The successful applicant, who will be based in Colorado Springs, will report directly to the vice-president of annual and major gifts, and will be responsible for managing and assessing the fund's programmes and activities.

One of their main roles will be to try to help achieve sustainable increases in donor participation and philanthropic gifts available to support the elite programme run by the United States Olympic Committee (USOC). 

The USOC is non-profit organisation and receives no Government funding for its Olympic programmes - one of few National Olympic Committees to do so - so fundraising is particularly important. 

The USOC relies on support from community donors and sponsors in order to fund some of the world's most elite athletes with the increase of philanthropic support one of the key strategic areas targeted by the organisation.

The United States Olympic and Paralympic Foundation is a separate non-profit organisation established by the USOC in 2013 that plays a key role in this as it looks to transform the level of philanthropic support directed athletes.

The new director of annual giving will hold a number of key responsibilities within the Foundation, including developing, implementing, and assessing short and long-range plans for achieving Team USA Fund goals, setting and monitoring the annual giving budget, and motivating, coaching, and evaluating staff, according to the job specification. 

The USOC receives no Government funding to prepare for the Olympics and Paralympics so relies on fundraising and donations to support Team USA ©Getty Images

More specific duties include establishing an annual operating plan for the Team USA Fund, with measurable performance objectives, that is linked to the USOC's fundraising goals and priorities.

The director will also hold managerial responsibility over an associate director of leadership giving and a manger of direct appeal with the successful applicant expected to work with this team, and others, to evaluate activities and strategy and bring the most out of the Team USA Fund, says the advert. 

The director will be paid a salary of $86,047 (£53,671/€66,917).

For more information on the role and to apply, click here.

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]