Assistant Director, Student-Athlete Career Development

POSITION SUMMARY

Reporting directly to the Associate Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Enhancement, this position advances the successful athletic-to-career transition of student-athletes by delivering targeted programming, individualized advising, and employer engagement initiatives. The role emphasizes holistic student-athlete development through the cultivation and maintenance of strong internal and external partnerships, including Tampa Bay professionals and USF alumni.

Career Development Oversight

• Provide individualized and cohort-based career advising to student-athletes, including career exploration, résumé and cover letter development, LinkedIn optimization, interview preparation, and job search strategies.
• Assist student-athletes in identifying career interests and translating athletic and leadership experiences into marketable professional competencies.
• Develop and deliver workshops and programming focused on career readiness, workplace professionalism, networking, negotiation, and life skills.
• Support and collaborate with the Selmon Mentoring Institute to align career development initiatives with mentoring programming.

Programming & Event Coordination

• Plan, coordinate, and implement career development programming tailored to the unique schedules and competitive demands of student-athletes.
• Organize and execute career-related events, including career fairs, networking opportunities, mock interviews, internship preparation sessions, and senior transition programming.

Employer, Alumni & Community Engagement

• Develop and maintain relationships with employers, alumni, and industry professionals to expand job shadowing, mentorship, internship, and employment opportunities for student-athletes.
• Serve as the primary liaison to the USF Career and Professional Development (CCPD) office to align resources and opportunities.

Assessment, Documentation & Reporting

• Track and maintain data related to student-athlete internships, employment opportunities, and post-graduate placement outcomes.
• Assist in the design, development, and promotion of the unit’s annual report and other impact documentation.

International Student-Athlete Advisor

• Provide individualized advising and support to international student-athletes.
• Oversee and support the International Student-Athlete Club (iSAC).
• Serve as primary liaison to the USF Office of International Services to ensure compliance and appropriate support structures.

Professional Development & Innovation

• Actively pursue ongoing professional development opportunities.
• Research, evaluate, and recommend innovative best practices to ensure programming remains current, effective, and aligned with industry standards.
• Secure appropriate approvals and implement new initiatives when warranted.
• Continuously assess and enhance programming while maintaining alignment with unit goals and strategic priorities.
• Effectively communicate new concepts, ideas, and recommendations to staff and supervisor.

Additional Areas of Student-Athlete Enhancement

• Serve as unit liaison for assigned sport teams.
• Assist with and promote recruiting efforts with sport teams and coaches as appropriate.
• Support additional areas of Student-Athlete Enhancement programming outside of primary oversight when needed to ensure operational efficiency across the unit.

Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required with at least one (1) year of experience in a student affairs or student personnel position; or
• Master’s degree in Higher Education, College Student Personnel, Sports Recreation Administration, or related field.
• Work experience may not substitute for the Bachelor’s degree requirement.
• Degree Equivalency Clause: Four years of direct experience for a bachelor’s degree.
  • Senate Bill 1310- The Florida Senate (https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2023/1310) is conditional upon meeting all employment eligibility requirements in the U.S.
  • SB 1310: Substitution of Work Experience for Postsecondary Education Requirements
  • A public employer may include a postsecondary degree as a baseline requirement only as an alternative to the number of years of direct experience required, not to exceed:
  • (a) Two years of direct experience for an associate degree;
  • (b) Four years of direct experience for a bachelor’s degree;
  • (c) Six years of direct experience for a master’s degree;
  • (d) Seven years of direct experience for a professional deg