Category: News

The Montana Tennis Association (USTA Intermountain Montana) seeks a highly motivated, energetic, knowledgeable individual to serve as the non-profit organization’s full-time executive director (ED).

The mission of the Montana Tennis Association is to promote and grow the game of tennis in Montana. The ED represents tennis throughout Montana. The ED hires and supervises seasonal staff, oversees all programs, and reports to the Board of Directors. This is a work-from-home position. The salary range is $45,000-$55,000. USTA Montana does not offer health insurance benefits.

The tentative start date for this position is March 1, 2022. Applications must be submitted by December 10, 2021.

All candidates must submit their applications and any supporting documentation electronically via this online application form. Mailed applications will not be considered.

For additional information, please email MontanaTennisED@gmail.com.

ESSENTIAL JOB DUTIES:

• Oversees the implementation of all USTA programs in Montana, including adult leagues, social and flex leagues, junior team tennis, school tennis, and sanctioning tournaments.
• Hires and manages the District League Coordinator and other seasonal employees.
• Builds positive relationships and support throughout Montana with public and private tennis facilities, teaching professionals, community tennis associations (CTAs), Parks & Recreation programs, schools, and players.
• Builds, trains, and maintains an active base of independent contractors and volunteers who deliver after-school and youth tennis classes.
• Serves as the point of contact for tournament directors who run USTA-sanctioned tournaments.
• Monitors volunteer and staff interactions to ensure excellent customer service.
• Conducts the financial management of the association in order to assure a balanced budget and the investment of reserves.
• Performs general bookkeeping functions such as paying bills, performing payroll, making deposits, tracking expenses, and preparing financial reports.
• Secures program sponsorships and other fundraising as needed.
• Plans quarterly meetings and reports on activities and yearly progress to the USTA Montana President and Board of Directors.
• Acts as the liaison between USTA Montana and its parent organizations, the United States Tennis Association (USTA) and USTA Intermountain (ITA).
• Represents USTA Montana at sectional and national meetings, workshops, and events.

TRAVEL:

The ED may live anywhere in Montana. He or she must be able to travel regularly within Montana, and as needed to ITA and USTA meetings.

• USTA Montana Board of Directors in-person or Zoom meetings.
  • Annual meeting (October)
  • Quarterly board meetings (Zoom or conference call)
  • Board retreat (every other year)
• ITA meetings and trainings as required
  • U.S. Open (September 2022) at least every other year
• In-state travel on behalf of USTA Montana
• Must be able to work some weekends
• USTA Montana events around Montana
  • League
  • Trainings and workshops
  • Fundraising events

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

• Bachelor’s degree or 5 years relevant recent work experience
• Knowledge of tennis
• Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills
• Willingness and ability to represent USTA Montana in the community
• Ability to work well with staff and volunteers
• Self-motivation and strong initiative to create and expand the role
• Excellent organizational skills
• Proficient computer skills (TennisLink, Serve Tennis, Gmail, Google Drive, Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
• Proficiency with social media (WordPress, Instagram, Facebook, Constant Contact)

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE:

• Demonstrates deep passion for and loyalty to the sport of tennis.
• Is familiar with non-profit organization and governance.
• Is familiar with Montana tennis and the unique characteristics and challenges of USTA Montana leagues and tournaments.
• Knows how to prioritize responsibilities, manage time, respond to inquiries, prepare written material, organize meetings, and assume a leadership role during meetings.
• Has experience hiring and supervising staff or volunteers.
• Has experience preparing budgets and financial statements. Experience with QuickBooks, accounting, and payroll practices preferred.
• Has knowledge of and experience in fundraising.

USTA Intermountain Montana is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all employment practices within our organization, including but not limited to hiring, recruiting, promotion, termination, compensation, benefits, and training.

Apply online (opens in a new tab)

Printable Job Posting (PDF)

It goes without saying that 2020 has been a year we will not soon forget. We want to especially thank our members for their continued support and understanding to the issues and roadblocks we have faced so far. Although we had to cancel numerous tournaments and leagues, our staff and board have worked hard to find solutions, come up with new ideas, and draw up new schedules to make sure everyone can play tennis safely under these new circumstances. We are grateful to everyone who played a tournament or participated in one of our local flex leagues. To our entire Montana tennis community, thank you for pulling together through this challenging time!

As we look into 2021, there appears to be a light at the end of the tunnel. We are cautiously evaluating our events and hope that we can persevere with much fewer interruptions, although it goes without saying that any tournament, league, or sectional championship will be reliant on the status of the COVID-19 pandemic at the time of each event. In order to provide match play opportunities in a safe environment, we will avoid food sharing and player parties.

For our adult players, you may have noticed that we have added level designations to our tournaments. In a move to provide tennis players across the country with more clarity and more opportunities to play in tournaments, the USTA has launched a new, simplified nationwide tournament structure. For the most part, our tournaments were already in line with the new structure and there will be no significant changes. We have simply added the relevant language to reflect the level of event. Level 7 is a local level tournament, and a Level 1 is national championship tournament. We have always offered levels 5-7, and coming in 2021, the adult portion (not junior) of the Western MT Open will be a level 4 Sectional Tournament.

For our 10 and Under Players, the USTA Youth Progression system has evolved into a new junior tennis development journey. The Net Generation PlayTracker is for players aged 5-10 and their parents to track progress at USTA competitive events, all in one place. Players will earn participation (play) points and results (win) points for all eligible play opportunities. Please see our 10 and Under Junior Circuit schedule on the enclosed calendar. Any stars or trophies from Youth Progression have already been converted into play and win points within the Net Generation PlayTracker. For more information on the Net Generation PlayTracker, please visit NetGeneration.com/PlayTracker. Any junior membership (under age 19) is also free starting this year.

Lastly, we are saying goodbye to TennisLink (for tournaments) in 2021. Now, you’ll be able to search for junior and adult tournaments right here. You can use new filters to search events by gender, age, level, distance, and format.

USTA-Montana is governed by a volunteer board of directors. Feel free to contact any of us, or find us at a tournament or league event.

USTA-Montana 2021 Board of Directors

Thank you for your support of tennis across the Big Sky and beyond.

USTA Montana Board of Directors and Staff had their annual meeting Saturday, October 17th from 9 am – 4 pm over Zoom. Items on the agenda included discussion of improving junior participation across the Montana, tournament and league schedule, statewide community tennis updates, the new Serve Tennis program that will replace Tennis Link and updates from ITA.

USTA-MT is inviting nominations for the Board of Directors for the 2021-22 term. We are seeking candidates from you who understand our mission and are committed to growing and developing tennis in Montana.  We value diversity in race, age, class, sexual identity, and geographic location, and seek candidates (such as parents) who have junior players or are involved in junior tennis.

USTA-MT has a working board. Our board members are expected to attend 4 meetings a year (1 or 2 in-person events and 2 conference calls) and participate on at least 1 committee.

If you know someone who would make a good board member, or if you’re interested in joining the board yourself, please make a nomination! Only current member organizations and board members may submit nominations.

Submit your nomination here by September 30, 2020

The Nominating Committee will meet in early October to review all nominations and develop a proposed slate of board members and officers. The board of directors will then vote on the slate at the Annual Meeting on October 17, 2020.