Director of Athletics

Portledge School•Locust Valley, NY

1d•Onsite

About The Position

Portledge School is seeking a passionate and experienced Director of Athletics. This 12-month, full-time position reports to the Head of School and plays a vital role in fostering a vibrant and mission-aligned athletic program that supports the development of students both on and off the field. The Director of Athletics will oversee all aspects of the school’s athletic programs, including strategic visioning, coaching, scheduling, and program development, while promoting sportsmanship, teamwork, and personal growth. This position requires weekday evening work and occasional weekend commitments to support events, practices, and competitions.

Requirements

Bachelor's degree in a relevant field; advanced degree preferred.
5+ years of leadership and management experience in school athletics, including at least one prior role in a strategic-planning capacity.
Experience supervising Athletic Department staff and coaches.
Strong knowledge of athletics program development, sports safety, and compliance with league and school policies.
Demonstrated experience managing budgets and resources effectively.
Proficiency with Blackbaud and Google Workspace.
Familiarity with First Aid, CPR, AED, concussion management, and other student-athlete safety protocols.
A genuine passion for athletics and student-athlete development.
Availability for evenings and weekends to support athletic events.
Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to engage multiple constituencies in a fast-paced, collaborative setting.
Outstanding organization and attention to detail, paired with the ability to keep sight of the school's broader mission and priorities.
A commitment to the qualities embodied by the Portledge pillars: Kindness, Purpose, Honor, Respect.

Responsibilities

Lead the initiative to re-envision and refine the athletic program and offerings, defining a bold five-year strategic vision and driving its implementation.
Fully administer the 5th–12th grade athletics program, ensuring high standards of performance, safety, and sportsmanship, with opportunities for student-athletes to develop skills in age-appropriate ways and to experience competitive success.
Provide clear, timely communication of schedules, updates, and information about athletic procedures, initiatives, and events to students, families, and other stakeholders.
Manage updates to the Athletics website, calendar, TeamSnap, and other communication channels as needed.
Manage all Athletic Department staff, including the administrative team, athletic trainer, and head coaches.
Oversee the Athletics Department budget and resource allocation transparently and effectively, collaborating with the CFO and Controller as needed.
Ensure adequate staffing and transportation for all competitions, programs, and events, and provide staff training in First Aid, CPR, AED, heat exhaustion prevention, and concussion management.
Hire, retain, and evaluate knowledgeable, personable, and skilled coaches and support staff.
Develop and manage the annual calendar of athletic practices, competitions, and interscholastic games.
Coordinate facility setup and logistics for practices and games.
Represent Portledge professionally at league meetings, conferences, and other professional gatherings.
Manage and update the Athletics Department Parent-Student Handbook, along with all athletic policies and procedures, to ensure compliance with state and league requirements and clear communication of expectations to parents, coaches, and student-athletes.
Sit on the Senior Leadership Team; collaborate with other senior administrators — particularly Divisional Directors and the Director of Admissions — and participate in school-wide initiatives as needed.
Perform other duties as assigned to support the mission and success of the Athletic Department and Portledge.