Director of Spirit Programs (Cheerleading Team)

Department: Intercollegiate Athletics

Classification: GMU Worker

Job Category: Part-Time / Hourly Wage

Job Type: Part-Time

Location: Fairfax, VA

Workplace Type: On Site Required

Salary: Salary commensurate with education and experience

Criminal Background Check: Yes

About the Department:

Intercollegiate Athletics 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 three priorities are to educate, compete, and engage.

Educate: Prioritize academic achievement and recruit student-athletes who can be successful academically, strengthen ICA’s commitment to diversity and inclusion, and provide consistent education for coaches and sport administrators.

Compete: Position teams to consistently compete for conference success and recruit student-athletes who possess the ability to excel athletically from a conference and national perspective.

Engage: Prioritize the experience and personal well-being of student-athletes, develop and renovate athletics facilities, generate resources necessary to support the student-athlete experience, and foster and inspire partnerships within the department, University, and the community. 

About the Position:

The Director of Spirit Programs must effectively plan, organize, administer, and teach successful cheerleading programs. The Director is responsible for all cheerleading and mascot activities.

Responsibilities:

Spirit Program Coordination:

• Provide leadership and direction for all game spirit coordination (i.e., Pep Band, mascot);
• Judicially plan, prepare, and administer the budget with the Director of Business Development within the University and Department guidelines;
• Consult with the Assistant Athletic Director for Facilities in all scheduling matters;
• The Director is responsible for all cheerleading, activities and appearances;
• Travel with the team to Atlantic 10 Tournament games as required providing coordination, coaching, support and encouragement;
• Ensure that the cheerleading squad is aware of and support gender equity philosophies promoted by the University;
• Actively enhance a positive image of the University, the Department, and the squads;
• Maintain professional and appropriate conduct of behavior for self, staff and student-athletes;
• Provide, when reasonable, services as requested by the University (i.e. alumni/development/public relations offices as well as state and local communities); and
• Cooperate and assist the Deputy AD, External Affairs in providing the best possible sports information service. Cooperate with the outside media providing the best possible image of the program.

Teaching and Coaching:

• Serve as coach for the Cheerleading squad;
• Utilize sound teaching techniques in the conduct of practice sessions and performance preparation;
• Effectively prepare and organize pre-season, in-season and post-season conditioning programs and practice sessions;
• Oversee the strength and conditioning development of the students;
• Be aware and maintain a safe and healthy environment for the students;
• Actively support the academic integrity of the University, keeping academics and achievement of a degree as the highest priority for the students;
• Establish a written set of aims, goals, objectives, and values for the program in consultation with the Deputy AD, External Affairs with an update and review each year;
• Establish written criteria on the selection process for squad selection and retention;
• Effectively prepare, organize, lead, and direct all preseason, in season practice sessions, game activities, and performance plans; 
• Establish written policies, guidelines and rules for the squad members and the appropriate disciplinary that will be administered for their violation;
• Understand and establish proper procedures of due process in dealing with the students and staff;
• Develop a system of self-evaluation and evaluation of the students;
• Provide appropriate and necessary guidance, advising, and counseling for the squad members;
• Be familiar with and encourage the use of support services available at George Mason University which can be utilized to assist the students; and
• Assist the Athletic Training Staff in performing their assigned functions and abide by all policies and decisions of the health service and doctors concerning all medical matters.

Department, University, Conference and NCAA Compliance:

• Abide by and promote the aims, goals, and objectives established by the Athletic Director;
• Abide by and promote the policies, guidelines, rules, regulations and criteria established by the Athletic Director for the students;
• Know, understand and abide by all University Rules and Regulations;
• Be aware and abide by the rules of confidentiality (Buckley Amendment);
• Know, understand and assure that the student-athletes abide by all the University Rules and Regulations;
• Understand and abide by proper procedures of due process in dealing with the students and staff.;
• Follow the administrative procedures established by the University and in the Department Staff Handbook;
• Be knowledgeable of and steadfastly use current accepted safety practices and procedures for all cheerleading activities and maintain a safe and healthy environment for the students; and
• Effectively recruit the best students within the admissions, financial and regulatory constraints established by the University. 

Act as Team Liaison to:

• Equipment office staff to order, monitor and control all squad equipment;
• Business Office on program operations, logistics, planning and squad travel; and
• Academic Services (study hall and tutoring).

Fundraising:

• Participate in fundraising efforts and special events.

Other Duties:

• Perform other duties as requested by the Assistant Vice President/Director of Intercollegiate Athletics or Sport Administrator.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s Degree in related field preferred;
• 2-3 years of previous coaching experience preferred; and
• Excellent speaking and organizational skills.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's Degree in a related field.

Instructions to Applicants: 

For full consideration, applicants must apply for Director of Spirit Programs (Cheerleading Team) at https://jobs.gmu.edu/. Complete and submit the online application to include three professional references with contact information, and provide a resume.

Posting Open Date: June 4, 2024

For Full Consideration, Apply by:  June 18, 2024

Open Until Filled?:  Yes