Associate Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Development

Department: Intercollegiate Athletics

Classification: Professional Faculty

Job Category: Administrative or Professional Faculty

Job Type: Full-Time

Work Schedule: Full-Time

Location: Fairfax, VA

Workplace Type: On Site Required

Salary: Salary commensurate with education and experience

Criminal Background Check: Yes

About the Department:

To unite communities by developing champions with a mission to inspire and transform lives through the power of sports. Intercollegiate Athletics (ICA) serves 500 student-athletes in 22 NCAA Division I sports. We are a proud member of the Atlantic 10 Conference with 17 Conference Championships, NCAA Championships in Women’s Soccer and Men’s Indoor Track, an NCAA Final Four appearance with Men’s Basketball, and over 30 individual National Champions. We are student-focused, education-centered, and committed to providing transformational experiences for our student-athletes and staff. Our five priorities are Student-Athlete Experience, Competition, Resources, Storytelling & Engagement, and Championship Culture.

About the Position:

The Associate Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Development is responsible for developing, implementing, and supporting student-athletes, both current and former, in various aspects of their lives to ensure academic, athletic, personal, and professional success. The role oversees the creation and execution of a comprehensive support system aimed at fostering career development and providing life skills education. Additionally, the position supervises the staff at the Athletic Academic Resource Center to ensure that student-athletes receive the necessary guidance and resources to succeed academically, maintain eligibility, and graduate. The position serves as the Academic Coordinator for Men's Basketball, offering academic support, monitoring progress, and collaborating with coaching staff to help student-athletes effectively balance their athletic and academic commitments. Collaboration with administrators, coaches, staff, and university personnel will be essential to create and implement strategies that promote academic achievement, student-athlete retention, and graduation. Ultimately, the goal of this position is to assist student-athletes in navigating their educational journey and preparing them for success after their collegiate athletic careers.

Travel may be required for team events and competitions. Flexible hours, including evenings and weekends, to accommodate student-athlete schedules.

Responsibilities:

Career Development

• Career Education
  • Offers career advising sessions to explore professional interests, goals, and develop action plans;
  • Provides support with resume writing, cover letters, and job applications;
• Professional Development
  • Hosts workshops on job search strategies, interview techniques, negation and professional etiquette;
  • Develops and maintains university and community partnerships to facilitate internships, co-op programs, and job shadowing opportunities;
  • Administers and interprets career-related assessments to identity and provide coaching for individual talents and strengths; and
• Networking Opportunities
  • Creates alumni networks to foster community and engagement between current and former student-athletes in their career fields.

Life Skills Training

• Professional Development Workshops
  • Hosts sessions on a variety of topics such as financial literacy, nutrition, mental health, and stress management;
  • Provides training on leadership, communication and conflict resolution skills;
• Civic Responsibility
  • Promotes participation and engagement in campus and community initiatives. 

Leadership Development and Transition Support 

• Leadership Programs
  • Develops leadership academies and workshop to cultivate leadership skills;
  • Offers opportunities for student-athletes to participate in leadership roles within their teams and the broader university; and
  • Serves as institutional SAAC liaison, serving as resource to student-athlete committee members for administrative duties.
• Mentorship
  • Develops mentoring programs that connect student-athletes with coaches, alumni, and professionals; and
  • Encourages peer mentoring within teams to foster a supportive environment.
• Onboarding Programs
  • Implements orientation programs for incoming student-athletes to help them adjust to college life; and
  • Offers bridge programs to ease the transition from high school to college athletics.
• Post-Graduation Support
  • Provides resources and guidance for student-athletes transitioning out of college sports; and
  • Assists with job placement, graduate school applications and career planning. 

Academic Coordinator for Men’s Basketball 

• Oversight of academic support services;
• Supervises basketball academic support staff;
• Monitors academic progress and NCAA academic eligibility; and
• Collaborates with coaching staff to ensure academic and athletic balance. 

Evaluation and Feedback 

• Program Assessment
  • Regularly assess the effectiveness if development programs through surveys and feedback from current and former student-athletes; and
  • Utilizes data to make informed decisions and improvements to the program.
• Continuous Improvements
  • Maintains current best practices and trends in student-athlete development; and
  • Engages in ongoing professional development for staff to enhance program quality.
• Diversity and Inclusion / Inclusive Programming
  • Ensures all programs are inclusive and address the needs of a diverse student-athlete population. 

Required Qualifications:

• Master's degree in administration, athletic administration, counseling, or a related area, or equivalent combination of education and experience to equate to advanced degree;
• Experience (typically 5+ years) in academic support services, preferably in athletics setting;
• Experience in development and presentation of workshops, or public speaking;
• Experience with academic advising services for student-athletes, including course selection, scheduling, and major exploration;
• Experience with monitoring the academic progress of student-athletes to ensure they meet NCAA, conference, and university eligibility requirements;
• Experience with coordinating academic support programs, such as tutoring, study hall, and academic workshops;
• Knowledge of NCAA rules and regulations regarding academic eligibility;
• Proven ability to relate well with diverse students, university and local community personnel;
• Effective written and oral communication skills;
• Strong analytical and assessment skills; and
• Ability to stay current with best practices and trends in academic support for student-athletes.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Prior experience in SAAC supervision is a plus;
• Knowledge for Banner Application Navigator; and
• Knowledge of Teamworks Compliance and Recruiting Software.

Instructions to Applicants: 

For full consideration, applicants must apply for Associate Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Development at https://jobs.gmu.edu/. Complete and submit the online application to include three professional references with contact information, and provide a Resume for review.

Posting Open Date: December 19, 2024

For Full Consideration, Apply by:  January 17, 2025

Open Until Filled:  Yes