Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – Volunteer Leadership Role

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – Volunteer Leadership Role

Spirit of the Game Foundation – Europe | Remote (Germany-based preferred) | Volunteer

About the Role

Spirit of the Game Foundation – Europe is seeking a visionary and values-driven Chief Executive Officer to provide strategic, organisational and operational leadership across the European organisation. Reporting to the Board, the CEO will own the Foundation’s mission, vision and long-term direction. That includes designing and delivering a 5–10 year strategic plan that positions the organisation for sustainable growth, measurable impact and strong governance.

This is a senior volunteer leadership position for an accomplished executive who wants to apply strategic expertise to a purpose-led organisation and build an institution that lasts.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership and Direction

• Define, articulate and champion the Foundation’s mission, vision, values and strategic objectives in partnership with the Board.
• Develop and lead the delivery of a 5–10 year strategic plan, supported by annual operating plans, measurable KPIs and clear implementation milestones.
• Translate strategy into prioritised programmes, regional initiatives and resource-allocation decisions.
• Monitor strategic performance and report progress, risks and outcomes to the Board.

Governance and Accountability

• Work closely with the Board to make sure governance, decision rights and delegation of authority are clear and effective.
• Establish sound policies, internal controls, compliance mechanisms and ethical standards across the organisation.
• Promote transparency, integrity and accountability in all decision-making.

Organisational Leadership and Operations

• Provide overall leadership across all functions, regions and programmes, and make sure they align, coordinate and do not duplicate one another.
• Build a scalable organisational structure with defined roles, reporting lines and performance expectations.
• Lead and develop the senior leadership team, regional heads and functional directors.
• Oversee workforce and volunteer planning so that the organisation has the right capabilities in the right places.

Culture, People and Engagement

• Shape and model an inclusive, collaborative, high-performance culture grounded in the Foundation’s values.
• Strengthen volunteer engagement, retention and leadership development across Europe.
• Champion diversity, equity, inclusion and safeguarding standards.

Partnerships, Resources and Representation

• Act as the principal ambassador and spokesperson for the Foundation with partners, sponsors, federations, institutions and the wider community.
• Build strategic alliances and partnerships that expand the Foundation’s reach and impact.
• Lead resource-mobilisation, fundraising and financial-sustainability strategies in collaboration with the Board.

Qualifications and Experience

• Master’s degree in Business Administration, Management, Public Administration or a related field. An MBA is an advantage.
• Minimum 10 years of progressive leadership experience, including at least 5 years in a senior executive or board-facing role.
• Proven track record in strategic planning, organisational development and leading complex, multi-country or matrix organisations.
• Experience in non-profit, international, sport-for-development or mission-driven organisations is highly desirable.
• Demonstrated ability to lead distributed and volunteer-based teams in a remote environment.
• Strong understanding of governance, risk management and stakeholder engagement.

Core Competencies

• Strategic vision and long-term thinking
• Executive decision-making and sound judgement
• Inspirational and inclusive leadership
• Stakeholder management and diplomacy
• Change leadership and organisational transformation
• Excellent communication and representation skills in English; other European languages are an asset

What We Offer

• The opportunity to shape the long-term strategy and legacy of a values-driven European organisation
• A senior leadership platform with high visibility and meaningful impact
• Collaboration with a committed, international network of leaders and volunteers
• Flexible, remote working arrangements

Time Commitment: 8–10 hours per week.

Term: 2 years, renewable

Spirit of the Game Foundation – Europe is committed to equal opportunity and welcomes applicants of all backgrounds.