Director Student Athlete Experience and High Performance Sport

University of Guelph•Guelph, ON

14d•CA$125,000 - CA$145,000•Onsite

About The Position

The University of Guelph, Department of Athletics & Recreation is seeking a Director, Student Athlete Experience and High-Performance Sport. This role is responsible for establishing and implementing a high-performance sport model that aligns with institutional priorities and positions the University for sustained success within provincial and national systems. As a key member of the senior leadership team, the Director will provide expert guidance on policies, performance frameworks, and program standards, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements and best practices in safe, ethical, and inclusive sport. The position focuses on high-performance outcomes, student-athlete experience, and coaching excellence. The Director will lead and support a diverse team of coaches and professional staff, fostering a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and learner-centered development. This includes oversight of coaching recruitment, performance management, professional development, and resolving complex student-athlete and team-related matters. The Director will foster collaborative partnerships across campus and with external partners to strengthen athlete supports, enhance program visibility, and advance Athletics & Recreation. Working closely with the Director, Programs & Operations, the Director will ensure the effective integration of high-performance priorities with operational delivery, including facilities, scheduling, and event execution. The Director must demonstrate credibility and composure in a complex, highly visible environment and will represent the University in institutional, provincial, and national forums. This role plays a critical part in positioning the University of Guelph as a recognized leader in excellence in the student-athlete experience and high-performance sport. The Director will also lead the planning and oversight of varsity sport budgets, ensuring alignment of financial resources with strategic priorities and program needs, oversee the financial components of student-athlete support, including awards and scholarships. The Director must ensure compliance with governing body regulations, collaborate with Student Financial Services, and contribute to revenue generation strategies, including fundraising, partnerships, and program-based initiatives that support the sustainability of varsity sports.

Requirements

Management level experience includes oversight of athletic programming and/or coaching.
Experience with post-secondary sectorial athletics programming is preferred.
Comprehensive knowledge of practices and policies at the OUA and U SPORTS.
An equivalent combination of education, training and experience in comparatively complex organizations will be considered.
Experience working with athletes must include an understanding of student development, best practices in the promotion and support of holistic student wellbeing, and the ability to manage risk and protect the safety and wellbeing of students and staff.
As a team leader, you foster a collaborative culture, are an excellent people manager, enjoy mentoring and motivating coaches and athletes, and have a demonstrated commitment to equity and inclusion.
As a senior leader, you have budget and financial management skills, and the required skills needed to exercise significant decision-making authority with a high degree of political acuity, judgment, and leadership.
Demonstrable experience with equity-related strategy, policy implementation, and complex issues, including Indigenization, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Accessibility-related case managements and investigations.

Nice To Haves

Experience with post-secondary sectorial athletics programming is preferred.

Responsibilities

Establishing and implementing a high-performance sport model that aligns with institutional priorities and positions the University for sustained success within provincial and national systems.
Providing expert guidance on the development of policies, performance frameworks, and program standards, ensuring compliance with all regulatory requirements and alignment with best practices in safe, ethical, and inclusive sport.
Ensuring that strategic and operational decisions for the University’s interuniversity sport program are focused on high-performance outcomes, student-athlete experience, and coaching excellence.
Leading and supporting a diverse team of coaches and professional staff, fostering a culture of accountability, continuous improvement, and learner-centred development.
Oversight of coaching recruitment, performance management, professional development, and resolving complex and sensitive student-athlete and team-related matters.
Fostering collaborative partnerships across campus and with external partners and members, with the goal of strengthening athlete supports, enhancing program visibility, and advancing Athletics & Recreation within the University and broader community.
Ensuring the effective integration of high-performance priorities with operational delivery, including facilities, scheduling, and event execution.
Representing the University in institutional, provincial, and national forums.
Leading the planning and oversight of varsity sport budgets, ensuring alignment of financial resources with strategic priorities and program needs.
Overseeing the financial components of student-athlete support, including awards and scholarships.
Ensuring compliance with governing body regulations.
Collaborating with Student Financial Services.
Contributing to revenue generation strategies, including fundraising, partnerships, and program-based initiatives that support the sustainability of varsity sports.