The Ontario Hockey League (OHL) has long been regarded as the number one hockey development league in the world, continuing to serve as a leading supplier of talent for the National Hockey League and U SPORTS. The OHL consists of 20 teams, with 17 located in Ontario, two in the state of Michigan and one in the state of Pennsylvania. A proud member of the Canadian Hockey League, the OHL is also a leading provider of educational scholarships, with over 330 graduates receiving OHL Scholarships to pursue a post-secondary education of their choice in 2023-24, resulting in a collective investment of over $3.9 million by OHL member teams.
Director, Player Safety
Position: Full-time contract, hybrid remote
Compensation: commensurate with experience
Department: Hockey Operations
Reports to: VP Hockey Operations
ABOUT YOU
You have extensive experience and a deep understanding of the game of hockey, with a strong, professional and positive presence that well represents the league both internally and externally. You are thoughtful, detail oriented, and guided by strong principles. You have excellent listening, communication and relationship building skills, and demonstrate a keen awareness of the needs of players, teams and the league. You are passionate about the sport of hockey, the brand of the OHL and delivering a safe and competitive environment for all players in the league.
ABOUT THE POSITION
The League is incorporating a new Department of Player Safety into its organizational framework to continue to meet the ongoing needs of all players and teams both on and off the ice in this most important area.
The Director, Player Safety will be responsible for developing, leading and managing the implementation of an all-encompassing player safety strategy. This exciting new position at the OHL will develop strategy, policy, standards, guidance, education and effective management of prevention and response to player safety issues across the league.
The position will work closely with the Commissioner, VP Hockey Operations, General Managers and the OHL Competitions Committee to craft and implement impactful responses to trends and developments in the game, in order to continuously improve the safety conditions for OHL players.
Key responsibilities of this position include (but are not limited to):
- Develop, monitor and execute annual action plans and critical paths for Player Safety strategy
- Lead the review, development and administration of playing rules impacting player safety
- Oversee all aspects of the supplemental review and discipline process
- Track and monitor trends in equipment and the implementation of equipment policies
- Provide oversite and administer league standards related to playing facilities
- Manage the collection and reporting of health and safety analytics
- Liaise with the VP-Hockey Operations in the management of the CHL Drug Education and Anti-Doping Program.
- Oversee the on-going management of the league’s current Concussion Management Program including liaising with the Official Neuropsychology Consultant of the Canadian Hockey League.
- Interfacing with Athletic Therapists and the Athletic Therapists Committee
- Responsible for relationship management within the hockey milieu and sport system in general to ensure the proactive identification of best practices
- Carryout presentations to OHL member teams, players and other stakeholders
Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree or a combination of years of experience and education
- Minimum 10 years experience within the hockey industry. Experience within junior hockey would be an asset.
- Former player, coach or on-ice official in the OHL an asset
- Comprehensive understanding of the playing rules of hockey and the OHL
- Outstanding interpersonal and communications skills, emotional intelligence, high level of integrity, moral and ethics principles
- Exceptional organizational and time management skills, with an ability to prioritize workflow in a fast pace, high pressure environment
- Understanding of a review and investigative process
- Earns others trust and respect through consistency, honesty and professionalism in all interactions, while demonstrating a proven capacity for making difficult decisions
- Excellent written and verbal communications combine with a highly professional demeanor
- Exceptional team member who is accountable for actions/decisions and practices self assessment and reflection
- Capacity to produce and maintain reports and written materials to high standard
- Intermediate Computer skills – Microsoft office suite (word, excel, PowerPoint, outlook, MS Teams, basic video software systems)
- Able and willing to work non-traditional hours, including evenings and weekends as needed during the hockey season
Applications must be received by end of day, September 20, 2024.
Please submit your resume in confidence to OHL Vice President, Hockey Operations, Barclay Branch by email, bbranch@chl.ca, using the subject line – OHL Department of Player Safety.
Only successful candidates will be contacted.
Anticipated start date of Fall 2024.
