hard skills are important, cultural fit is critical.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $55,000.00 - $65,000.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Employee discount
• Flexible schedule
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance

Schedule:

• Monday to Friday
• Weekends as needed

Supplemental pay types:

• Bonus opportunities

Ability to Relocate:

• Charlotte, NC 28217: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person