Associate Director for Student-Athlete Development & Leadership
About The Position
The Associate Director, Student-Athlete Development plays a key role in creating a meaningful, connected and transformative experience for Kansas student-athletes. Working within KU Leads' student-athlete development framework, this position develops and implements experiences and initiatives that strengthen belonging, connection, engagement and community for student-athletes. The Associate Director builds strong relationships with student-athletes, coaches, staff, campus partners and community organizations and serves as a trusted resource within Kansas Athletics. The ideal candidate is a people-oriented professional with excellent communication skills, strong initiative and the ability to independently manage projects from concept through execution. The position requires an appreciation for diverse perspectives and a genuine interest in helping student-athletes connect with Kansas, their communities and one another.
Requirements
- Bachelor’s degree from an accredited college or university
- Minimum of one year of relevant professional experience in the sports industry, higher education, student development, leadership development, community engagement, student affairs or related field
- Demonstrated experience building authentic relationships with students, colleagues and/or community partners.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
- Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to establish trust with individuals from diverse backgrounds and experiences.
- Demonstrated ability to independently manage projects from concept through completion.
- Strong organizational and time-management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and competing deadlines.
- Ability to work collaboratively while also taking initiative and operating independently.
- Demonstrated commitment to creating inclusive and welcoming environments.
- Ability to exercise sound judgment, professionalism and discretion when working with student-athletes and confidential information.
- Ability to work an irregular schedule, including evenings, weekends and occasional holidays.
Nice To Haves
- Master's degree in a related field.
- Experience working directly with collegiate student athletes.
- Experience in student engagement, leadership development, community engagement or belonging initiatives.
- Experience developing partnerships with campus or community organizations.
- Experience working with diverse student populations and/or international students.
Responsibilities
- Build authentic relationships with student-athletes and serve as a trusted resource and advocate within KU Leads.
- Serve as a KU Leads liaison to assigned sport programs, partnering with coaches and staff to communicate opportunities, understand student-athlete needs and strengthen engagement.
- Support initiatives that foster belonging, connection and engagement across Kansas Athletics, including RISE, Athlete Ally and international student-athlete initiatives.
- Mentor student-athletes through KU Leads programs, including Leadership Academy and other leadership and engagement experiences.
- Support student-athlete groups and initiatives that promote leadership, personal growth and community.
- Gather student-athlete feedback and use insights to strengthen the student-athlete experience.
- Develop meaningful partnerships with campus and community organizations that create opportunities for student-athletes to engage, serve and learn.
- Lead and support community engagement initiatives that connect student-athletes with diverse communities throughout Lawrence and Kansas.
- Represent KU Leads with university and community partners to expand meaningful student-athlete experiences.
- Independently lead assigned KU Leads projects from concept through execution, including planning, communication, logistics, budgets and assessment.
- Collaborate with KU Leads staff and Kansas Athletics partners to deliver high-quality student-athlete experiences.
- Manage multiple priorities and deadlines while maintaining strong communication, organization and follow-through.
Stand Out From the Crowd
Upload your resume and get instant feedback on how well it matches this job.
What This Job Offers
Job Type
Full-time
Career Level
Mid Level
