Employment Opportunity: Director of Athletics
FULL-TIME SALARIED, WITH BENEFITS
The Director of Athletics at Canadian Mennonite University (CMU) supervises the varsity athletics program at CMU. This person will take a holistic approach to the Athletics Program, striving to develop student-athletes in a consistent manner with CMU’s mission statement alongside of their athletic development.
This person will understand university athletics within Manitoba and Canada, relate well to students and colleagues, have a keen awareness of the athletic, academic, and vocational needs of the students and the learning community. Reporting to the Dean of Student Life, the Director of Athletics will also work closely with the Student Life Team, Enrolment Services, and the Development office. This person also supervises the coaches and other Athletics Department staff. This person will participate in the broader Student Life vision and work with the Student Life team to deliver its programs.
Responsibilities
Administration / Staffing
- Hires, trains, supervises varsity teams and coaches, ensuring that programs meet the goals and expectations of the university and fall into compliance with the requirements of the MCAC, NIAC, and CCAA.
- Oversees all aspects of the Athletics budget including forecasting and day to day operations.
- Creates the season plan for each varsity program in collaboration with varsity coaches, including non-conference scheduling, travel planning, and league and tournament commitments.
- Serves as a member of the student life team collaborating with other areas of student affairs to report current issues and events, identify areas of concern and to link students with other student life programs.
- Collaborates with CMU Facilities and varsity team coaches and academic schedules to coordinate team practice times and game schedules.
- Serves in necessary leadership roles with CMU’s conference affiliations—MCAC, NIAC, and CCAA—in various capacities.
- Oversees CMU Athletic Therapy program and ensures privacy standards are kept with medical information of student-athletes.
- Liaises with Provincial and National Sport Organizations to represent the university.
Marketing and Development
- Collaborates with CMU Communications and Marketing to develop consistent strategies to grow the CMU Athletics brand within the marketing plans of the university.
- Ensures that varsity events message CMU’s mission and brand and creates spaces at events to promote key stakeholders and sponsors.
- Oversees the strategy and delivery of communications platforms; CMU Athletics website, social media accounts, Athletics documents, waivers and forms, on-campus communications, etc.
- Creates new streams of revenue for the Athletics budget including, but not limited to, business partnerships, advertising, booster events.
- Serves as the representative from the Athletics department on university fundraising initiatives earmarked for the Athletics budget (i.e., golf tournament).
Recruitment and Retention
- Works with CMU Admissions to represent Athletics to prospective student-athletes.
- Coordinates meetings between prospective students who are recruited by CMU coaches to ensure successful transitions from prospects to applicants to admits.
- Makes decisions regarding use of annual CMU financial awards reserved for varsity athletes by collaborating with coaches and the awards committee to select athletes.
- Creates and implements strategies that foster the success of student-athletes in collaboration with various CMU curricular and co-curricular agencies to support student retention and strong academic performances.
Public Relations
- Serves as the primary representative of CMU Athletics representing the university with the MCAC, NIAC, CCAA, Provincial and National Sport Organizations as well as coordinating media requests with coaches or athletes.
- May be required to take on public speaking engagements at internal or external functions to speak on behalf of CMU about the athletics program.
Management
- Oversees the Athletics Program Assistant
- Oversees all coaches and assistant coaches
- Liaises with Athletic Therapists
Qualifications
- A commitment to the Christian faith, the mission, purposes and programs of CMU
- Undergraduate degree in a relevant discipline would be an asset. Includes Human Kinetics, Physical Education, Business Operations, or Events Planning
- A minimum of 5 years of experience or the equivalent combination of education and experience
- Experience/knowledge of sport and student development is required
- Exceptional communications skills, both verbal and written
- Administrative experience and ability with strong organizational and problem-solving skills
- Passion for relating to students, and enthusiasm for working as part of a team
- Skilled in program development and implementation
- Able to mentor students and engage with faculty
- Able to respond effectively to sensitive inquiries and student issues
- Able to maintain effective working relationships with all departments and employees in a team-oriented environment
- Self-starter and history of innovation preferred
- Must be competent with Microsoft Office products
- Ability to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends and work well in a fast-paced, busy, and often loud environment
Inquiries should be directed to Dianna Robson, Director of Human Resources at 204.594.0532 or drobson@cmu.ca or Charlie Peronto, Dean of Student Life at cperonto@cmu.ca.
Applications will be reviewed upon receipt and accepted until this position is filled.
Applicants should email a resume (PDF or Word document), a cover letter, and the names of three references, in confidence to hrdirector@cmu.ca or to the Director of Human Resources, Canadian Mennonite University, 500 Shaftesbury Blvd Winnipeg, MB R3P 2N2.