Athletic Director

Mount Vernon School•Sandy Springs, GA

6h•Onsite

About The Position

The Mount Vernon School, established in 1972, serves over 1,250 students in Preschool through Grade 12 on its 40-acre Atlanta campus. Grounded in Christian values, the school prepares students to be college-ready, globally competitive, and engaged citizen leaders. The Mount Vernon Organization includes MVSO (the online division of the Upper School) and MV Ventures (a research and educational consultancy). The Athletics program is relationship-driven, empowering students to grow and excel through preparation, practice, and performance, committed to cultivating a team-first culture sustained through empathy, respect, integrity, resilience, excellence, and fun. The program designs competitive programs led by growing, masterful, and passionate coaches focused on skill development, health & well-being, and leadership growth of all student athletes. Relationships are foundational for athletic teams, creating an environment of support, encouragement, and accountability. More than 80% of Upper and Middle School students participate in athletics, which plays a positive role in supporting youth development, leading to improved academic achievement and stronger social and emotional well-being. The Athletic Team works collaboratively to deliver a high-quality experience for students and parents. The Athletic Director reports to the Associate Head of Upper School and serves as an educational administrator and coach/teacher. This role involves developing and supervising the administration of all extra-curricular athletic teams and programs, recognizing the importance of teamwork, collaboration, physical health, and well-being for students.

Requirements

Ability to cultivate respectful and affirming environments
Culturally proficient & equity literate
A track record of giving high-quality, responsive feedback
Ability to design moments and empower teams
Effective at coaching and developing talent
Possesses an ethic of excellence, quality, accuracy, and professionalism
Proficiency in Google Suite & Mac/Apple OS
Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience/certification in athletic administration, physical education, or a related discipline
At least 5 years of athletic teaching and/or coaching experience
Experience navigating the rules, eligibility standards, and compliance requirements of interscholastic athletic governing bodies such as GHSA, NIL, or comparable organizations
Successful track record working with student-athletes, preferably in independent schools
Outstanding interpersonal and communication skills, with a professional and empathetic approach
Excellent organizational skills
Detail-oriented and able to work collaboratively
High-energy and enthusiastic about working in an academic atmosphere

Responsibilities

Provide safety instruction to students and establish standards of behavior to ensure a productive environment and the optimal condition and safety of all athletic equipment, facilities, fields, and courts
Review and revise the coaches' manual annually
Train all coaching staff and volunteers on safety measures, expectations, and standards of protection
Serve on the Risk Committee for the school
Provide guidance and direction for the school's sports program
Attend athletic events for all teams, home and away, as much as possible
Represent the school at state, regional, and national athletic associations
Ensure all required paperwork is filed with the region and the Georgia High School Association
Maintain a thorough understanding of the GHSA Constitution and By-laws, including NIL policies
Prepare budgets and allocate spending on coaches' stipends, team travel, equipment, facility rental, and facility improvements
Coordinate with the finance department in a timely manner on all invoicing, fees, and financial matters
Collaborate with the Executive Team to recruit, evaluate, and hire athletic department staff
Ensure all coaching positions are filled with competent, properly trained coaches who perform their duties with the highest level of professionalism
Manage department team members and monitor for quality, experience, and safety
Supervise the scheduling of all athletic events, arrange transportation, hire game officials, and attend or enlist a school representative for all home games
Coordinate with coaches on game and practice scheduling
Determine the allocation of field and gym space to ensure equitable practice time for all teams
Communicate student conduct or academic concerns to parents and administration
Report athletic achievements to the Brand division for dissemination to the school and broader community
Oversee the distribution, collection, storage, cleaning, and repair of all school athletic uniforms
Coordinate with the Director of Operations to ensure proper facility management
Assume responsibility for other projects as assigned by the Associate Head of Upper School
Work with the Mustang Athletic Club (MAC) families to solicit membership and support
Collaborate with the Chief Brand Officer to protect and enhance the reputation of the program
Partner with the CGI team and Associate Head of Upper School to support the capital campaign
Develop and maintain a data dashboard tracking team and individual athletic accomplishments; as well as stakeholder experience
Be actively present and engaged with the school community, serving as an ambassador for Athletics at grade-level and school-sponsored events
Serve as the primary escalation point for parent concerns; maintain a transparent feedback loop with all stakeholders to monitor program health and protect program integrity
Participate in committee, department, and staff meetings
Ensure all athletes meet GHSA eligibility requirements and have a current physical examination on file
Build and maintain relationships with schools within the assigned GHSA region