Associate Vice President and Director of Athletics
EXPIRED
Posted Date: Mar 04, 2025
Expired Date: May 16, 2025QUALIFICATION
-
Salary Expectation
Unknown -
Years of Experience
Not provided -
Work Type
Full-time
ABOUT PROGRAM
SPORTS/DEPARTMENT
Posting Details
Job Posting Information
Position Type
Administrative Staff
Classification Title
Administrative Staff
Position Title
Associate Vice President and Director of Athletics
Position Number
Posting Details
Job Posting Information
Position Type
Administrative Staff
Classification Title
Administrative Staff
Position Title
Associate Vice President and Director of Athletics
Position Number
A00038
Pay Grade Level
AD 01
Salary
Department
Athletics
Posting Number
S 121301443
Full or Part Time
Full Time
Number of Months
Position End Date
FTE
1
Work Schedule
Basic Function
The associate vice president and director of athletics (
AVP
/AD) oversees all aspects of Denison University’s
NCAA
Division
III
athletic program, campus recreation, and physical education, including staff supervision, development and oversight of budgets, and facility operations. Reporting to the president, with matrixed reporting to the provost for purposes of coaches with faculty appointments, and the vice president for student life with a focus on the student experience, the
AVP
/AD provides a clear vision of the role and mission of athletics and demonstrates leadership and management that foster excellence across the division. The
AVP
/AD will be responsible for cultivating a departmental culture rooted in integrity and a commitment to the holistic development of student-athletes. The
AVP
/AD and their staff set the tone for how student-athletes embody Denison’s values in competition and the broader community. The
AVP
/AD will oversee a department of 26 intercollegiate sports, 100 full-time and part-time coaches and staff, approximately 650 student-athletes, 350 student employees, and a $2.4 million operating budget, not including endowed funds. The
AVP
/AD is a member of the president’s senior staff.
Essential Job Functions
Execute a long-term strategic plan that includes academic and athletic achievement, capital expansion, staffing, facilities, fundraising, and alumni engagement.
Promote and further an academic and athletic culture that supports and serves student-athletes, including high academic achievement, leadership skill development, and participation in all aspects of university life.
Offer varsity and recreational athletics to students with varying interests and skills, including club and intramural sports.
Oversee and strengthen all varsity sports to be competitive at the championship level.
Onboard, mentor, and develop all coaches and staff associated with the division. Full-time head coaches also have faculty status and teach within the physical education program.
Identify and cultivate sources of major gifts and support for Denison athletics.
Oversee the organization and administration of the Denison Gold Club.
Represent Denison University’s mission and strategic priorities while maintaining
NCAA
, Title IX, and North Coast Athletics Conference (
NCAC
) compliance regulations.
Ensure effective recruitment of student-athletes and maintain collaborative relationships with enrollment management.
Work in partnership with the program director of health, exercise, and sport studies (
HESS
) to manage shared facilities and ongoing research collaborations with athletics.
Recruit, hire, and manage qualified coaching, athletic training, and administrative staff including but not limited to performance assessments, goal and objective results and achievements, and personal and professional development.
Minimum Qualifications
A master’s degree and significant, progressive leadership experience in collegiate athletics administration is required; coaching experience is strongly preferred. The successful candidate will possess a comprehensive understanding of intercollegiate athletics administration, student-athlete development, facilities management and resourcing,
NCAA
and Title IX compliance within a Division
III
environment, and the role of fundraising in supporting strategic and operational objectives. A collaborative management approach, coupled with superior communication and relationship-building skills, strong planning and fiscal competencies, an understanding of the role of enrollment at a small private college, a familiarity with program development and assessment including risk management, excellent problem-solving abilities, and a high degree of cultural competence demonstrating respect for diversity of identities and experiences will be important considerations in the selection of the next
AVP
/AD.
Preferred Qualifications
In addition to the qualifications stated above, key Denison stakeholders identified the following capabilities and attributes of a successful
AVP
/AD candidate:
Developer of People: Invested in mentoring coaches, empowering staff, and creating a departmental culture of shared values, integrity, and accountability.
Champion of Division
III
Athletics: Articulates the “student first” mission and philosophy and communicates its value to the campus and community.
Student-Centered Advocate: Connected to students, prioritizes their development and supports a holistic collegiate experience.
Inclusive & Relational Leader: Bridge builder who collaborates across campus, fosters a culture of trust and fairness, and ensures all staff and student-athletes feel valued and respected regardless of their background or sport.
Adaptable & Forward-Thinker: Nimble in responding to the evolving athletic landscape, trendsetter, and innovative.
Engaged in the National Landscape: Understands trends in collegiate athletics, networks with peer institutions, and stays ahead of industry changes.
Strategic Institutional Leader: Aligns athletics with university priorities, fosters cross-campus partnerships, and contributes to institutional goals.
Strong Communicator & Advocate: Trustworthy, savvy, and comfortable engaging with diverse stakeholders, including alumni and donors.
Resourceful & Visionary: Invested in fundraising, facility development, and leveraging technology for innovation.
Physical Demands
Contact(s)
Anne-Marie Kenney, Sr. Search Consultant, Spelman Johnson
Contact Phone/Extension
Contact Email
amk@spelmanandjohnson.com
Open Date
03/03/2025
Close Date
Open Until Filled
Yes
Special Instructions to Applicants
Applications must be submitted via the instructions below:
Denison has partnered with Spelman Johnson on the search for the next
Associate Vice President and Director of Athletics
.
Interested candidates can learn more and apply directly at: https://spelmanandjohnson.com...
Applicants needing reasonable accommodation to participate in the application process should contact Spelman Johnson at 413-529-2895 or email info@spelmanjohnson.com .
Additional Information
Denison University Background Check Statement
The final candidate will undergo a background check as a conditional offer of employment.
Denison University EEO Statement
Denison is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran or disability status.
Title IX Notice: Sex discrimination is prohibited by federal law through Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972. Denison does not discriminate on the basis of sex in the education programs or activities that it operates including admissions and employment. For Denison’s official Notice of Non-Discrimination, please visit https://denison.edu/forms/non-discrimination-notice . You can learn more about Title IX at Denison at https://denison.edu/campus/title-ix .
Posting Supplemental Questions
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Applicant Documents
Required Documents
Optional Documents
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