Director of Operations

Nationally Recognized Durham Nonprofit Seeks First Director of Operations

Located in the thriving City of Durham, NC, is a unique organization that impacts the lives of nearly 2,000 middle school-aged (6th – 8th grade) children through its school-based programs each school year. SwingPals, Inc., a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, seeks its firstDirector of Operations (Director). SwingPals has touched over 10,000 students, most of which face economic and social adversity, since its inception in 2010. SwingPals is focused on improving the physical and mental wellbeing of students in Durham Public Schools (DPS), offering paradigm shifting programming in schools, afterschool and home-based so students may unlock and access their untapped potential. The programs offered by SwingPals demonstrate how synchronicity of the heart, mind, and body assists learning, goal-setting, and relationship-building skills.

Thefirst Director will work collaboratively with staff and stakeholders to advance the organization through the responsibilities of process improvement, change implementation, and personnel management. Critical skills will be in workflow evaluation, making systemic improvements, overseeing employee goals, performance evaluations, and developing accountability metrics. Someone well-versed in organizational management, system development, communication best practices, and effective management is desired for this position.

SwingPals envisions and is motivated to ensure every Durham public school child, whose family lacks resources, feels valued, respected, and is free to pursue their potential for a healthy, safe, confident, and fulfilling life. Families are intentionally included in this process. The SwingPals approach uniquely uses golf as a tool and resource to support mindfulness practices, BUT, it is not a junior golf program. The model is aligned with the national movement to introduce effective social and emotional programming in schools andwas recognized by Golf Digest as one of ten programs in the Nation for having a significant impact in their community.

The SwingPals Director of Operationssupports efforts to educate others about the organization, partners with the Executive Director to expand advocacy, marketing efforts, and to increase fundraising through a systemized approach. The SwingPalsDirector of Operations will carefully promote and steward the organization’s growth while preserving its unique brand and image. Leveraging stakeholders to uphold, embrace, and value the SwingPals philosophy and methodology is an essential part of growth.

About the Organization: 

Founded by PGA Member, Doug Hodges in 2010 who serves as Executive Director, SwingPals has a 10-member Board of Directors. As Executive Director, Doug is so passionate about the organization and its mission that he donates 100% of his time as Executive Director. Doug is also the largest donor each year through his family foundation which he created in 2010 to launch the SwingPals program. Year after year, the organization’s leaders and staff build upon its momentum, bringing joy to many and aiding children in unlocking and accessing their untapped potential.   

This school year, through coaching mindfulness, emotional regulation, and physical coordination in schools, SwingPals will positively impact the health and well-being of close to 2,000 students. SwingPals delivers programming in five of the nine Durham Public Middle Schools where students have the least family resources, many of whom reside in single-parent homes, foster care, or in communities with widespread trauma, drug use, gangs, teen pregnancy, and poverty. These schools have markedly low percentages of students testing at or above grade level in reading and math and have the highest rates of absenteeism and disciplinary actions.

Learning for these children is greatly affected when they are enduring the effects of trauma. Their needs call for innovative and transformative programs like SwingPals, with an established and successful track record, to develop young leaders beginning in middle school. The organization’s year-round after-school program is available to students through 12th grade. SwingPals addresses these societal and cultural issues by working with students in school, at home (virtually), and at Hillandale Golf Course. SwingPals uses bio-feedback tools to help students learn to transition from experiencing negative emotions to experiencing positive ones. Those benefitting fromSwingPalsin-school programs are 50% female, 50% male, 45% African American, 34% Hispanic, 13% White, and 8% other. Sixty-five percent of participants are eligible for free/reduced lunch as determined by federal income levels.

Highlighting a strong partnership with Durham County and the City of Durham, SwingPals operates its after-school programs for no charge at the city-owned Hillandale Golf Course. A team of five full-time employees, two interns, and 20+ volunteer coaches assist with delivering SwingPals’ programs. Learn more about SwingPalshere.

About the Position:

Reporting to the Executive Director, the Director of Operations will oversee the organization's day-to-day operations, including program implementation and evaluation, scheduling, budget, personnel, and volunteer management. The Director of Operations will oversee four talented and passionate staff including a Program Director, Business Manager, golf coach, and mindfulness coach, with plans to increase staff as resources allow. The Program Director and Business Manager being direct reports to the Director. The Director will implement consistent opportunities for staff engagement, team building, and development.

The Director of Operations will uphold the organization’s eight guiding principles, on which all ideas, actions, and decisions are based. The first and arguably the most important is: "To serve children who face economic and social adversity.” The mission-driven leader sought for this position has knowledge and awareness of collaborating and working within the public school system, mindfulness practices, and the importance of developing emotional regulation and self-awareness skills to promote mental, physical, and emotional health. Utilizing the organization's paradigm-shifting methodology, the Director of Operations will facilitate efforts to unite Durham Public Schools in a culture of success and collaboration.

The organization’s $400K+ operating budget will increase rapidly over the next several years to fulfill its strategic vision. SwingPal’s budget is expected to more than double by FY 2026. Plans for the organization include a staff office and coaching space adjacent to the driving range on the Hillandale Golf Course and a Phase 3 program expansion currently being piloted at Neal Middle School, which will scale up its existing school-based 6th-grade program to serve 7th and 8th-grade students as well. In addition, Phase 3 will include adding a 6th grade SwingPals Mindfulness Monday Elective.

Qualifications:  A bachelor's degree in business administration, nonprofit management, or a related field with 5+ years of in nonprofit management with explicit project management and operations skills. Candidates will have experience collecting, analyzing, and using data to evaluate and communicate successes, challenges, and opportunities and improve programs. Upon their appointment, this Director will facilitate the integration and collaboration of the organization’s technical systems (e.g., Dropbox, Salesforce, and Docusign) to improve workflow and accuracy. Candidates must have a demonstrated track record in leadership and management and a commitment to SwingPal’s mission and values.