Senior Associate Athletics Director for External Affairs

Primary Responsibilities

Executive Leadership

• Serve as a trusted advisor and member of the Athletics Department senior leadership team.

• Represent the Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics at meetings, events, and donor functions as assigned.

• Provide strategic leadership on departmental initiatives and operational priorities.

• Assist with the development and implementation of long-term departmental strategic goals.

Donor Relations and Stewardship

• Lead the cultivation, engagement, and stewardship of athletics donors in partnership with the Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics.

• Serve as an extension of the Vice President in building and maintaining meaningful relationships with alumni, donors, community leaders, and athletics supporters.

• Identify opportunities to strengthen donor engagement and enhance the overall donor experience.

• Collaborate closely with University Advancement to create a unified fundraising strategy that maximizes philanthropic support for Bradley Athletics.

• Coordinate donor visits, stewardship activities, and special recognition opportunities.

Revenue Sharing Administration

• Serve as the department's administrator for all student-athlete revenue sharing agreements.

• Coordinate the development, execution, tracking, and management of revenue sharing contracts.

• Ensure compliance with applicable NCAA, conference, institutional, and legal requirements.

• Work collaboratively with university leadership and external legal counsel regarding contract administration and implementation.

Financial Administration

• Assist in the oversight and management of the Athletics Department operating budget.

• Oversee athletics scholarship budget administration, monitoring scholarship allocations and expenditures.

• Support financial planning efforts that align departmental priorities with available resources.

Human Resources and Contract Administration

• Manage coach and athletics-related employment contracts from development through execution.

• Serve as the Athletics Department liaison to the University's Human Resources Office.

• Coordinate employment processes including appointments, contract renewals, compensation actions, and related personnel matters.

• Assist department leadership with organizational planning and staffing initiatives.

Sport Administration

• Serve as the sport administrator for the Cross Country and Track & Field programs.

• Provide leadership, guidance, and evaluation for head coaches while supporting student-athlete success.

• Monitor competitive performance, budget management, scheduling, personnel matters, and program operations.

Strategic Partnerships

• Serve as the primary Athletics Department contact for key partnership agreements.

• Manage relationships and operational coordination with external partners, including the Peoria Civic Center and Louisville Slugger.

• Ensure contractual obligations are fulfilled while identifying opportunities to enhance strategic partnerships.

• Coordinate with campus and community stakeholders to maximize the value of external agreements.

Wheels Club Management

• Provide leadership and operational oversight for the Bradley Athletics Wheels Club.

• Coordinate membership engagement, events, communications, and annual initiatives.

Collaboration and Relationship Building

• Foster strong collaborative relationships across campus, including University Advancement, Finance, Human Resources, Legal Affairs, Student Affairs, and Academic Affairs.

• Promote a culture of teamwork, transparency, and service excellence throughout the Athletics Department.

• Represent Bradley Athletics with professionalism and integrity in interactions with campus and community constituents.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution.

• Significant progressive leadership experience in NCAA Division I athletics administration, higher education, fundraising, or a related field.

• Demonstrated experience managing complex projects, budgets, and administrative operations.

• Knowledge of NCAA rules, conference regulations, and collegiate athletics governance.

• Strong interpersonal, communication, and relationship-building skills.

• Experience working collaboratively with donors, alumni, university leadership, and external partners.

• Exceptional organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree or Juris Doctor.

• Experience in donor cultivation, major gifts, or athletics development.

• Experience overseeing NCAA compliance operations.

• Experience administering employment or revenue sharing contracts.

• Experience supervising Division I sport programs.

• Familiarity with Title IX compliance and gender equity initiatives.

• Demonstrated success leading strategic initiatives within an athletics department.

Core Competencies

• Strategic Leadership

• Relationship Management

• Donor Engagement

• Financial Stewardship

• Contract Administration

• NCAA Compliance

• Organizational Collaboration

• Communication and Diplomacy

• Problem Solving

• Ethical Decision-Making