Position: FCDI Regional Tournament Director
Project: Florida Civics & Debate Initiative (FCDI)
Organization: Florida Debate Initiative, Inc. (FDI)
Reports to: FDI President
Location: Assigned Region in Florida
Compensation: $20,000 annual stipend, paid quarterly
Status: Independent Contractor (1099)—not an employee of FDI
Term: August 1, 2026–June 30, 2027

Overview

The FCDI Regional Tournament Director is the Florida Debate Initiative’s senior regional leader and lead ambassador across a cluster of Florida’s seven regions.

This is an outward-facing growth and leadership role. The Director represents FDI and the FCDI league to school administrators, school boards, community leaders, and other stakeholders and builds a steady pipeline of new schools, judges, volunteers, program participants, and donors.

The Director also supervises and supports the Regional Tournament Coordinators in their cluster, ensuring tournaments are well run and that regional efforts advance FDI’s league and program goals.

FDI hires and funds two Regional Tournament Directors, each reporting to the FDI President. We seek savvy, persuasive communicators who can open doors, tell FDI and FCDI’s story, and turn interest into lasting participation and support.

Key Responsibilities

Outreach, Growth & Representation — Primary

• Stakeholder Representation: Represent FDI and the FCDI league persuasively to school administrators, school boards, districts, community leaders, and other stakeholders.
• Pipeline Building: Build and sustain a steady pipeline of new schools, judges, volunteers, program participants, and donors across the regional cluster.
• New School Recruitment: Identify, pitch, and onboard new middle and high schools into the FCDI league and FDI programs.
• Judge & Volunteer Development: Recruit and cultivate judges and volunteers to strengthen the region’s capacity to host quality events.
• Partnerships & Donor Cultivation: Build community and business partnerships and help identify and cultivate prospective donors in coordination with FDI leadership.
• Regional Visibility & Outreach: Expand FDI and FCDI visibility by sharing approved program updates, spotlighting local success stories, and celebrating student and educator achievements, while conducting relationship-based outreach to schools, districts, civic organizations, community partners, and prospective supporters.
• Storytelling & Promotion: Announce and promote FDI and FCDI events and successes and carry outreach and public-relations work across the region.

Regional Leadership & Oversight

• Supervise Coordinators: Supervise and support the Regional Tournament Coordinators in the assigned cluster, ensuring tournaments are well run and properly staffed.
• Goal Accountability: Help ensure the region meets FDI and FCDI league and program goals; track progress and report results to the FDI President.
• Leadership Meetings: Participate in leadership meetings and represent regional needs to FDI leadership.
• Standards & Support: Uphold FDI-FCDI Professional Standards and serve as the senior regional point of contact for member schools and partners.

Regions

Northwest • North Central • Northeast • Central • Southeast • Gulf Coast • South Florida

Qualifications

Candidate Background

• A background in education or debate is preferred. Retired or former teachers, coaches, and administrators are especially encouraged to apply.
• Strong communications, outreach, development, or stakeholder-relations professionals are also encouraged to apply, with or without a debate background.

Experience

• Proven success building relationships and persuading stakeholders, such as recruiting schools, partners, donors, or volunteers.
• Experience representing an organization to school or district leadership, boards, or community stakeholders.
• Experience supervising or coordinating people and comfort holding others accountable to goals.
• Retired or former educators and administrators are especially encouraged to apply. Skilled communicators and development professionals are also welcome.

Skills & Competencies

• Savvy, persuasive communicator with strong public-speaking, writing, and one-on-one relationship-building skills.
• Skilled at representing an organization credibly to administrators, boards, and community leaders.
• Self-directed and goal-oriented, with the ability to drive a recruitment and outreach pipeline with minimal oversight.
• Able to lead and support a regional team of Coordinators and hold regional efforts accountable to established goals.
• Deep commitment to civics education and the FDI/FCDI mission, with the credibility to inspire others to join it.

Application

Submit a letter of interest and résumé detailing relevant experience to info@floridadebate.org.

SEND LETTER OF INTEREST & RÉSUMÉ TO:
info@floridadebate.org

The Florida Debate Initiative, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer.