Job Description

Department:

President's Office

Pay Rate Type:

Job Description

Department:

President's Office

Pay Rate Type:

Salary

Employee Type:

Job Summary:

About Colby College
Situated in central Maine, Colby College’s 714-acre campus, known as Mayflower Hill, is regarded as one of the most beautiful in the nation. As the 12th-oldest liberal arts college in the nation, founded in 1813, Colby’s history is extraordinary, but there has never been a more dynamic and exciting time for the College. Colby is in a period of fast-paced progress — defined by ambitious institutional priorities to reimagine student opportunity and postgraduate success. The College’s reputation and resources have expanded dramatically under President Greene’s leadership over the last six years. Applications have jumped from slightly more than 5,000 to more than 19,000 since 2015; the College extended its original $750 million comprehensive campaign, Dare Northward, to $1 billion; the College’s leaders and innovative programs have an increasingly visible presence in the national media; the city of Waterville is being transformed through a partnership with Colby and more than $200 million in collective investments; the Colby College Museum of Art, one of the finest college art museums in the country, is a destination for study and tourism alike; and faculty research and scholarship have been highlighted by multiple outlets.
As one of America’s most selective colleges, Colby is home to a community of dedicated, engaged, and diverse students from around the globe. The student body represents 45 states and 70 countries; nearly 15% are the first in their family to attend college, and more than 12% are non-U.S. citizens. Colby offers an academic program rooted in the deep exploration of ideas and enriched by partnerships with world-class faculty scholars. Colby reimagines the liberal arts experience — providing access to a global experience, research, and internships for all students regardless of their background. This integrated educational experience prepares Colby students to be critical and imaginative thinkers; intellectually curious, proficient communicators; and responsible and active global citizens.
About the Department of Athletics
Colby is a member of the New England Small College Athletic Conference (NESCAC) and has 32 intercollegiate sports that compete at the Division III level. The department also includes the campus recreation program and hosts a variety of club and intramural sports. Approximately 30% of Colby’s 2,300 students participate in intercollegiate sports and, in total, nearly three-quarters are involved in fitness and recreation activities in the department.

The College completed the construction of a new, state-of-the-art athletics complex, in 2020, which is among the best Division III facilities in the country. The 350,000 square-foot athletics center includes an indoor track and field competition center, aquatic center with Maine’s first 50-meter pool, squash center, gymnasium, hockey arena, strength and fitness center, training rooms, and coaching suites. Additionally, the College opened a 70-acre-plus outdoor competition center that consists of three gleaming new competition and recreational fields that are also among the finest outdoor venues in Division III. Located in central Maine, the College has incredible access to other outdoor venues such as the Belgrade Lakes and Sugarloaf Mountain Resort, one of the premier ski destinations on the east coast.

About the Position
Colby College seeks a strong, engaged, and adaptive leader to advance and articulate a clear and compelling mission, vision, and strategic plan for the Department of Athletics and Recreation to become one of the premier Division III programs in the country. Reporting to the Senior Vice President, the Harold Alfond Director of Athletics has significant interaction with the Department of Athletics and Recreation staff, faculty, students, alumni, donors, and outside constituencies. The Director will oversee all departmental activities, from a strategic level, in order to define, shape and advance Colby Athletics and Recreation as a recognized national leader. The Director must be committed to the highest level of excellence, while advancing Colby’s mission, values, and goals, and also must provide visionary, creative, and decisive leadership.

Duties and Responsibilities

• Serve as a collaborative and strategic member of the College’s senior leadership team;

• Provide strategic leadership to achieve College goals for competitiveness, student academic achievement, the student-athlete experience, compliance, financial management, and event attendance that reflects the mission and values of the College as a whole;

• Possess an appreciation for the importance of developing student-athletes who are both outstanding performers and individuals of character;

• Inspire and motivate students, faculty, staff, colleagues, alumni, and friends of the College through setting challenging, aggressive, winning goals and taking calculated risks to attain superior, measurable results in support of the mission, vision, and strategic plan;

• Guide and mentor coaches, as well as other athletics staff members, with a steadfast commitment to enhancing the student-athlete experience and success of the entire athletics and recreation program;

• Proactively build and maintain positive and collaborative working relationships with colleagues across campus, within the local community, regionally and nationally to enhance the department brand and the College mission;

• Possess high political and financial acumen with the ability to navigate and manage the evolving landscape of collegiate athletics and the role it plays within higher education;

• Demonstrate core competencies in the areas of leadership and vision, the development of a strategy to advance that vision, and the management and oversight of a complex organization to include, but not limited to: 32 intercollegiate sports, Communications/Sports Information, the Peak Performance program, Recreation Services, Sports Medicine, and Strength and Conditioning;

• Work collaboratively and diligently with College Advancement to provide effective, visionary leadership in creating and implementing a fundraising plan to increase giving for flexible support, in addition to the identification and solicitation of individuals, corporations and sponsors for annual giving, endowment, scholarship and major gift support, and capital projects;

• Develop, implement, and monitor policies and procedures that promote best practices, addresses personnel development, financial management, facility management, alumni and community relations, and compliance and regulatory expectations, and focuses on providing exceptional customer service and the presence of effective organizational structures and processes for assessment and improvement;

• Ability to recruit, lead, mentor, and retain a diverse pool of strong, ethical and talented coaches and administrators who are committed to excellence, diversity and inclusion, the welfare of the student-athletes, and professionalism.

• Effectively delegate specific responsibilities to ensure the efficient and productive operation of all administrative and operational business functions of the department;

• Participate actively in professional organizations through attendance at conferences, clinics and conventions as needed for an understanding of current developments within all areas of responsibility;

• Promote programs and generate fan support for student-athletes through developing and executing comprehensive marketing and communications strategies designed to enhance national awareness and generate revenues and resources for the College’s athletics department;

• Perform other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree is required; advanced degree is preferred;

• The successful candidate will have a demonstrated record of administrative leadership and accomplishment in university or college sports programs to include visionary strategic and operational leadership, creative and conceptual thinking and effective resources management; or equivalent management experience;

• A managerial style that is personable, inclusive, and demonstrates emotional intelligence and interpersonal skills; personal qualities that ensure the highest standards of honesty and integrity;

• Collaborative management approach, coupled with superior communication and relationship-building skills, strategic planning and budgeting competencies, experience in program development and assessment, including risk management, excellent problem-solving abilities, and a high degree of cultural competence demonstrating respect for the diversity of identities and experiences;

• Ability to promote the core values of the College and the role of athletics and recreation in its mission, including a rich understanding of student success;

• Demonstrate an understanding of how recreation plays a role with recruitment and retention of students to the university;

• Demonstrated ability to support the ongoing work and professional development of the administrative and coaching staffs through effectively setting, prioritizing managing multiple priorities, meeting deadlines, and working cooperatively within a team environment;

• Knowledge of the principles of intercollegiate athletics administration, budgeting and personnel management, NCAA Division III rules and regulations, Title IX compliance, gender equity, and diversity.

Application Process

Colby College invites nominations and applications or expressions of interest to be submitted to the search firm assisting the College. Applications must include a cover letter, resume or curriculum vitae, and list of references. For full consideration, application materials should be submitted to Parker Executive Search’s website. Confidential review of materials will begin immediately and continue until the appointment is made.

For additional information, please contact:

Daniel Parker, Vice President and Managing Director

DeLaina Sarden, Principal

Gray McGee, Executive Recruiting Coordinator

danielparker@parkersearch.com | dsarden@parkersearch.com | gmcgee@parkersearch.com

Parker Executive Search

770-804-1996 ext. 119 | 770-804-1996 ext. 123

Colby is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and operates in accordance with federal and state laws regarding nondiscrimination.