Full Time
Charleston, SC
Posted 1 month ago
Closes: June 30, 2026

Website nationenter nation.enterprises

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NCAA Olympic Sports League – Startup Launch

About Us

We are launching a revolutionary professional and youth sports league that will transform Olympic sports in America. With $2.5B in equity funding, we’re licensing NCAA Division I school brands to create professional teams and comprehensive youth development programs across 12 Olympic sports including soccer, volleyball, lacrosse, hockey, and bat sports.

Starting with 50 schools in Year 1 and scaling to 300 schools by Year 6, we will operate:

600 professional teams across 12 sports
Youth programs serving 500,000+ athletes (ages U23 down to grassroots)
Multi-sport campus facilities at each school location
National competition structure with regional leagues

This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to build a major sports enterprise from the ground up.

Position Overview

The Chief Operating Officer will be the operational leader responsible for building and scaling all league operations from launch through explosive growth. Reporting directly to the CEO, the COO will oversee operations for 50 schools in Year 1 (growing 5-6x over five years), manage a $4.5B+ campus development program, and lead operational teams across sports, facilities, transportation, and technology.

This role requires exceptional organizational leadership, operational excellence at scale, and the ability to build systems and teams that can grow from startup to major sports league in 36 months.

Location: Charleston, SC (Relocation assistance available)
Compensation: $1.8M total (Base: $500K + Bonus: $400K + Equity/LTI: $900K)
Start Date: Q2 2026

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Planning

Partner with CEO and executive team to set strategic direction and operational priorities
Build comprehensive operational roadmap for scaling from 50 to 300 schools over 5 years
Lead annual and quarterly business planning, budgeting, and resource allocation
Establish KPIs and operational metrics across all functional areas
Drive continuous improvement and operational excellence initiatives

League Operations & Competition

Design and implement league structure across 4 regions, 8 leagues, and 12 sports
Oversee season scheduling, competition format, and playoff structure for 600+ teams
Ensure seamless coordination between professional and youth program operations
Manage relationships with schools, venues, and competition facilities
Establish standards for game operations, officiating, and player safety

Organizational Development

Build and lead operational teams across multiple functional areas
Recruit, develop, and retain high-performing leaders and staff
Create organizational structure that scales efficiently from 50 to 300 schools
Establish operational processes, systems, and best practices
Foster culture of accountability, collaboration, and excellence

Campus Development & Real Estate

Oversee $4.5B campus development program (30 facilities per year)
Manage relationships with construction partners, architects, and developers
Ensure campus facilities meet operational requirements for all sports and programs
Coordinate facility operations including hotels, commercial space, and charter schools
Drive campus revenue optimization and operational efficiency

Transportation & Logistics

Oversee transportation operations for 500,000+ athletes (12 trips per player annually)
Manage fleet operations (planes and buses) and logistics partnerships
Optimize travel schedules, routes, and cost efficiency
Ensure player safety and regulatory compliance
Drive transportation as revenue-generating operation

Technology & Systems

Partner with VP of Technology to implement league management platform
Drive adoption of technology solutions for scheduling, operations, and analytics
Establish data infrastructure for performance tracking and business intelligence
Ensure technology systems scale with organizational growth

Financial & Business Operations

Manage operational P&L and drive financial performance
Ensure operational efficiency and cost management across all functions
Partner with CFO on budgeting, forecasting, and financial planning
Drive revenue optimization across transportation, facilities, and programs
Identify and execute cost-saving opportunities

Required Qualifications

Essential Experience

15+ years of progressive operational leadership experience
5+ years in C-suite or senior executive role (COO, President, EVP Operations)
Proven track record building and scaling operations from startup through rapid growth
Experience managing $500M+ operational budgets and complex P&L responsibility
Success leading large, distributed teams across multiple locations (500+ employees)

Industry Experience (Must Have 2+)

Professional sports league operations (team sports preferred)
Youth sports programs or large-scale sports development organizations
Multi-site facility operations or real estate development
Transportation/logistics operations at scale
Hospitality operations (hotels, events, tournaments)
High-growth startups or venture-backed companies

Core Competencies

Operational Excellence: Demonstrated ability to design, build, and optimize complex operations
Scale Leadership: Track record taking organizations from early stage to maturity
Team Building: Proven success recruiting, developing, and leading high-performing teams
Strategic Thinking: Ability to balance long-term vision with short-term execution
Financial Acumen: Strong business and financial management skills
Stakeholder Management: Experience managing complex stakeholder relationships
Problem Solving: Exceptional analytical and problem-solving capabilities
Execution Focus: Bias for action with disciplined follow-through

Preferred Qualifications

MBA or advanced degree from top-tier institution
Experience with NCAA, college athletics, or amateur sports organizations
Background in Olympic sports (soccer, volleyball, lacrosse, hockey, baseball/softball)
Startup founder or early executive experience (seed through Series B+)
Experience with rapid geographic expansion and multi-site operations
Technology platform implementation and digital transformation experience
Real estate development or construction project management experience
Experience in highly regulated industries

Success Metrics (First 12-24 Months)

Year 1 Objectives:

Successfully launch operations for 50 schools and 600 professional teams
Recruit and build operational team (50-75 headquarters staff)
Implement league management systems and operational infrastructure
Execute first season across all 12 sports with 95%+ on-time game completion
Deliver 30 campus development projects on time and on budget
Achieve operational budget targets and positive EBITDA contribution
Establish transportation operations serving 500K+ athletes

Year 2 Objectives:

Scale operations to 100 schools (2x growth)
Achieve 90%+ customer satisfaction (schools, athletes, families)
Optimize operational costs and drive margin improvement
Build scalable systems ready for 300-school operation
Develop leadership pipeline for continued growth

What We Offer

Compensation & Equity

Base Salary: $500,000
Annual Bonus: Up to $400,000 (based on company and individual performance)
Long-Term Incentives: $900,000 in equity/phantom stock tied to company milestones
Total Year 1 Compensation: $1,800,000

Benefits & Perks

Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance (100% premium covered)
401(k) with company match
Unlimited PTO policy
Relocation assistance (if applicable)
Professional development budget
Executive coaching and leadership development
Home office setup allowance

Unique Opportunity

Ground-floor opportunity to build a major sports enterprise from scratch
Well-capitalized startup ($2.5B equity funding secured)
Work directly with CEO and founding team
Massive scale and impact (serving 3M+ athletes at full scale)
Shape the future of Olympic sports in America
Build lasting legacy in youth and professional sports

Our Culture & Values

We are building a performance-driven culture rooted in:

Excellence: We set the highest standards and deliver exceptional results
Impact: We transform lives through sports and create pathways to success
Innovation: We challenge convention and pioneer new approaches
Integrity: We operate with transparency, fairness, and accountability
Collaboration: We win as a team and value diverse perspectives

Application Process

To Apply: Please submit the following:

Current resume/CV
Cover letter addressing:
- Why you’re interested in this opportunity
- Your relevant experience building and scaling operations
- Your approach to the first 90 days in this role
2-3 professional references (will not be contacted without permission)

Interview Process:

Round 1: Phone screen with VP of HR (30 minutes)
Round 2: Video interview with CEO (60 minutes)
Round 3: On-site interviews with executive team and board members (half day)
Round 4: Final interview with CEO and lead investors (90 minutes)

Timeline: Q2 2026

Equal Opportunity Employer

We are committed to building a diverse and inclusive organization. We are an equal opportunity employer and do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, veteran status, or any other legally protected characteristic.