Senior Director, Advocacy

USTA National Headquarters • Orlando, FL

23d • $120,000 - $140,000 • Hybrid

About The Position

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

Requirements

• 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).

Nice To Haves

• 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.

Responsibilities

• 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.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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.

Benefits

• 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.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director