Director of Intercollegiate Athletics and Recreational Sports

Founded in 1841, Fordham is the Jesuit University of New York, offering an exceptional education distinguished by the Jesuit tradition to more than 16,000 students in its nine colleges and schools. It has residential campuses in the Bronx and Manhattan, a campus in West Harrison, N.Y., the Louis Calder Center Biological Field Station in Armonk, N.Y., and the London Centre in the United Kingdom.

As the Jesuit University of New York, Fordham University seeks and attracts bright, engaged students from every corner of the Earth and welcomes them into a community where they develop the intelligence and integrity to make the world a better place.

At Fordham University they value and educate the whole person. Fordham’s mission and identity comes down to three ideas, translated from Latin to mean, strive for excellence in everything you do, care for others and fight for justice.

Fordham University's athletic department offers a variety of sports for students, including varsity sports, club sports, and intramurals. 

·       Varsity Sports: The Fordham Rams compete in NCAA Division I and the Atlantic 10 Conference for most sports, including baseball, basketball, cross country, golf, soccer, softball, swimming and diving, tennis, and volleyball. The football team plays in the Patriot League.

·       Club Sports: Fordham offers a variety of club sports that compete against other local colleges and universities. Students can create new programs or improve existing ones.

·       Intramurals: Fordham offers a variety of intramural sports, including flag football and dodgeball.

Scope and Responsibilities

Reporting to the President and serving as a member of the President’s cabinet, the Director of Intercollegiate Athletics and Recreational Sports will manage Fordham University's Division I Intercollegiate Athletics and Recreation program with integrity, while providing innovative, inspiring, creative leadership and further developing and implementing comprehensive programming in this critical area of the University life. This position requires frequent travel, as well as evening and weekend hours. This is an on-site position, located at Fordham’s Rose Hill campus in the Bronx.

Specific Responsibilities

·   Evaluates the current activities and programs in all Intercollegiate Athletics and Recreational Sports areas and develops critical strategies for renewal and advancement.

·   Maintains knowledge of the industry's local, current, and national trends that could impact the athletic department and the broader university community, including the NCAA transfer portal, Name, Image, and Likeness, conference realignment, pending NCAA lawsuits, and government legislation.

·   Serves as an inspiring and passionate leader to champion fundraising for Athletics' vision and strategic priorities; and works closely with the Vice President for Development and University Relations, key volunteers, the Athletics Development Staff, and the broader Development and Alumni Relations team to develop, coordinate, and execute a comprehensive fundraising and engagement strategy in support of individual teams and Fordham Athletics.

·   Serves as the University's key internal and external spokesperson for Intercollegiate Athletics and Recreation and provides periodic reports and updates to the University administration and other constituent groups. Communicates the philosophy, objectives, and strategies of the Athletic Department to internal and external constituent groups.

·   Represents the University and the Intercollegiate Athletics and Recreational Sports program in conference matters and external affairs and as an advocate on campus and within the community.

·   Develops and executes a strategic plan for intercollegiate athletics that will enhance the University's national profile and support the advancement of its vision in consultation with the President and coordination with appropriate staff.

·   Establishes and maintains relationships and programs with University offices outside of Intercollegiate Athletics, including but not limited to admissions, financial aid, student life, student services, marketing and communications, mission integration and ministry, information technology, academic departments, development and alumni relations, to maintain a current understanding of campus events, issues, and opportunities.

·   Manages personnel, operating, and scholarship budget allocations.

·   Manages revenue and expenses associated with the Intercollegiate Athletics and Recreational Sports program, including preparing and updating the annual budget and five-year projections and the comprehensive identification and prioritization of short and long-range personnel, operating, and capital funding needs.

·   Develops and advances ongoing comprehensive capital renewal efforts and plans for all athletic and recreational facilities, in coordination with the Vice President for Administration; maintains and updates annually a 5-year capital plan in support of the department.

·   Assumes responsibility for supervising and monitoring the University's comprehensive compliance initiatives concerning NCAA, conference, and institutional rules and regulations, ensuring that the varsity programs remain integrity programs, free of severe violations of NCAA, Conference, and Institutional rules and regulations.

·   In collaboration with the Athletic Academic Advising staff and the appropriate academic leaders of the colleges, ensure that student-athletes continue to persist, make satisfactory academic progress, and achieve graduation rates commensurate with or better than the undergraduate student body of Fordham.

·   Responsible for hiring, training, developing, managing performance, administering corrective action, making compensation decisions, and managing strategic views at a high level.

·   Manages the department with an unwavering commitment to gender, racial and ethnic diversity, equity, and inclusion.

·   This list is not intended to be an exhaustive list. The University may assign additional related duties as necessary.

Key Selection Criteria

·   Bachelor's degree and a minimum of ten years of experience in intercollegiate athletics leadership. Advanced degree preferred.

·   Proven senior leadership experience and a record of success in Division I intercollegiate athletics.

·   Demonstrated ability to design and implement a successful comprehensive fundraising program and develop and manage facilities and capital projects.

·   Successful experience effectively developing and managing staff, including the capability to delegate

·   Demonstrated ability to energize and inspire others through their leadership that emphasizes community building

·   Proven understanding of the current collegiate landscape (NIL, realignment, transfer portal, litigation, and legislation, etc.).

·   Strong interpersonal skills that foster relationship-building and partnering with external constituencies

·   Demonstrated high emotional intelligence, creativity, and a commitment to excellence and integrity.

·   Proven ability to inspire and generate excitement, shared purpose, and action.

·   Excellent communication skills and business acumen.

·   Demonstrated ability to develop strategies based on data analysis and good judgment.

·   Commitment to the academic mission and success of student-athletes.