St. Lawrence University Director of Intercollegiate Athletics

POSITION SUMMARY:
Responsible for all functions of the intercollegiate athletics programs and campus recreation program, the Director of Intercollegiate Athletics (AD) is responsible for leading and coordinating efforts to develop and support a vibrant athletic community where 35%-40% of the student body is involved in any given year. The Director of Intercollegiate Athletics is responsible for providing leadership and management for St. Lawrence University’s NCAA Division I men and women’s hockey programs and 33 Division III and interdivisional sports; leading the strategy to ensure an appropriate role for the University in the continually changing landscape of college sports; promoting sportsmanship through academic and athletic excellence; and generating revenue through creative and goal-oriented initiatives for operational and capital needs. The AD supervises a staff of 85 employees (28 of whom are GA’s) and manages a budget of $11.2 million, of which $5.2 million is the annual operating budget. The ideal candidate is a visionary leader who can effectively integrate the Athletics division with the entire campus community. Reporting to the Vice President of Enrollment, the AD is also the lead person in working with all coaches to identify, attract, and enroll student athletes, including developing and implementing effective recruitment strategies and building relationships with prospective students and their families.

KEY DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Develop, implement, direct, and evaluate the College’s intercollegiate athletics program.
• Recruits, retains and regularly evaluates departmental operations, staff, programs and activities to ensure all areas are effectively achieving established goals and objectives.
• Develops new athletic programs in relationship to university enrollment strategy and evaluates current athletic programs for viability.
• Possesses a solid understanding of jobs performed by coaches, an excellence in setting aggressive, winning goals, ability to interact with diverse groups and a commitment and sensitivity to diversity, gender equity, and equal opportunity.
• Create and maintain a competitive athletics program that supports academic success, retention, and graduation.  Encourages and recognizes student successes, engages students in academic excellence and ensures student athlete physical and mental welfare is a high priority.
• Maintain and oversee compliance with all applicable NCAA, state and federal policies and regulations.
• Monitor the development of new and/or changing regulations that impact the department, analyze potential impact, plan proactively to maintain compliance, and actively participate in league and conference meetings and activities.
• Insures Title IX compliance in athletics.
• Lead strategy for ensuring compliance with Name, Image, Likeness (NIL) policies while supporting student athlete retention.
• Plan, direct and oversee the work of assigned staff. Develop and maintain job descriptions, make hiring and disciplinary decisions, and provide feedback on job performance.
• Demonstrated ability to create innovative solutions to management, budget, and operational issues. Develop and manage budget and accounts for the appropriate disbursement of funds.
• Collaboratively develops, recommends and achieves short and long range strategic plans for the athletics department.

OTHER DUTIES:

• Partner with Institutional Advancement to foster relationships with individuals in support (financial and otherwise) of the athletics program.
• Partner with the Physical Plant Director to identify, prioritize, and complete capital improvement and other facilities-related projects. Provides vision, planning, and administrative oversight for renovation and new facility construction while working with other departments as appropriate.
• Maintain a collaborative relationship with the Admissions Office to ensure a seamless recruiting experience for student athletes and families.
• In consultation with University Communications, develops and leads the department in carrying out an effective program for promoting and marketing the athletics programs within the University, region and nationally. Builds upon successful marketing relationships to promote the marketing, licensing, and merchandising associated with the University.
• Supervisor of record for the positions of Head Coaches, Division I Strength and Conditioning Coach, Fitness Center Director/ Division III Strength and Conditioning. and Support Staff
• Direct reports consist of :
  • Sr .Associate Director of Athletics (business operations and Division I compliance),
  • Associate Director of Athletics (academics) /SWA/ Head Field hockey coach
  • Associate Athletic Director of Operations and External Relations
  • Assistant Director of Athletics (Division III compliance)/Head Athletic Trainer
  • Assistant Athletic Director of Sports Marketing and Communication,
• Solicit and manage equipment bids and purchases.
• Coordinate facilities and equipment use, the scheduling of athletic competitions and events and transportation.
• Serve as liaison to the Division III NCAA Liberty League Conference and ECAC Division I Hockey Conference. Occasional work with IHSA, CSA and other governing bodies for non -NCAA sports.

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor’s degree required. Master’s degree preferred.
• 7 or more years of progressive managerial experience in intercollegiate or clearly related athletic organizations.
• Five or more years of supervisory experience in athletics
• Executive leadership and communications skills required to engage with a complex set of external constituencies: parents, alumni, media, professional associations, and Canton community in addition to internal constituencies
• Ability to work evenings and weekends
• Ability to research, interpret and operationalize applicable regulations and college-policies.
• Ability to work effectively and productively in a collaborative team capacity.
• Demonstrated ability to effect innovative solutions to management, budget, and operational issues.
• Ability to handle highly confidential material, understanding that all University information should only be disclosed to others who have a need to know, for legitimate business or educational reasons. Have the ability to exercise and apply sound judgment and decision making skills as well as the ability to maintain integrity and confidentiality of data.
• Demonstrates successful interpersonal skills to facilitate collaboration, operational improvements and the implementation of administrative best practices. Skilled in exemplary customer service, including dealing effectively with the students, faculty, staff, and general public both in person and over the telephone.
• Ability to maintain professionalism when dealing with all staff and other customers and possess the ability to work effectively with a wide range of constituencies in a diverse community. Provides timely and accurate communication with administration, faculty, students and community members.
• Works effectively, decisively and flexibly in a fast-paced, dynamic environment. Competence to compose and edit correspondence, proposals and reports that require the ability to relay complex or adverse information with tact and diplomacy.
• Demonstrated knowledge, understanding, and sensitivity to the needs of all prospective as well as current students.
• Strong integrity, ethics, and values
• Excellent writing skills and the demonstrated ability to develop written reports and action plans. Good organizational, oral and recruiting skills.
• Ability to identify problems and to propose feasible solutions.
• Knowledge of, or ability to learn Microsoft Office and self-motivated to stay current with technologies.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS: