Director Of Athletics

Date: 2/12/2024
Title: Director of Athletics
Description: Hartwick College is seeking a visionary Director of Athletics to play a pivotal role in shaping the future of its athletic department, fostering a culture of collaboration, community partnership, and advancing the College's commitment to excellence in both academics and athletics. Reporting to the Vice President for Enrollment Management and Athletics, the Director oversees the management and administration of our 19 Division III varsity sports, and intramural programs while providing strategic leadership and operational guidance to the department.
The AD is a respected member of the internal and external community and will be a member of the President’s Cabinet. The AD will be a dynamic leader who can champion college and department values and elevate our athletic programs on multiple fronts. This position is responsible for all long and short-term planning, strategic thinking and tactical execution. The AD will be an experienced recruiter and seasoned fundraiser who has the opportunity to make a lasting impact on the lives of Hartwick College students.
Responsibilities:
1. Leadership and Management:

• Provide visionary leadership for the athletic department, setting clear goals and strategies in alignment with the college's mission.
• Cultivate a culture of teamwork, collaboration, accountability, and support within the athletic department.
• Lead the selection, management and mentoring of all coaching and administrative staff within the department.
• Development and management of the annual operating budget for the Department of Athletics.
• Uphold and promote the core values of passion, clear communication, camaraderie, strategic thinking, support, and fundraising within the athletic department.
• Demonstrate a commitment to fostering a positive and inclusive culture.
• Develop and implement a strategic vision for the athletic department, focusing on facility upgrades, logistical support for new and current teams, and enhancing competitiveness.
• Collaborate with relevant stakeholders to achieve the department's long-term goals.

2. Recruitment and Retention:

• Support enrollment and retention efforts by enhancing the student-athlete experience, setting and achieving annual recruitment and retention goals.
• Collaborate with other departments to accommodate the recruitment and retention success across all student populations.

3. Communication and Relationship Building:

• Establish and maintain effective communication channels with coaches, athletes, faculty, staff, and external stakeholders.
• Prioritize relationship building with alumni, donors, and the Oneonta community to enhance support for the athletic department.

4. Fundraising:

• Lead fundraising efforts to support the athletic department's initiatives, collaborating with colleagues in the College’s Division of Institutional Advancement to engage alumni and community members.
• Serve on standing and appointed committees as requested for athletic fundraising.
• Cultivate relationships with major donors, alumni, and community partners to increase philanthropic contributions.
• Explore innovative revenue-generating opportunities, such as sponsorships, partnerships, and special events.
• Develop and implement a sustainable 5-year fundraising plan that aligns with the strategic goals of the athletic department.

5. Compliance:

• Expected to comply with all applicable College, Federal, State, local and associational laws, rules and regulations, as well as conference and NCAA policies, and Title IX guidelines.

6. Facilities Management:

• Oversee athletic facilities, including track, stadiums, and fields. Contribute and collaborate on facilities improvement projects.
• Address logistical challenges related to team space, training rooms and other campus spaces that impact the student-athlete experience.

Perform other job-related duties as assigned by the direct supervisor and/or College president.
Participate in significant campus activities including Welcome Weekend, True Blue Weekend, and Commencement Weekend.
As a representative of the College, expected to comport oneself in a professional manner at all times, both on and off campus.
Requirements
Minimum requirements for this position are a Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university; Master’s degree preferred. The position requires a minimum of 5-7 years of experience as an athletic director, and experience in Division III athletics, demonstrating an understanding of this level’s unique challenges and opportunities.

• Proven leadership skills with a focus on strategic planning and execution.
• Excellent communication and relationship-building skills.
• Fundraising experience and the ability to engage alumni and community partners.
• Prior experience as a collegiate coach is a plus.
• Have an understanding and commitment to the role of intercollegiate athletics in a small liberal arts college.
• Expert level of knowledge on NCAA Division III rules and regulations, Title IX rules and regulations.
• Demonstrated leadership, proven fiscal and personnel management skills.
• Proven ability to develop long-term, written strategic plans.
• Strong personal and professional values and passion for clear communication, building camaraderie, and supporting/mentoring colleagues.
• Ability to work with and lead a diverse population of students, faculty, staff, alumni and community to foster a strong sense of belonging within the department and campus community.
• Knowledge of computer software including Google, Microsoft, Ellucian Colleague, Technolutions Slate and FrontRush.
• Strong interpersonal, organizational and time management skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Clean driving record and valid driver’s license.

The College strongly recommends that all employees are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 (full course of primary vaccination plus at least one dose of a booster).
Pay Range: $105,000 - $125,000
An independent, residential liberal arts college enrolling approximately 1,200 full-time undergraduates, Hartwick embraces the teacher-scholar model, with teaching excellence as the first priority, and seeks to recruit, retain and promote a diverse workforce. The College features a Liberal Arts in Practice general education curriculum and aspires to “be the best at melding liberal arts education with experiential learning.”
Hartwick operates as a community of learners where there is a very real sense of belonging and connection. By joining Hartwick, you become part of a group of people who work together, share in our successes, and a celebrate our accomplishments. All positions at Hartwick contribute to the education and development of students with the opportunity to see the impact on future leaders—what you do at Hartwick really matters.
Our beautiful 425-acre campus is located in the scenic Susquehanna River valley in Oneonta, New York—a charming town near the northern foothills of the Catskill Mountains. Hartwick offers health benefits to domestic partners of employees, flexible scheduling, opportunities to engage in athletic and cultural events (concerts, exhibits, and lectures) and tuition benefits for eligible employees and their dependents.
Hartwick College prohibits discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation/preference and gender identity/expression and is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to broadening “the understanding, awareness, and appreciation of diversity among all members of the Hartwick community.” Women, minorities, and other underrepresented groups are especially encouraged to apply.
Hartwick College is committed to providing a safe and secure educational and employment environment. Employment at Hartwick College is therefore contingent upon a successful background check on every new employee. Candidates to whom an offer of employment is made will be required to sign a Release of Information Form authorizing the College to conduct a thorough background check.
Hartwick College is committed to a diverse candidate pool, values an inclusive workforce and workplace environment, and wishes to minimize or eliminate the impact of implicit bias during the search and hiring process.
All applicants are asked to submit the following materials with their online applications:

• A cover letter;
• A resume;
• A Diversity Statement that addresses how your past and/or potential contributions to diversity will support Hartwick College’s Diversity Statement (https://www.hartwick.edu/campus-life/intercultural-affairs/diversity-at-hartwick/); and
• The names and contact information for three references, with annotation regarding how the reference is related to you and your work (at least one of your references must be from a current and/or previous supervisor).

Review of applications will continue until the position is filled.