Associate Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Development

Department: Intercollegiate Athletics

Classification: Professional Faculty

Job Category: Administrative or Professional Faculty

Job Type: Full-Time

Work Schedule: Full-Time

Location: Fairfax, VA

Workplace Type: On Site Required

Salary: Salary commensurate with education and experience

Criminal Background Check: Yes

About the Department:

To unite communities by developing champions with a mission to inspire and transform lives through the power of sports. Intercollegiate Athletics (ICA) serves 500 student-athletes in 22 NCAA Division I sports. We are a proud member of the Atlantic 10 Conference with 17 Conference Championships, NCAA Championships in Women’s Soccer and Men’s Indoor Track, an NCAA Final Four appearance with Men’s Basketball, and over 30 individual National Champions. We are student-focused, education-centered, and committed to providing transformational experiences for our student-athletes and staff. Our five priorities are Student-Athlete Experience, Competition, Resources, Storytelling & Engagement, and Championship Culture.

About the Position:

The Associate Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Development is responsible for developing, implementing, and supporting student-athletes, both current and former, in various aspects of their lives to ensure academic, athletic, personal, and professional success. The role oversees the creation and execution of a comprehensive support system aimed at fostering career development and providing life skills education. Additionally, the position supervises the staff at the Athletic Academic Resource Center to ensure that student-athletes receive the necessary guidance and resources to succeed academically, maintain eligibility, and graduate. The position serves as the Academic Coordinator for Men's Basketball, offering academic support, monitoring progress, and collaborating with coaching staff to help student-athletes effectively balance their athletic and academic commitments. Collaboration with administrators, coaches, staff, and university personnel will be essential to create and implement strategies that promote academic achievement, student-athlete retention, and graduation. Ultimately, the goal of this position is to assist student-athletes in navigating their educational journey and preparing them for success after their collegiate athletic careers.

Travel may be required for team events and competitions. Flexible hours, including evenings and weekends, to accommodate student-athlete schedules.

Responsibilities:

Career Development

• Career Education
  • Offers career advising sessions to explore professional interests, goals, and develop action plans;
  • Provides support with resume writing, cover letters, and job applications;
• Professional Development
  • Hosts workshops on job search strategies, interview techniques, negation and professional etiquette;
  • Develops and maintains university and community partnerships to facilitate internships, co-op programs, and job shadowing opportunities;
  • Administers and interprets career-related assessments to identity and provide coaching for individual talents and strengths; and
• Networking Opportunities
  • Creates alumni networks to foster community and engagement between current and former student-athletes in their career fields.

Life Skills Training

• Professional Development Workshops
  • Hosts sessions on a variety of topics such as financial literacy, nutrition, mental health, and stress management;
  • Provides training on leadership, communication and conflict resolution skills;
• Civic Responsibility
  • Promotes participation and engagement in campus and community initiatives. 

Leadership Development and Transition Support 

• Leadership Programs
  • Develops leadership academies and workshop to cultivate leadership skills;
  • Offers opportunities for student-athletes to participate in leadership roles within their teams and the broader university; and
  • Serves as institutional SAAC liaison, serving as resource to student-athlete committee members for administrative duties.
• Mentorship
  • Develops mentoring programs that connect student-athletes with coaches, alumni, and professionals; and
  • Encourages peer mentoring wi