Manager, Sport Programming

At Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment Partnership (MLSE), we are committed to creating an inclusive workplace that is representative of our community and where all employees feel they belong and can reach their full potential. We are Canada’s preeminent leader in delivering top quality sport and entertainment experiences and one of North America’s leading providers of exceptional fan experiences. We are the parent company of the National Hockey League’s Toronto Maple Leafs, the National Basketball Association’s Toronto Raptors, Major League Soccer’s Toronto FC, the Canadian Football League’s Toronto Argonauts and development teams with the Toronto Marlies (American Hockey League), Raptors 905 (NBA G League), Toronto FC II (MLS NEXT Pro League) and Raptors Uprising Gaming Club, the Toronto Raptors Esports franchise in the NBA 2K League.

MLSE owns and/or operates all the venues our teams play and train in, including Scotiabank Arena, BMO Field, Coca-Cola Coliseum, Ford Performance Centre, BMO Training Ground, and OVO Athletic Centre. We also provide fans in Toronto with incredible live music and entertainment events, as well as exceptional culinary experiences through our restaurants (e11even and RS) and clubs (Hot Stove Club, ScotiaClub and Platinum Club). Through MLSE Foundation, we have invested more than $45 million into Ontario communities since 2009 and with MLSE LaunchPad, we provide a place where youth facing barriers use sport to recognize and reach their potential.

We achieve all of this through our Common Purpose - to unite and empower our employees to create extraordinary moments for our fans and each other. Come be a part of the team.

As the Manager, Sport Programming you will be at the centre of the action: creating sport programs, managing a diverse and dynamic team of 75+ hourly staff, and working with the research and partnerships teams to ensure that our programming is having the intended impact.

You will lead all day-to-day operations of sport programming at MLSE LaunchPad, work with the management team to look ahead and plan for usage of our space, oversee staff and programming budgets, coach full-time and hourly staff, and maintain facility equipment and cleanliness. An ideal candidate for this role has significant experience in youth sport program creation and delivery, supervision of full-time and part-time program staff, and is kind, thoughtful, and passionate about sport and physical activity. 

You will be working on an energetic and active Sport Programming Team. This team prides itself on creating the absolute best experience for the youth within our space, and puts our “Youth First, Always” value at the core of its work. The Sport Programming Team is passionate about the community, supporting our hourly staff, the impact of sport, and we love to collaborate, learn and grow in the fun, fast-paced and inclusive environment of MLSE LaunchPad.  

• Leading the development and updating of MLSE LaunchPad Sport For Development programs:
  • You will be the key player in ensuring that all of our programming focuses on physical literacy, life skills and FUN! All programs must be Sport For Development programs, age and stage-appropriate, incorporate life skills transference, and be coached in a fun, engaging, kind, and safe environment.
• Overseeing the execution of in-person MLSE LaunchPad programs:
  • Being physically in the space is a big component of the role so that you can coach and support hourly staff and liaise with the full-time team. This includes setting up MLSE LaunchPad programs for success by informing the training and onboarding process for all hourly staff. 
• Making our space the best it can be:
  • This means ensuring that our facility is safe, clean, and that members, staff, guests, families, feel valued, respected and that they act as such in the space.
• Managing all administrative aspects of programs including budget, staffing and program logistics:
  • We need to stay on track with our budget, make sure we have the equipment, scheduled staff, and appropriate space to run the best Sport For Development programming possible.
• Measuring key outcomes to support MLSE LaunchPad program refinement and growth:
  • You will work with the Measurement and Evaluation Team to make sure that our programs are informed by research and that we are programming to meet our goals and outcomes. Future programs will be guided by the feedback and data collected.
• Supporting a team of 75+ diverse and dynamic hourly staff:
  • You will coach our full-time staff and support in leading our Supervisors, Youth Mentors, Lead Coaches, and Assistant Coaches to ensure that everyone is aware of their roles, our emergency procedures, and that they are supported, both personally and professionally.  
• Participating in special projects and other related duties as required:
  • We are one big team and we support each other on projects, proposals and events. Everything is “our job”. 
• Championing our core values:
  • As someone who oversees staff and programming, you set the tone for the space and the people in it. Knowing and living our core values is a key component of this job.  

Note: Before reviewing the qualifications listed below, we want you to know that we understand you may not meet all the qualifications described and have other relevant expertise and experience. We invite you to please share this with us in the "Message to the Hiring Manager" section of our online application.

• You truly believe that the power of sport can change the world:
  • You are passionate about sport and have experience designing and implementing sport programming.
• You are a sport professional:
  • You have a comprehensive understanding of physical literacy, fundamental movement skills, the Long-Term Athlete Development Model and their applicability and importance in a youth sport context. We are a Sport For Development facility and the integrity of our mission is in teaching life skills through sport – you need to be able to confidently oversee the creation and coach the implementation of programming. NCCP and other sport certifications are considered an asset.
• You care about girls in sport, how inequity in sport continues to impact racialized and equity deserving communities, and are committed to breaking down the barriers to youth access in sport:
  • You have familiarity with applying anti-oppressive and anti-racist principles to your work and engage in continued learning in these areas. You have worked in a community sport setting.
• You have experience supervising staff:
  • Our hourly staff team is at the core of everything that we do and their sense of belonging, buy-in, happiness, and wellbeing is so important. Making them a priority is your priority.  
• You are a collaborator:
  • We are one team and every decision we make impacts someone else. Understanding who to bring in and how are important.  
• You are a clear, confident and thoughtful communicator:
  • You will be communicating with a diverse group of staff, stakeholders, youth and parents. How you get information across and understanding the impact that the information you are communicating has on the people you are communicating it to is a key component of your job. 
• You are highly organized and can manage and prioritize competing responsibilities:
  • We work in a fast-paced environment with a number of different programs, events and administrative priorities running simultaneously. Being organized and working as a team (and doing so with a smile!) are key components of your role. 

Apply by: December 20th, 2024

Experience the thrill of the Sports & Entertainment industry in a flexible (hybrid) work environment that supports employee wellbeing.

As a part of our recruitment process AI may be utilized to: screen applications, assess qualifications, and enhance candidate selection. We remain committed to ensuring a fair and equitable hiring experience for all candidates.

We thank all applicants for their interest, however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted. 

At MLSE, we are committed to building an equitable, diverse and inclusive organization.

We are an equal opportunity employer and we do not discriminate on the basis of race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin, citizenship, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, record of offences, marital status, family status or disability. MLSE will provide reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with disabilities in the job application process. If you have difficulty using our online application system and you need an accommodation due to a disability, please email [email protected]. Please note this email is only for accommodation requests. Resumes sent to this email address will not be considered.