Assistant Athletic Director of Academic & Student Athlete Development

Position Details

Position Information

Job Title Assistant Athletic Director of Academic & Student Athlete Development Department Athletic Administration Job Code A21355 Job category Full Time Staff Terms and Hours Full Time Exempt Salary Range Starting Salary $58,375, commensurate with experience Job Summary

The Assistant Athletic Director of Academic & Student Athlete Development serves as a key leader within the Academic and Student-Athlete Development unit in University Athletics and is responsible for comprehensive academic advising, support and holistic development of student-athletes and teams. The position performs direct mentoring and academic oversight duties while working closely with coaching staff and campus partners to ensure student-athlete success and academic progress towards degree obtainment.

The position provides leadership responsibility for the design, implementation, and assessment of a comprehensive student-athlete development program and oversight of the department's Mental Health and Wellness program. Additional responsibilities include coordinating cross-campus support services, fostering external partnerships, contributing to academic support pedagogy and curriculum, and advancing initiatives that support student-athlete well-being, engagement, and post-graduate success. This position reports to the Senior Associate Athletic Director, Academics and Student-Athlete Development.

Core Duties

• Oversee and direct academic support strategies for assigned teams and caseload of student-athletes, working with coaching staffs, to support student-athlete academic progress, retention, and degree completion outcomes.
• Lead and manage the Department's Mental Health and Wellness Program, including strategic planning, budget oversight, management of outside providers, workshops, and program evaluation.
• Serve as a designated case manager within the University's Care Team structure to support and manage complex student-athlete circumstances brought on by mental health challenges, emergencies, resource insecurity, and other barriers to academic, athletic, and social thriving.
• Contribute to a comprehensive student-athlete development program consistent with NCAA requirements and in alignment with the University's mission to develop the whole person. Includes the monitoring, tracking, and management of internal and external communication about programming opportunities and outcomes.
• Cultivate and direct strategic partnerships with external partners to expand student-athlete development and community engagement opportunities.
• Support the work of the Student Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC) by working in tandem with the student leadership of SAAC to execute regular meetings, philanthropy projects, community building activities, and ensure student athlete perspectives are relayed to the Vice President for Athletics and Department Senior Staff.
• Supervise and develop a team of student employees to serve as peer academic mentors, including hiring, training, performance management, and program oversight. Responsible for the execution of a program that provides supplemental peer support to help facilitate academic skill building and tracking of assignment preparation and completion.
• Serve as a liaison to campus faculty including collecting regular feedback and responding to inquiries and concerns.
• Assist and monitor the priority registration process, positioning students to successfully balance their academic and athletic commitments while progressing within their major of choice.
• Lead cross-functional collaboration with campus partners, including the Shepard Academic Resource Center (SARC), Accessible Education Services (AES), college Academic Advisors, and the Health & Counseling Center, to ensure integrated delivery of academic and wellness support services.
• Manage and execute the summer admissions, enrollment, and programming for all first-year student-athletes participating in Summer Bridge.
• Responsible for the compilation and submission of award nominations for various institutional, WCC and NCAA student-athlete honors.
• Design and deliver credit-bearing curriculum, as the instructor of record, for courses focused on student-athlete success, skill development, and transition readiness throughout their college journey.
• Lead or collaborate on the execution of various department events.
• May be required to drive student athletes and/or other Athletics personnel to practice, games, or other functions.

Other duties as relevant to the duties of the position or as assigned by supervisor or designee.

Please note that the above list of duties is not comprehensive but generally demonstrates the types of matters under this position's purview and responsibility.

Education & Experience

• Required: Bachelor's Degree in education, counseling, or related field.
• Required: Three to five years of professional experience in academic advising, teaching, and/or working individually with students; previous experience working in higher education with mentorship and/or supervisory responsibilities.
• Strongly preferred: Previous experience working with student‐athletes in an intercollegiate athletic department.
• Preferred: Master's Degree
• Or a combination of equivalent education and/or experience.

Certifications & Licenses

• Required: Valid Drivers License

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Ability to take initiative and ownership of projects and assignments in a proactive manner and devoted to process improvement.
• Exceptional administrative, organizational, and time management skills.
• Excellent organizational skills with an attention to detail, using analytical and problem-solving techniques.
• Excellent verbal and written communication and customer service skills.
• Ability to exercise sound judgement routinely and independently to make strategic decisions.
• Ability to consistently handle and follow through with multiple projects and assignments and meet deadlines; ability to prioritize and work in a fast‐paced environment.

Strong orientation towards taking ownership of projects and assignments and being proactive with projects, assignments, and process improvements.

• Ability to learn and apply applicable University, NCAA and other applicable policies to ensure compliance.
• Knowledge of or ability to be trained in NCAA rules and regulations.

Knowledge and skills related to budget and fiscal management.

• Competence with and commitment to inclusive excellence; ability to be an effective partner with diverse students, faculty, and staff.
• Ability to establish effective working relationships, professional rapport, and effectively accomplish work within a University setting that includes a wide array of individuals, groups, policies, and processes.
• Effective ability to use and learn computers, technology, software, and applications at level of sophistication required for the duties of the position, including, without limitation, Microsoft Office (Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint), the internet, and computerized maintenance management systems.

Physical Requirements

• Frequently: sit, perform desk‐based computer tasks; use fine manipulation and grasp; use a telephone; write by hand; sort and file paperwork.
• Frequently: Demonstrate strength, speed, and conditioning activities, techniques, and skills.
• Frequently: stand and walk; twist; lift, carry, push, and pull objects that weigh up to 10 pounds.
• This position requires the ability to travel by car and air.
• This position requires the ability to attend events and activities on and off campus and to interact and communicate with alumni, parents, students, faculty, staff and friends of the University.

Working Conditions

• Hours of employment: position requires working flexible hours, including regular business hours, mornings, nights, weekends, and holidays as necessary, as well as attendance at home and away events.
• Work-related stress: stress from work-related situations such as those involving competitive, challenging, urgent, or time-sensitive matters.
• Travel: travel to local and domestic away competitions, and other events and activities will be required.

Work Standards

• Respect for the University's mission and Catholic identity: demonstrates commitment to learning, respecting, and contributing to the mission of the University, a Catholic and Congregation of Holy Cross institution. The University's mission statement states in relevant part: "we pursue teaching and learning, faith and formation, service and leadership in the classroom, residence halls, and the world."1 The University's Statement of Inclusion states in relevant part: "Our belief in the inherent dignity of each person is founded upon the social teaching of the Catholic Church. At the center of that teaching is the fundamental mandate that every person, regardless of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, social or economic class, age, or disability shall be treated with respect and dignity."4
• Promote culture of safety: demonstrates commitment to personal responsibility and value for safety; communicates safety concerns; uses and promotes safe behaviors based on training and lessons learned.
• Compliance with laws, policies, and procedures: subject to and expected to comply with all applicable laws as well as University, departmental, and other applicable policies and procedures, including but not limited to the personnel, business, and/or other policies of the University, NCAA, and WCC or other applicable organizations.
• Promotion of integrity and reputation: all Athletics Department positions share responsibility for promoting and maintaining the integrity and reputation of the University of Portland and its intercollegiate athletics program. In fulfilling the responsibilities of this position, the person hired is required to comply with both the letter and spirit of all University policies and procedures, laws, and NCAA and WCC rules and regulations.
• Compliance with driving related laws and requirements: when conducting university business while driving, must comply with the Oregon Vehicle Code and University of Portland driving requirements.
• Interpersonal skills: demonstrates the ability to work professionally with all University of Portland community members, external organizations, and any other person or organization employee interacts with related to his or her University position.

1 The full Mission Statement is at: www.up.edu/about/mission.

4The full Statement of Inclusion is at: www.up.edu/disclosures/inclusion.

Benefits

Medical and dental insurance, life insurance, sick time and vacation time consistent with University policies, long-term disability insurance, flexible spending account benefits, tuition remission benefits generally starting after 90 days (employee) or 2 years (spouse and children) of employment, retirement contributions generally starting after 2 years of employment, and eligibility for the University's home purchase assistance program consistent with program requirements. (Benefits are subject to all relevant University policies, practices, contracts, and any other relevant materials.)

Posting Detail Information

Posting Number S376-2023 Number of Vacancies 1 Estimated Start Date Open Date Close Date Open Until Filled No Special Instructions Summary

Required Documents

Required Documents

• Resume
• Cover Letter

Optional Documents

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).