Assistant Director - Competitive Sports

Vanderbilt University•Nashville, TN

About The Position

The Assistant Director of Competitive Sports provides leadership and oversight for Vanderbilt University's intramural and club sports programs. The role promotes student engagement, leadership development, inclusion, and belonging through recreational experiences. It provides advising and operational support for Club Sports and partners with Student Affairs to strengthen support for Registered Student Organizations (RSOs), student leadership, and shared organizational responsibilities. The Assistant Director supervises and develops student employees, oversees sports equipment, monitors playing-field conditions, coordinates recreational facility needs, and supports responsible risk management, operational excellence, and continuous program improvement. The position contributes to Vanderbilt Recreation's mission of creating opportunities for students to be well, belong, and thrive. The role requires a flexible schedule, including evenings, weekends, and occasional on-call responsibilities. The Assistant Director serves as a Professional on Duty (PoD), providing operational leadership through scheduled facility shifts and on-call coverage as needed. The position supervises more than 20 part-time and student employees.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree required.
Minimum of two years of professional experience in student affairs, campus recreation, student engagement, student organization advising, or a related field.
Experience supervising, training, mentoring, or developing student employees or student leaders.
Experience with program planning, coordination, and assessment.
Experience with budget management, purchasing, or financial processes.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic environment.
Ability to establish and maintain positive working relationships with students, faculty, staff, campus partners, and community stakeholders.
Ability to exercise sound judgment, maintain confidentiality, and provide exceptional customer service.
Ability to adapt to changing priorities, operational needs, and evolving departmental initiatives.
Ability to lift and move equipment weighing up to 40 pounds.
Current American Red Cross CPR/AED and First Aid certification, or ability to obtain it within 90 days of hire.
Flexible work schedule, including evenings, weekends, and occasional on-call responsibilities.

Nice To Haves

Master's degree preferred.
American Red Cross CPR/AED and First Aid Instructor certification preferred.

Responsibilities

Provide leadership, advising, and operational support for Club Sports, fostering student engagement, leadership development, belonging, accountability, sportsmanship, and responsible organizational management.
Partner with Student Affairs, particularly its Student Organizations, Leadership, and Service team, to align Club Sports with University expectations and policies for Registered Student Organizations.
Collaborate with Student Affairs and campus partners on advising practices, organizational responsibilities, student organization initiatives, and leadership development opportunities.
Mentor Club Sports officers, student leaders, and coaches on leadership, financial responsibility, accountability, and safe participation.
Coordinate safe and compliant Club Sports practices, competitions, travel, and other activities with student leaders and campus partners.
Work with Student Affairs, University Risk Management, and other stakeholders to support compliance with University policies, organizational requirements, and sport-specific safety standards.
Oversee Recreation's Club Sports financial processes, including funding distribution, account management, purchasing, and student financial stewardship.
Support Club Sports administration, including participant records, organizational documentation, recreation management systems, and required reporting.
Assess Club Sports participation, student development outcomes, and program effectiveness; use findings to improve the student experience.
Recognize Club Sports achievements, student leadership, organizational excellence, and contributions to the Vanderbilt community.
Lead intramural sports programs to promote inclusion, student engagement, teamwork, sportsmanship, and personal development.
Recruit, hire, train, supervise, and evaluate student employees, providing leadership development, mentorship, and professional growth opportunities.
Maintain an active presence at intramural activities and guide and support student employees and participants.
Develop and coordinate intramural leagues, tournaments, and special events, including scheduling, facility reservations, staffing, and administration through designated recreation management systems.
Create accessible and inclusive recreational opportunities that respond to student interests, abilities, and competition levels, including alternative and nontraditional formats.
Develop, communicate, and administer intramural policies, procedures, and playing rules in alignment with University expectations and risk management practices.
Address participant conduct and resolve conflicts to promote accountability and sportsmanship and support learning and development.
Coordinate facilities, staffing, and resources for intramural programming with campus partners and Recreation colleagues.
Oversee intramural operating expenditures, student employee payroll, and stewardship of program resources.
Assess intramural participation trends, student experiences, and program outcomes to inform programming and use of facilities and resources.
Oversee sports equipment and recreational playing fields to promote safe, accessible, and high-quality participant experiences.
Regularly assess playing-field conditions and identify safety concerns, maintenance needs, and opportunities for improvement.
Coordinate field maintenance and long-term care of recreational spaces with University Facilities, grounds personnel, and campus partners.
Oversee inventory, purchasing, storage, maintenance, and replacement planning for sports equipment used across Competitive Sports programs.
Coordinate field use, scheduling, and facility readiness for practices, competitions, special events, and other recreational activities.
Develop equipment management practices and field assessment procedures that promote accountability, resource stewardship, and operational efficiency.
Identify ways to maximize recreational spaces and equipment while balancing program needs, safety, and University resources.
Support departmental safety initiatives, including CPR/AED/First Aid instruction, emergency preparedness, and staff training as needed.
Collaborate on program marketing, communications, outreach, and student engagement initiatives.
Implement and uphold University and Recreation policies, risk management practices, and applicable compliance standards.
Participate in departmental initiatives, campus committees, professional development, and collaborative efforts supporting Vanderbilt Recreation and Student Affairs.
Serve as Professional on Duty through scheduled facility shifts and on-call coverage as needed.
Perform other duties as assigned in support of departmental and University priorities.