Athletic Administration Intern

Important note:

This is a 1 year, (12 month) full-time, grant funded position. This position is associated with the Ethnic Minorities and Women's Internship Grant. The grant funds full-time, entry-level athletics administrative positions for one academic year. Continuation of employment beyond one year is contingent upon available funding

Position Overview:

The Athletic Administration Intern will have the opportunity to be exposed to many areas of the Athletic Department. The Intern will be an essential individual for administrative and other hands-on tasks for the Department. Additionally, the Intern will have the opportunity to be exposed to strategic planning and provide input to help plan objectives towards the success of that plan and the department’s success. The intern will experience exposure to areas of Athletics Compliance, Athletic Finance, Game Day Operations, Advertising, Sponsorships, Sports Media, Sport Medicine, Academics, Support Services, etc. These areas of exposure will help the individual gain a broader understanding of the Athletic Department and help them to develop skills for their future endeavors and aspirations.

The supervisor will work directly with the intern who will office out of the athletic administration Suite. There will be interaction through constant communication regarding the daily, monthly, and yearly needs of the athletic department and university. The intern will be entrenched in the daily operations of a NCAA Division II athletic department including but not limited to: game day and event operations, marketing and sponsorship initiatives, fundraising and stewardship of alumni engagement, budget and financial planning, athletic scholarships, and mandatory audits and reports. Effective interaction strategies will also include inclusion of the intern in the education of staff, coaches, and student-athletes, including conducting educational forums and/or video tutorials.

The Athletic Administration Intern will be intertwined with all areas of campus. The intern will serve as an ad hoc member of the Athletic Advisory Council comprised of faculty and staff members from different departments on campus. As a SAAC liaison, the intern will have an opportunity to be engaged in the student-athlete initiatives including: Make-a-Wish child or family and to engage in the community through reading at elementary schools. Also, the campus community outreach initiatives including meals-on-wheels, Central pantry, group days at the Regional Food Bank, and many more outreach opportunities. The Athletic Administration Intern will also serve as an Athletic liaison to multiple areas of Student Affairs including Admissions, Financial Aid, Registrar, and the Center for Counseling and Well-Being (CCWB). Additionally, from an athletic department community engagement perspective the individual will work with coaching staff on fundraising activities and the Assistant Athletic Director for Marketing and Corporate Sponsorships on those external relationships. The athletic department is also engaged in a Broncho Reading Buddies initiative that takes student-athletes to read to local underprivileged elementary schools and encourages participation by coaches and staff.

College/Department Overview:

The Athletic Department at the University of Central Oklahoma currently supports over 400 student athletes in 15 sports: Baseball; Men's & Women's Basketball; Men's & Women's Golf; Football; Women's Soccer; Women's Rowing; Softball, Women's Tennis; Women's Track & Field and Cross Country; Women's Volleyball; Wrestling.

Department Specific Essential Job Functions:

• Supervise and manage event staff, student assistants, and other employees as assigned in association with athletic events and operations.
  • Includes supervision and coordination in the preparation/set-up, break-down and overall functionality and operation of athletic events.
• SAAC Liaison – Serve as primary advisor to the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee.
  • This responsibility includes providing education to the student-athlete leadership group on relevant topics and issues, including NCAA rules changes.
  • Charged with serving as a guide for fundraising initiative that benefit Make-a-Wish and the coordination and facilitation of campus community outreach initiatives
• Create promotional content for Athletics related social media and bronchosports.com
• Maintain Athletics facilities and event calendar (including but not limited to practice, competition, camps/clinics, and outside rentals)
• Develops timelines, plans and strategies for annual outside entity facility usage efforts, including solicitation for rentals and community engagement
• Research and evaluate peer institutions to determine most effective methods of event operation strategies and industry's best practices.
• Create athletic alumni engagement initiatives and coordinate fulfillment with UCO’s Alumni Association.
• Determine staffing and game coverage logistics to maximize efficiency. Direct engagement and assigned responsibilities for UCO hosted NCAA or MIAA conference post season athletic events.
• Oversight of the Apparel & Equipment Agreement
  • Administrative oversight of sport specific inventory of equipment and apparel
  • Includes creating a plan to capitalize on current agreement and departmental purchases
  • Research and advise on industry Apparel & Equipment Agreements
• Conduct research and create documents that will be utilized in the departmental strategic planning and initiative efforts and/or in conjunction with specific projects (i.e., Feasibility Study)
• Engage in marketing/promotion sales calls and coordination/fulfillment of marketing/sponsorship commitments

Working schedule may consists of intermittent non-traditional business hours, including but not limited to working nights and weekends associated with athletic events. Occasional travel may be required.

Qualifications

Qualifications/Experience Required:

Requires a Bachelor’s degree in a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and/or experience. Knowledge and understanding of rules and regulations of NCAA Division II. Appropriate profession accomplishments and credentials. Selected candidate will have to meet all requirements as specified in Ethnic Minorities and Women's Internship grant: https://ncaaorg.s3.amazonaws.com/ncaa/programs/d2/diversity_grants/D2EMWIG_Guidelines.pdf

Experience Preferred:

Master's or advanced degree. Experience as a student-athlete and/or prior engagement with an intercollegiate athletic department. Experience in tracking, documenting and reporting on projects, programs, budgets, etc.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities:

Excellent oral and written communication, interpersonal, human relations, and organizational skills. Must have strong work ethic with high degree of enthusiasm and punctuality. Computer proficiency including the Microsoft Office Suite and other standard software platforms. Ability to work independently, handle multiple tasks simultaneously, and interact professionally with all segments of the University community. Ability to maintain confidentiality. Capacity for growth and leadership.

Physical Demands:

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be physically able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The expectations listed below are representative of the skills and/or abilities required. Reasonable accommodations (in accordance with ADA requirements) may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions:

1. Walk long distance around campus and in buildings.
2. Required to regularly sit and stand.
3. Frequently use wrist, hands, and/or fingers to make small repetitive movements such as typing, distributing mail, and picking up small objects.
4. Ability to talk frequently to convey detailed and/or important instructions or ideas accurately, loudly, or quickly.
5. Be able to hear average or normal conversations and receive verbal information.
6. Lift packages and/or move heavy objects, 30+ lbs.