MetroSquash Seeks Director of Squash & Fitness

Director of Squash & Fitness

Start Date: July 2026

Education: High School and Above

Location: Chicagoland - Woodlawn/Evanston

Type: Full-Time

Language: English

Salary/Wage: $100,000 - $125,000

Mission Statement:

For Chicagoland youth who desire and deserve more, MetroSquash combines academic support, competitive squash, and enrichment opportunities to empower students to realize their potential and make their mark.

Overview:

MetroSquash was founded in 2005 as an out-of-school time program for Chicago Public School students. The first MetroSquash class consisted of 10 fifth-grade students and utilized squash courts and classroom space at the University of Chicago. A grade level was added each year to realize a service pathway from 5th grade through post-secondary completion. In 2015, the organization raised over $8M to construct a permanent home - the 8-court Hussain MetroSquash Center in Woodlawn. With an operating budget of $3.5M, MetroSquash has 20 full-time staff serving over 500 students and their families annually. In 2018, MetroSquash opened its first satellite location in Evanston to serve students just north of Chicago. MetroSquash Evanston currently serves 70+ 6th-12th graders as well as college students and utilizes court space at the McGaw YMCA. The organization will embark on a $15M capital capital campaign in the fall of 2026.

Description:

The Squash & Fitness Director is an exciting and unique opportunity to develop young players, inspire dynamic coaches, and help take the squash program to the next level in a team-oriented environment. Reporting to the Chief Program Officer, this leader will create a competitive, organized, and fun learning environment for students of all levels from beginner to competitive. The ideal candidate will be an inspiring leader and effective manager, and a strong presence in the local and national squash community.

Key Responsibilities:

• Manage and evaluate all aspects of the MetroSquash Squash & Fitness Program including out-of-school-time instruction, tournament participation, management of 3 full-time and up to 4 part-time staff.
• Ensure squash programming includes clear skill progressions, lesson plans, practice structures, fitness and conditioning components, student goal-setting, and developmentally appropriate expectations by age and experience level.
• Support staff in implementing the curriculum through training, observation, feedback, and regular program quality review.
• Cultivate meaningful relationships with MetroSquash students and their families, raising the engagement in Squash & Fitness wherever possible.
• Collaborate with the MetroSquash Program Team consisting of Academics & Enrichment, College & Careers, and Social Work & Supportive Services to stay abreast of student progress and share relevant updates as it relates to the Squash & Fitness Department.
• Collaborate with the College & Careers Team to strengthen the college squash pathway for high-potential students, providing individualized student and family support where needed.
• Track, analyze, and report on key squash and fitness performance metrics, including student skill progression, US Squash ratings, tournament participation, match results, attendance in squash programming, retention by skill level/cohort, high-performance pathway participation, college squash readiness, and student engagement.
• Lead the planning, coordination, and execution of all MetroSquash-hosted US Squash tournaments, including Gold, Silver, Bronze, and other sanctioned events.
• Own tournament operations from start to finish, including scheduling, registration, staffing, volunteer coordination, facility readiness, student/family communication and participation, partner coordination, event-day management, and post-event evaluation.
• Develop, manage, and monitor the Squash & Fitness department budget in partnership with organizational leadership. Ensure resources are aligned with program priorities, including staffing, equipment, tournaments, travel, summer camps, fitness programming, and student development opportunities.
• Regularly review spending, identify budget needs or risks, and recommend adjustments to support high-quality programming across MetroSquash sites.
• Ensure consistent and active involvement with the Squash and Education Alliance (SEA) initiatives and programming, including their High-Performance Team.

Qualifications and Qualities:

Candidates should possess the following: Experience working with young people aged 10-18; 5+ years of coaching squash; experience working with underrepresented students a plus; demonstrated supervisory and/or leadership experience; strong analytical skills; results-oriented with impeccable attention to detail; experience with tournament and/or event planning a plus. Valid driver's license and ability to drive a van required. All candidates must be U.S. Citizens or have a green card or current visa that allows them to work full time in the United States. Candidates with P-1 visas will not be considered.

Hours:

General hours are Monday through Friday 11am-7pm. While the position entails weekend work for tournament hosting and travel, MetroSquash prioritizes a healthy work/life balance and flexibility of schedule where possible.

Vacation & Benefits:

15 vacation days and five sick days the first year, 20 vacation days and five sick days in the second year, and 25 vacation days and five sick days each subsequent year. A generous benefits plan includes health & dental coverage, and Simple IRA matching.

How to Apply: Email resume and cover letter to careers@metrosquash.org. No calls please.