Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Job Description

Thunderbolts Development Center (TDC) will have a small Board of Directors, where with limited resources the challenge to set up Nepal's first multi-sport academy will be led majorly by the CEO (who is still considered as part of senior management for TDC). The roles of the CEO have been emphasized more in the activity as it is of more relevance. However, the following are the roles and responsibilities of the Board of Directors concerning direct coordination with CEO

Strategic Vision and Goal Setting;

The senior management team at Thunderbolts Development Center is responsible for establishing the organization’s long-term vision and strategic goals. Collaborating closely with the CEO, they define the overarching direction of the center, ensuring that its objectives align with the mission of promoting sustainable growth, excellence, and innovation across all sports programs. Senior management ensures that the center remains competitive and relevant by adapting strategies to evolving market demands and opportunities.

Annual Budget Allocation and Financial Oversight:

One of the critical responsibilities of senior management is to allocate the annual operational budget effectively. This involves reviewing the financial requirements of each department and sport, prioritizing investments that align with the center's goals, and ensuring fiscal discipline. Senior management also oversees financial planning, revenue generation strategies, and cost optimization to maintain the financial health of the organization.

Liaising with the CEO:

Senior management serves as the primary interface between the CEO and the rest of the organization. They work closely with the CEO to translate high-level strategies into actionable plans, ensuring alignment and seamless execution across all levels. Acting as advisors, they provide insights and feedback to the CEO on operational challenges and opportunities, contributing to informed decision-making.

Strategic Leadership:

The CEO must be able to establish and communicate the long-term vision for Thunderbolts Development Center and its sports programs with the Product Managers, as each product or sport offered by TDC will have its individual managers. The CEO must also be able to ensure alignment of the entire team with organizational goals, mission, and values.

As part of the strategic leadership and planning, the CEO must develop and implement strategies for the growth and sustainability of each sport offered, identifying opportunities for market expansion, innovation, and partnerships.

Operational Oversight:

The CEO must oversee the development and management of each sport as a product and ensure that each sport has clear growth objectives, business plans, and performance metrics. These performance metrics will be aligned as we have learnt in the second module with marketing, and finance and operational KPIs. This person must also be able to analyze data and feedback to identify areas for improvement.

Resource Allocation:

One of the major responsibilities of the CEO will be to get an operational budget approved from the senior management. He/she will then have to make sure to ensure there is optimal allocation of financial, human, and material resources across all sports products.

The approved budgets and investments should support sustainability and innovation, marketing and other areas of operation. He/she must be able to justify increasing of budget if necessary, to the senior management. Since there are a team of Sports Manager who will manage their respective products, it will be the responsibility of the CEO to share resources where applies. Example the football training program will have its own coach, just like the cricket program would, but the marketing team can be shared by both the sports.

Team Leadership and Coordination:

The CEO will not be personally involved in training the youth but must be able to supervise and mentor sport managers to ensure they are meeting growth and performance targets. The sports/product managers will then be responsible in making sure the coaches and staff under them meet and deliver the goals according to how the CEO has set them up for each product. This can be achieved by fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing among sport managers to achieve common goals.

A major part of the leadership roles of the CEO will also be to promote a culture of continuous improvement and professional development within the team and to identify and support high-potential talent in managerial and operational roles.

Growth and Sustainability:

As mentioned earlier, the CEO will be majorly focusing on the growth and sustainability of the entire project, which will have multiple products. This growth would require the CEO to constantly be engaged in market research, competitor analysis and also stay updated on global and local trends in sports development and management. The research should lead to encourage innovative approaches to improve sports offerings and attract participants.

Another important role for the CEO would be using his/her networks and contacts to explore and secure sponsorships, grants, and partnerships to ensure financial sustainability. Although not being overly involved is important here, but he/she will also have to oversee marketing and branding efforts to boost visibility and attract new audiences.

Sustainability can also encapsulate environment-friendliness and not just financial sustainability and hence the CEO must incorporate environmentally and socially responsible practices in the development and management of sports programs.

Stakeholder Engagement:

Relationships are key to modern day business and so the CEO must build and maintain relationships with key stakeholders, including government bodies, sponsors, and sports organizations and positively represent Thunderbolts Development Center in public forums and events. It is paramount that he/she maintains transparent and effective communication with the board of directors, employees, and partners.

Risk Management and Compliance:

Finally, a key area of responsibility of the CEO of TDC would be to make sure compliance with national and international regulations, standards, and policies in sports management are met. Legalities, regulations, local ward office permissions, tax filing and audit report submissions would be some of the compliance for the CEO to take care of. By fulfilling these responsibilities, the CEO will ensure that TDC remains a leader in sports development, fostering growth, innovation, and sustainability across all its programs.

Job Specification

• Bachelor’s Degree in Sports Management, business or a related discipline (Master's in Sports or advanced degree preferred).
• Proven experience in a senior leadership role, preferably as a CEO or similar capacity.
• A strong background in sports management, education, or a related field.
• Demonstrated success in strategic planning, financial management, and operational oversight.
• Exceptional leadership and interpersonal skills with a track record of inspiring teams.
• Knowledge of national and international sports frameworks and standards.