President & CEO

PRESIDENT & CEO

Special Olympics Pennsylvania

 

Norristown, PA

Salary Range: $225,000–$250,000

Reports to: Board of Directors

 

MISSION

 

To provide year-round sports training and competition in a variety of Olympic-type sports for children and adults with intellectual disabilities, giving them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy, and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills, and friendship with their families, other Special Olympics athletes, and the community.

 

VISION

 

To create an inclusive world for all, driven by the power of sport, through which people with intellectual disabilities live active, healthy, and fulfilling lives.

 

ABOUT SPECIAL OLYMPICS PENNSYLVANIA

 

Special Olympics Pennsylvania (SOPA), which began in 1970 and incorporated in 1978, is a dynamic, mission-driven 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to empowering children and adults with intellectual disabilities, of all ages and abilities, through the power of year-round sports training and competition, complementary non-sports programming, and community engagement, all at no cost to the athlete.

 

HISTORY

 

Building a Legacy of Inclusion Through Sport

 

For more than five decades, Special Olympics Pennsylvania has transformed the lives of children and adults with intellectual disabilities by providing opportunities to compete, lead, grow, and belong. What began as a small track and field competition has evolved into one of Pennsylvania's leading nonprofit organizations dedicated to advancing inclusion through sports, health, education, and leadership. Today, SOPA serves thousands of athletes across the Commonwealth through year-round programming that empowers individuals with intellectual disabilities while creating stronger, more inclusive communities.

 

Origins of the Special Olympics Movement

 

The Special Olympics movement began through the vision of Eunice Kennedy Shriver, who believed people with intellectual disabilities deserved the same opportunities to participate and succeed as everyone else. In 1962 she founded Camp Shriver, leading to the first International Special Olympics Games in Chicago in 1968 and the creation of a worldwide movement centered on inclusion through sport.

 

The Beginning of Special Olympics Pennsylvania

 

Pennsylvania embraced the movement early. In 1969, 187 Pennsylvania athletes participated in the Special Olympics Mid-Atlantic Invitational. In May 1970, Special Olympics Pennsylvania held its first official competition at West Chester University with 135 athletes competing in track and field, establishing the foundation for the statewide organization that exists today.

 

Five Decades of Growth and Expansion

 

From those early beginnings, Special Olympics Pennsylvania has expanded into a statewide organization serving thousands of athletes through nine regional programs. The organization now offers year-round training and competition in more than 21 Olympic-type sports and engages thousands of volunteers, coaches, healthcare professionals, educators, families, and community partners. All programming remains free of charge for athletes and their families.

 

Evolving Beyond Sports

 

Special Olympics Pennsylvania has grown beyond sports to include Special Olympics Unified Sports, Unified Champion Schools, Young Athletes, Healthy Athletes, Athlete Leadership, health and wellness initiatives, and community inclusion programming. Together, these initiatives improve health, leadership, education, confidence, and quality of life for individuals with intellectual disabilities. Sports still remain the catalyst for confidence, independence, leadership, and inclusion.

 

Lasting Impact Across Pennsylvania

 

Today, Special Olympics Pennsylvania is recognized as one of the Commonwealth's leading organizations advancing inclusion for individuals with intellectual disabilities. Through partnerships with schools, healthcare providers, law enforcement, corporations, foundations, volunteers, and communities, the organization continues to transform lives and build a more inclusive Pennsylvania.

 

ORGANIZATIONAL OVERVIEW

 

As the Pennsylvania affiliate of the global Special Olympics movement, which serves 5.1 million participants in 208 countries and jurisdictions globally, SOPA leverages the transformative power of sport to empower more than 15,000 participants throughout the Commonwealth.

 

Supported by $12.8 million in annual revenue with its 84 staff members and 14,000 volunteers, SOPA delivers year-round sports training, competition, health, education, and leadership programs that promote inclusion and opportunity.

 

Special Olympics is a global Movement that has flourished for more than 50 years due to the passion and commitment of its dedicated staff and volunteers. The vision statement above is drawn from the global strategic plan, and it relates directly to achieving the overall goal of Special Olympics.

 

Here in the Commonwealth, Special Olympics Pennsylvania provides training in more than 20 sports and offers more than 1,000 competition opportunities each year through its nine (9) regions. It takes a team of dedicated staff and thousands of incredible volunteers to make this happen.

 

Special Olympics Pennsylvania offers comprehensive initiatives that promote health, wellness, community building, personal growth, and inclusion. Their programs extend far beyond athletics to create lasting positive change in the lives of athletes and communities across Pennsylvania.

 

PROGRAMS

 

• Fitness Programs

• Healthy Athletes

• Young Athletes

• Unified Champion Schools

• Law Enforcement Torch Run

• Athlete Leadership

 

THE OPPORTUNITY

 

Special Olympics Pennsylvania has an ambitious goal to double the number of athletes they serve from 9,915 to 20,000+ by 2030. The growth is about more than numbers; it’s about providing greater choice, empowering athletes as leaders, and fostering healthier lives.

 

Achieving these goals will require recruiting and training a new generation of coaches and volunteers, launching new training sites, and securing additional resources. SOPA is committed to ensuring seamless integration between school and community programs, enabling athletes to participate in Special Olympics throughout their lives. To support this vision, each region has developed tailored growth and sports development plans that address local needs while aligning with the broader organizational strategy, creating a comprehensive and sustainable pathway for athlete development and lifelong engagement.

 

The next leader will have the exciting opportunity to implement SOPA’s 2026–2030 Strategic Plan whose framework remains centered on six core goals, three mission-focused and three foundational—which have been reaffirmed by the SOPA Board of Directors as the pillars for their next phase of growth. This plan is shaped by the voices of the athletes, coaches, families, staff, and Board members.

 

MISSION-FOCUSED GOALS

 

• Expand Growth and Ensure Quality: Ensure that individuals with intellectual disabilities across Pennsylvania have meaningful opportunities to participate in Special Olympics, with a focus on both expanding reach and delivering high-quality experiences.

• Foster Inclusion through Unified Programs: Create a more inclusive world by expanding Unified Sports, Unified Champion Schools, and Unified Leadership opportunities, emphasizing meaningful interactions between individuals with and without intellectual disabilities.

• Improve Athlete Health and Wellness: Enhance the overall health, fitness, and well-being of athletes by integrating health and fitness initiatives into programs, addressing health disparities, and supporting athletes in achieving better health outcomes.

 

FOUNDATIONAL GOALS

 

• Generate Resources to Build Organizational Capacity: Secure and grow annual revenues and resources to sustain and expand operations, ensuring the organization can meet its ambitious growth and programmatic objectives.

• Strengthen the SOPA Brand: Leverage and enhance the strength and recognition of the Special Olympics brand to attract new athletes, volunteers, and supporters, and to increase public awareness and engagement.

• Excel in Operational and Administrative Excellence: Operate efficiently and effectively as a unified team, optimizing workflows, collaboration, and organizational processes to maximize impact for athletes and stakeholders.

 

KEY PRINCIPLES

 

This Plan is shaped by the voices of SOPA’s athletes, coaches, families, staff, and Board members. Their input has guided us to focus on several key principles:

 

• Expanding Impact: SOPA is committed to changing more lives, aiming to double the number of individuals with intellectual disabilities served in Pennsylvania.

• Unified Opportunities: Growth will be driven by prioritizing the expansion of Unified programs in both communities and schools, while continuing to offer traditional choices.

• Quality Programming: Through ongoing evaluation and biennial reviews, SOPA will diversify their sports offerings and participation opportunities to better meet athletes’ needs. This is referred to as the Future of Sport model.

• Health & Wellness: Building on the Healthy Athletes initiative, SOPA will shape programming to address health disparities and support athletes in achieving better health outcomes.

 

CANDIDATE PROFILE

 

The President & CEO is required to represent the organization to stakeholders and ensure its long-term success and sustainability as set forth by Special Olympics, Inc. and the Special Olympics Pennsylvania Board of Directors.

 

The primary responsibilities of the role are to lead the organization, set the overall strategic direction and vision for the organization, develop and implement strategies to achieve the organization's goals, oversee operations, manage key relationships, make critical decisions, drive overall performance and growth, and create conditions in which employees, volunteers, and athletes can contribute to the full extent of their potential.

 

Special Olympics Pennsylvania seeks an exceptional leader who is passionate about advancing the organization's mission, committed to its standards of excellence, and farsighted and optimistic about its potential. The Board is open to considering candidates from a variety of backgrounds, including leadership in the private, nonprofit, and government sectors.

 

The position calls for vision, breadth, and good judgment; proven strategic leadership skills; a passion for inclusion at all levels including Board, staff, athletes, and their families; an enthusiasm for fundraising and resource development; demonstrated financial and staff management experience; and a collaborative leadership style that can motivate all participants within a mission-driven culture.

 

A big picture thinker and ambitious leader, the next leader must also be a knowledgeable manager with excellent relationship management skills, administrative and operational skills, and an understanding of best administrative practices. Special Olympics Pennsylvania seeks a President & CEO who has a track record and mindset for growth and expansion, and the talent to lead and build an exceptionally effective, statewide organization.

 

The successful candidate will possess strong business acumen to oversee all aspects of the business operation including but not limited to human capital, fiscal solvency, change management and the ability to manage multiple projects in a variety of distinct geographies simultaneously. The President & CEO will have demonstrated expertise in finance and financial oversight and will be comfortable with technology and management information systems. This person must be organized, goal-oriented, and decisive.

 

QUALIFICATIONS

 

The following qualifications are of particular interest:

 

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree (Master’s degree) or nonprofit leadership certification are a plus.

• Minimum of 10 years of senior or executive-level leadership experience, preferably within the nonprofit sector, though comparable private or public sector experience will be considered.

• Demonstrated experience working with nonprofit boards of directors and in governance, volunteer development, and volunteer leadership.

• Proven ability to build, lead, and manage high-performing professional teams, including staff operating in a primarily remote environment.

• Experience overseeing organizational financial performance, including budgeting, financial management, reporting, and stewardship of resources.

• Strong record of fundraising success or comparable expertise in relationship building, business development, and marketing.

• Commitment to fostering an inclusive environment for athletes, families, volunteers, staff, and stakeholders.

• Familiarity with intellectual disability, Special Olympics, athletic programming, or related fields is a plus.

• Demonstrated intellectual curiosity, creativity, and innovative problem-solving skills.

• Passion for the mission-driven work, coupled with enthusiasm, energy, and a collaborative spirit.

 

COMPENSATION AND BENEFITS

 

Special Olympics Pennsylvania offers a competitive salary and benefits package.

 

The salary range for this position is between $225,000 and $250,000 and will be commensurate with experience.

 

Special Olympics Pennsylvania offers a comprehensive employee benefits package that includes:

 

• Employer-paid health insurance.

• Employer-paid dental insurance.

• Employer-paid vision insurance.

• Short-term disability coverage.

• Long-term disability coverage.

• Group life insurance.

• 401(k) retirement plan with employer contributions and matching.

• Additional benefits such as annual eye exams.

 

HOW TO APPLY

 

Applications and nominations are being received by Kittleman & Associates, LLC.

 

To apply, please send a current resume and letter of interest through:

 

kittlemansearch.com/sopa-president-and-ceo

Click on the Apply button at the bottom of the page.

 

For best consideration, please submit your materials by August 26, 2026.