Director of Athletics Advancement

Aquinas College • East Grand Rapids, MI

3d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Director of Athletics Advancement provides strategic leadership for athletics-related partnership development, external engagement, and athletics philanthropy initiatives. This leadership role is responsible for cultivating and managing high-value corporate, alumni, family, and community relationships that generate sponsorship revenue, philanthropic support, and long-term institutional engagement opportunities.

Working collaboratively with the Director of Athletics, Associate Vice President of Institutional Advancement, and others, the Director oversees athletics engagement initiatives, supervises the Athletics Advancement Coordinator, and leads efforts to reach specific athletics fundraising and college-wide sponsorship and fundraising goals.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree and minimum 3 years of experience in advancement, athletics external relations, sponsorship development, fundraising, corporate engagement, or relationship management.
• Advanced relationship-building and networking capabilities
• Strategic communication and negotiation skills
• Ability to manage complex institutional relationships
• Strong organizational and analytical skills
• Ability to attend athletic events, donor meetings, and community functions.

Nice To Haves

• Higher education experience and major donor portfolio management experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute comprehensive athletics partnerships and engagement strategy
• Supervise the Athletics Advancement Coordinator
• Cultivate and steward high-level corporate partnerships and sponsorship agreements.
• Manage a portfolio of athletics-related donors, prospects, alumni, families, and corporate partners.
• Personally solicit sponsorship and philanthropic commitments.
• Collaborate with Advancement leadership on campaign initiatives and donor pipeline development.
• Develop engagement strategies for alumni, former student-athletes, families, and community supporters, in collaboration with the Director of Alumni & Community Engagement.
• Represent the College at donor functions, athletic events, and community activities.
• Prepare strategic reports related to revenue, engagement, and donor activity.

Benefits

• affordable medical, dental, and vision plans
• generous paid vacation each year
• paid holidays
• paid sick time
• short-term disability
• college-paid life and AD&D insurance
• free tuition at Aquinas after one year of full-time employment for employees and their dependents

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director