Assistant Director - Competitive Sports

Vanderbilt University•Nashville, TN

5d•Onsite

About The Position

The Assistant Director of Competitive Sports provides leadership and oversight for Vanderbilt University's intramural and club sports programs. The role fosters student engagement, leadership development, inclusion, and belonging through recreational experiences. It provides leadership, advising, and operational support for Club Sports and builds partnerships with Student Affairs to support Registered Student Organizations and student leadership. The Assistant Director supervises and develops student employees, oversees sports equipment and 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 is exempt and requires a flexible schedule that includes evenings, weekends, and occasional on-call responsibilities. The Assistant Director also serves as a Professional on Duty, providing operational leadership during 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.
Current American Red Cross CPR/AED and First Aid certification, or ability to obtain it within 90 days of hire.
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 departmental initiatives.
Ability to lift and move equipment weighing up to 40 pounds.
Flexible schedule that includes 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, promoting student engagement, leadership development, inclusion, accountability, sportsmanship, and responsible organizational management.
Partner with Student Affairs, especially its Student Organizations, Leadership, and Service team, to align Club Sports with University expectations and Registered Student Organization policies and practices.
Collaborate with campus partners to strengthen shared advising, clarify organizational responsibilities, and support student organization initiatives and leadership development.
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 activities with student leaders and campus partners.
Work with Student Affairs, University Risk Management, and other stakeholders on University policy, organizational requirements, and sport-specific safety standards.
Oversee Club Sports financial processes, including funding distribution, account management, purchasing, and student financial stewardship.
Support Club Sports administrative processes, including participant records, organizational documentation, recreation management systems, and required reporting.
Assess Club Sports participation, student development outcomes, and program effectiveness; recognize student leadership and organizational achievements.
Lead intramural sports programs and promote engagement, teamwork, sportsmanship, inclusion, and personal development.
Recruit, hire, train, supervise, and evaluate student employees, providing mentorship and leadership-development opportunities.
Maintain an active presence at intramural activities and provide guidance to employees and participants.
Develop and coordinate intramural leagues, tournaments, and special events, including scheduling, facility reservations, staffing, and program administration.
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 rules in alignment with University expectations and risk-management practices.
Address participant conduct and conflicts, promoting accountability and sportsmanship and supporting learning and development.
Coordinate facilities, staffing, and resources with campus partners and Recreation colleagues.
Oversee intramural operational expenditures, student employee payroll, and responsible use of program resources.
Assess intramural participation trends, student experiences, and outcomes to improve programming and use of facilities and resources.
Oversee sports equipment and recreational playing fields to promote safe, accessible, quality participant experiences.
Monitor playing-field conditions and identify safety concerns, maintenance needs, and opportunities for improvement.
Coordinate field maintenance and long-term care with University Facilities, grounds personnel, and campus partners.
Oversee sports equipment inventory, purchasing, storage, maintenance, and replacement planning.
Coordinate field usage, scheduling, and facility readiness for practices, competitions, events, and other recreational activities.
Develop equipment-management and field-assessment practices that support accountability and operational efficiency; identify ways to make effective use of spaces and equipment.
Support departmental safety initiatives, including CPR/AED/First Aid instruction, emergency preparedness, and staff training as needed.
Support marketing, communications, outreach, and student engagement initiatives with Recreation colleagues and campus partners.
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; perform other duties as assigned.