Assistant Athletics Director for Administration (Executive Advisor I)

Overview

Working with a high degree of independence and discretion, the Executive Advisor anticipates organizational needs, identifies opportunities for improvement, and provides objective recommendations that support informed executive decision-making. The position leads complex cross-functional initiatives, builds collaborative partnerships across the institution, and represents the executive in meetings, committees, and strategic discussions.

 

This role does not directly supervise employees but leads through influence, collaboration, and project leadership. This role reports to the Vice President and Director of Athletics.

Responsibilities

Strategic Executive Advising

• Serve as a trusted advisor by providing strategic counsel on organizational priorities, emerging issues, institutional risks, and long-term planning.
• Research, evaluate, and synthesize complex information from multiple sources into concise recommendations that support executive decision-making.
• Anticipate challenges and opportunities, proactively identifying solutions before issues impact organizational objectives.
• Advise executive leadership on organizational effectiveness, operational performance, governance, resource allocation, and strategic initiatives.
• Prepare executive briefings, talking points, presentations, reports, and decision materials for executive meetings, governing boards, and external stakeholders.

Strategic Initiative Leadership

• Lead complex, high-impact initiatives that advance institutional priorities and strategic objectives.
• Develop implementation strategies, project governance structures, timelines, and accountability measures for executive initiatives.
• Coordinate efforts across multiple colleges, divisions, departments, and administrative units to ensure successful execution of strategic priorities.
• Facilitate cross-functional collaboration among leaders with differing priorities while maintaining focus on institutional goals.
• Monitor progress of executive initiatives, identify implementation risks, and recommend corrective actions when necessary.

Organizational Strategy & Effectiveness

• Evaluate organizational structures, business processes, and operational practices to identify opportunities for increased effectiveness and organizational performance.
• Lead organizational assessments, process improvement efforts, and strategic planning activities that support continuous improvement.
• Develop recommendations to improve organizational alignment, service delivery, governance, communication, and resource utilization.
• Facilitate strategic planning sessions, leadership retreats, and executive workgroups that establish organizational priorities and measurable outcomes.
• Promote a culture of innovation, collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Executive Operations & Governance

• Coordinate executive priorities by aligning strategic initiatives, organizational activities, and executive commitments.
• Develop executive dashboards, metrics, and reporting tools that provide visibility into organizational performance.
• Ensure executive decisions are communicated, implemented, and monitored across the organization.
• Support governance committees, advisory councils, and executive leadership teams through agenda development, meeting facilitation, follow-up actions, and strategic coordination.
• Maintain awareness of institutional initiatives to identify interdependencies and opportunities for collaboration.

Relationship Management & Executive Representation

• Represent the executive in meetings, committees, planning sessions, and institutional initiatives as assigned.
• Build collaborative relationships with university leadership, faculty, staff, governing bodies, external organizations, and community partners.
• Foster communication and alignment among organizational leaders to advance shared institutional priorities.
• Serve as a trusted liaison between executive leadership and internal or external stakeholders while exercising diplomacy, sound judgment, and political awareness.
• Promote executive priorities through effective communication, relationship building, and collaborative leadership.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent advanced learning attained through professional-level experience required.
• Eight years of relevant work experience is required.
• Must be able to work a flexible schedule that includes evenings, weekends, and occasional travel to support Athletics operations, events, and in