Director of Athletics
About Tufts University and Athletics
Tufts University is a private, student-centered research institution with its undergraduate campus located in Medford and Somerville, and two health sciences campuses in Boston and Grafton, Massachusetts. Its 150-acre undergraduate campus offers a blend of suburban charm and urban access, fostering a close-knit academic community enriched by the resources of a major research university. Founded in 1852 as a small liberal arts college, Tufts has grown into a globally engaged university offering more than 150 majors and minors across ten schools and two colleges.
Tufts is known for its interdisciplinary culture, commitment to academic excellence, and strong emphasis on innovation, civic engagement, and global impact. The university is dedicated to preparing students for leadership and success in a rapidly changing world by promoting transformative educational experiences in a collaborative and inclusive environment. With a forward-thinking approach to teaching, learning, and research, Tufts embraces digital tools and responsible stewardship to meet the evolving challenges of higher education. The work culture is built on mutual respect and the notion that everyone who works there is an educator for our students.
This institutional philosophy is deeply reflected in Tufts Athletics. The Department of Athletics provides student-athletes with a dynamic, transformational experience where athletics are fully integrated into the broader campus life. Student-athletes are challenged to grow personally and competitively, experiencing the joy of high-level performance while forming lifelong connections with teammates, coaches, and the Tufts community. The department is committed to fostering leadership, wellness, and inclusivity, ensuring that athletics at Tufts contributes meaningfully to the development of active, engaged citizens.
Tufts offers 28 NCAA Division III sports and competes as a member of New England Small College Athletics Conference (NESCAC). Tufts varsity teams have won 14 NCAA championships and 53 NESCAC championships since 2010, and Tufts Athletics has finished in the top 5 of the Learfield Directors’ Cup in each of the last five years, including winning the Directors’ Cup in 2022 as the top Division III program in the nation. Tufts’ athletics facilities have undergone a major transformation in recent years to enhance the student-athlete and fan experience, including the construction of Ounjian Field for field hockey, the Tufts Squash Center, baseball’s Sol Gittleman Park, the indoor golf training center, and the new Vouté Tennis Courts. Other major capital projects include significant improvements at Ellis Oval (with synthetic turf, light, video board and new locker rooms), major renovations of Cousens Gymnasium lobby and coaches’ offices, and new locker rooms for faculty, staff and students. The Director of Athletics will join a university that values academic rigor, athletic success, and lifetime fitness opportunities that are available to all members of the Tufts community.
While Tufts Athletics competes within the NESCAC, Tufts is also a member of the Association of American Universities (AAU), the 71 most impactful research institutions in the United States and Canada, and considers its educational and research peers to be within the AAU. Tufts’ identity as an exceptional liberal arts college with a highly successful athletics program, nestled within a R1 research university, is unique and a distinguishing element for the institution.
Position Overview
Reporting directly to the President, the Director of Athletics will provide leadership for all aspects of the university’s athletics, fitness and recreation programs, including academic and athletic success, budget and business operations, compliance, community relations, facilities management and operations, fundraising and alumni engagement, personnel, revenue generation, and student-athlete welfare and development.
The Director of Athletics will manage and lead an athletic department that strives for excellence in all of its endeavors, including continued success on the regional and national levels. The Director of Athletics will be expected to embrace and advance the department’s mission, maintain the principles of sportsmanship and ethical conduct, and proactively commit him or herself to diversity, inclusion, and gender equity, ensuring compliance with Title IX regulations. He or she will work diligently with Admissions to admit a balanced recruiting class, manage roster sizes, and develop effective policies that follow both the spirit and the letter of these regulations.
The Director of Athletics will guide and mentor coaches and staff with an emphasis on open communication and collaboration, demonstrating an unwavering focus on the best interests of students. The Director also will be tasked to serve as the department’s primary representative in interactions with other leaders and administrators on the Medford campus, as well as at regional and national conferences. In this role, the Director will not only articulate the Athletics Department’s vision, strategy, and role in the university’s success, but will also listen to the perspectives of faculty and staff, identifying opportunities to partner in ways that improve the overall student experience. The Director will work closely with Alumni Relations and Advancement, developing affinity groups and securing funding from inside and outside the university. Finally, the Director will engage alumni and other stakeholders in order to glean historical knowledge and a perspective on future trends, as well as to secure additional resources to support the department’s aspirations.
Duties and Responsibilities
The Director of Athletics will promote and articulate the vision of the Athletics Department, which values sportsmanship, community, and the well-being of the student-athlete. The Director will have a passion for the position and a readiness to embrace the traditions and legacies of Tufts Athletics and the broader university, while demonstrating the initiative and vision to lead the department into the future. Working with coaches, administrative staff members, and other key constituencies, the Director of Athletics will formulate shared strategic goals rooted in the student-athlete experience.
Departmental Leadership & Staff Development
Build and lead effective departmental teams.
Provide leadership opportunities within the department, university, and external organizations.
Recruit, hire, supervise, develop, evaluate, and retain talented coaches and staff.
Promote a culture that values passion for Tufts Athletics, professionalism, and work-life balance.
Ensure a safe and supportive environment for student-athletes’ health and well-being.
Collaborate with Deans, Academic Deans, faculty, the Admissions Office, and Student Life to ensure strong academic standards are being met, and necessary academic support services are being provided to student athletes, throughout the entire cycle of recruiting to graduation.
External Relations & Fundraising
Serve as a spokesperson for the Athletics Department and Tufts University.
Build strong relationships with stakeholders, including the Athletics Board of Advisors, Trustees, alumni, parents and neighboring host communities.
Manage and improve a comprehensive internal and external marketing program for athletics, fitness, and wellness.
Collaborate with Alumni Relations and University Advancement to develop engagement strategies, actively participate in fundraising efforts, and recognize leadership donors and inspire giving.
Lead development efforts for the Annual Fund, Endowment growth, and Capital campaigns.
Evaluate and guide the development of alumni affinity groups.
Operations & Program Oversight
Partner with the Office of the President, Finance and Budget offices to support sound financial planning and resource allocation.
Oversee event and facility management, including Scheduling, Revenue generation, Staffing, and Community engagement.
Support and supervise Physical education curriculum and Club sports and intramural programs.
Ensure compliance with all NCAA, NESCAC, and university regulations and policies. Partner with the Tufts Office of University Counsel, the Office of University Compliance and Ethics, and the Office of Equal Opportunity as appropriate.
Advocate for Tufts within the NESCAC in collaboration with the President.
Student-Athlete Support
Provide comprehensive support to student-athletes, ensuring their academic success, athletic performance, and overall well-being
Collaborate with institutional partners to create programmatic and educational opportunities for student athletes that focus on personal, academic, and athletic success.
Uphold and advance Tufts’ values of diversity, inclusion, and gender equity in all hiring and programming.
Support recruitment and development of a diverse group of student-athletes focused on academic, athletic, and civic success.
Qualifications:
Background
A bachelor’s degree is required; advanced degree is preferred.
Minimum of 8-10 years of extensive experience in intercollegiate athletics, including at least 3-5 years in an administrative role, demonstrating proven leadership experience managing a successful athletics program that supports both academic and athletic excellence.as an athletic director, assistant athletic director, or equivalent senior-level role within a collegiate athletic department.
A meaningful background in athletics, such as experience as a coach, administrator, student-athlete, or other relevant and comparable experience.
Leadership and management
Energetic and charismatic leadership style.
Exceptional communications skills directed to a wide variety of audiences.
Excellence in setting challenging, aggressive goals and taking calculated risks to attain measurable results.
Strong interpersonal skills to facilitate relationship building and foster strong partnerships.
The ability to work in a fast-paced environment and adapt to change.
Excellent judgment in decision-making and character assessment.
Experience in strategic planning, budget and human resource management, and facilities oversight.
Experience identifying new talent and building innovative programs.
Mentoring
The expectation of success and experience helping others succeed across diverse programs.
A solid understanding of the role and importance of coaches, both on and off the field.
A deep understanding of the transformative experience of being a student athlete at a highly selective, research orientated, private institution.
Outreach and community
A demonstrated record of working toward integrated external relations.
Experience collaborating with alumni relations, partner organizations, and other stakeholders.
Diversity
Demonstrated commitment to diversity and inclusion, gender equity, and equal opportunity.
Knowledge of and experience with Title IX.
Application Process
Tufts University invites nominations and applications or expressions of interest to be submitted to the search firm assisting the University. Applications should include a cover letter, current resume or curriculum vitae, and a list of professional references. For full consideration, application materials should be submitted to Parker Executive Search’s website by June 13th, 2025. Confidential review of materials will begin immediately and continue until the appointment is made.
For additional information, please contact:
Daniel Parker, Vice President and Managing Director
DeLaina Sarden, Principal
Grant Higgison, Principal
Gray McGee, Executive Recruiting Coordinator
danielparker@parkersearch.com | dsarden@parkersearch.com | gmcgee@parkersearch.com
Parker Executive Search
770-804-1996 ext. 119 | 770-804-1996 ext. 132
Tufts does not discriminate in admissions, employment, or in any of its educational programs or activities on the basis of race (including traits historically associated with race, including, but not limited to hair texture, hair type, hair length and protective hairstyles), color, national or ethnic origin, ancestry and/or shared ancestry, age, religion, disability, sex and/or gender (including sexual harassment and other sexual misconduct including acts of sexual violence such as rape, sexual assault, stalking, sexual exploitation, sexual exploitation and coercion, relationship / intimate partner violence and domestic violence), gender identity and/or expression (including a transgender identity as defined by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts), sexual orientation, military or veteran status, pregnancy, genetic information, the intersection of these identities or any other characteristic protected under applicable federal, state or local law. Retaliation is also prohibited. Tufts complies with state and federal laws such as M.G.L. c. 151B, Title IX and its supporting regulations, Title VI and Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, the Crown Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, Section 503 and 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, the Vietnam Era Veterans Readjustment and Rights Act, Executive Order 11246 and other similar laws that prohibit discrimination, all as amended. Tufts is an equal employment opportunity. See Tufts Non-Discrimination Policy.