Associate Athletic Director for Internal Ops

California State University•Fresno, CA

8d•Onsite

About The Position

The Associate Athletic Director for Internal Operations serves as a leader within the Department of Athletics, providing strategic oversight of facilities & event operations, equipment room operations, and assigned sport programs, and providing operational direction to the IT staff assigned to Athletics. This position is responsible for ensuring operational excellence across all athletic facilities and home competitions while advancing a safe, fiscally responsible, and high-quality environment that supports student-athlete success and enhances the fan experience. As a key member of the Athletics senior leadership team, the Associate AD provides direct supervision of assigned sport programs and oversees all competitive scheduling, fiscal accountability, purchasing operations, and coach development across all sport programs. The role serves as a primary liaison among coaches, student-athletes, campus partners, and external stakeholders, ensuring alignment with departmental values, institutional priorities, and NCAA standards. This position assists with long-term facilities and capital planning initiatives, oversees event management strategy and execution, helps centralize sport program purchasing, and collaborates closely with the Athletic Business Office on budget management, cost and revenue analysis, and fiscal/budget training for coaches & staff. The Associate AD establishes operational standards, drives cross-department collaboration, and contributes to strategic initiatives related to facilities growth, competitive excellence, and conference alignment. Through proactive leadership, data-informed decision-making, and a commitment to service excellence, the Associate Athletic Director for Internal Operations plays a critical role in advancing the department’s operational integrity, financial stewardship, and overall strategic vision.

Requirements

Demonstrated knowledge of NCAA rules, compliance requirements, and athletics operations.
Ability to supervise staff and/or head coaches, including performance management and professional development.
Knowledge of strategic planning and budget principles and practices, including the ability to maintain fiscal accountability and monitor expenditures.
Knowledge of and ability to oversee home athletic event operations, including safety, risk management, and game-day execution.
Strong understanding of competitive scheduling, contest agreements, and sport program operational logistics.
Excellent organizational, analytical, and problem-solving skills with the ability to manage multiple high-profile initiatives simultaneously.
Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, with demonstrated ability to collaborate effectively with coaches, student-athletes, campus partners, and external stakeholders.
Demonstrated commitment to student-athlete welfare, diversity, equity, inclusion, and creating a positive athletics culture.
Ability to analyze and interpret financial data and make strategic business decisions.
Bachelor’s degree in sport management, business administration, higher education administration, or a related field.
At least five (5) years of progressively responsible experience in collegiate athletics administration, including experience in facilities oversight, event operations, and/or sport program supervision.

Responsibilities

Strategic oversight of facilities & event operations, equipment room operations, and assigned sport programs.
Providing operational direction to the IT staff assigned to Athletics.
Ensuring operational excellence across all athletic facilities and home competitions.
Advancing a safe, fiscally responsible, and high-quality environment that supports student-athlete success and enhances the fan experience.
Direct supervision of assigned sport programs.
Overseeing all competitive scheduling, fiscal accountability, purchasing operations, and coach development across all sport programs.
Serving as a primary liaison among coaches, student-athletes, campus partners, and external stakeholders.
Assisting with long-term facilities and capital planning initiatives.
Overseeing event management strategy and execution.
Helping to centralize sport program purchasing.
Collaborating closely with the Athletic Business Office on budget management, cost and revenue analysis, and fiscal/budget training for coaches & staff.
Establishing operational standards.
Driving cross-department collaboration.
Contributing to strategic initiatives related to facilities growth, competitive excellence, and conference alignment.
Reviewing and evaluating program service delivery methods and systems to identify opportunities for improvement and implement changes to standard operating procedures.