Assistant Vice President, Intercollegiate Athletics and Recreation

Le Moyne College invites applications for the position of Assistant Vice President of Intercollegiate Athletics and Campus Recreation. The Assistant Vice President of Intercollegiate Athletics and Campus Recreation offers an exciting opportunity to serve in a critical leadership role during a transformational and historic period for Le Moyne’s intercollegiate athletic program.

On July 1, 2023, the College joined Division 1 through the Northeast Conference (NEC) and successfully completed its first year of reclassification with three years remaining.  The College has 385 Division I athletes and the athletics program is a major feature of student life at  Le Moyne.

The next AVP for Athletics will help lead a $45 million, five-year design and construction effort to renovate and expand the College’s athletic facilities.  The successful candidate will have strong fundraising and alumni relations experience.  They will also demonstrate how they have created a positive, unified athletic department that will bring the program to the next level.

This position reports directly to the President and is a member of the senior leadership team, setting priorities and strategies for college-wide objectives. The AVP collaborates with trustees, faculty, staff, students, and alumni alike to promote the strong reputation of Le Moyne. Understanding that the College’s Jesuit and Catholic identity is one of its most distinct characteristics, this dynamic leader will develop and demonstrate substantive understanding of these traditions, which are critical to Le Moyne’s mission, as well as embrace and live the Ignatian principles at the heart of the College; the values of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging; and the mission and purpose of Jesuit, Catholic higher education.

About Le Moyne College:

Le Moyne College, located in Syracuse, N.Y., is an independent college established by the Jesuits in 1946 to provide students with a values-based, comprehensive academic program designed to foster intellectual excellence and preparation for a life of leadership and service. Today, Le Moyne has evolved into a nationally acclaimed college of liberal arts and sciences that draws students from across the U.S. and abroad.

Le Moyne College is a Jesuit institution and part of a 27-college network of the Association of Jesuit Colleges and Universities (AJCU) which spans the US.  Le Moyne College has a steady enrollment of 3,200 undergraduate and graduate students housed in three schools: Carroll College of Arts & Sciences, the Madden College of Business and Economics, and the Purcell School of Professional Studies.  The College is led by President Linda LeMura, the first female, lay leader of a Jesuit institution, who has served as President for 10 years.

Our Mission:

Le Moyne College is a diverse learning community that strives for academic excellence in the Catholic and Jesuit tradition through its comprehensive programs rooted in the liberal arts and sciences. Its emphasis is on education of the whole person and on the search for meaning and value as integral parts of the intellectual life. Le Moyne College seeks to prepare its members for leadership and service in their personal and professional lives to promote a more just society.

Le Moyne College aims to advance the values of diversity and inclusiveness at the college. To do this, Le Moyne seeks scholars and professionals who bring innovation, creativity, and impact to the campus, and who bring greater depth, breadth, and diversity to our campus community.

POSITION SUMMARY

The Assistant Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics and Campus Recreation will provide leadership for the College’s Division I athletics programs, club sports, campus recreation, and wellness offerings.

The Assistant Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics and Campus Recreation assumes responsibility for supervision of all aspects  of athletics, including but not limited to:  budgeting, personnel management, regulatory compliance, athletic fundraising, facilities operations management, fostering athletic excellence, marketing, supporting the personal growth and wellness of athletes and students, collaborating with various internal and external constituencies,  and overseeing responsibility for College and National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) rules compliance. The Assistant Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics and Campus Recreation shall implement the College’s vision for intercollegiate athletics consistent with the institution’s mission.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Provide strategic and visionary leadership, planning, and policy development for the Athletics Department;
• Effectively lead the College’s transition through the NCAA reclassification, with 3 years remaining until full reclassification is achieved;
• Responsible for providing general supervision and positive employee engagement to a team of staff and coaches;
• Establishes and maintains an athletics department that is committed to the College’s mission and strategic priorities while understanding the academic and personal development role that athletics plays at a mid-sized college;
• Responsible for managing 39 coaches and 13 staff members (totaling 52 employees) who perform as professionals in an educational community where high standards of integrity, ethical behavior, and sportsmanship are required;
• Partners with VP of Advancement & Innovation and a possible third-party organization to create, design, and execute initiatives and special projects regarding fundraising efforts and maximizes all channels of revenue generation;     
• Provides equal opportunities for all individuals to achieve their maximum potential, irrespective of their gender, race, religion or national origin, etc.;
• Ability to communicate effectively, within the division and college-wide, along with alumni, media, and other Directors of Athletics within the NEC conference and the NCAA;
• Demonstrates a sincere and genuine interest in student athletes and supports the College’s “Le Moyne Way”, a student-athlete development program which promotes character development in student-athletes, including cooperation, team work, leadership qualities, and group loyalty;
• Operates the College’s sports programs at the highest level of intercollegiate athletics competition and seeks affiliation with institutions of like philosophy;
• Promotes an environment of academic achievement complementing student-athlete health, safety, and welfare while leading with the highest levels of ethical standards.  Institute programs that will engage faculty with athletes in a positive and balanced manner;
• Maintains the necessary facilities and medical personnel to enhance the physical fitness and skill of the student-athlete, as well as to promote the recovery of those who are ill or injured;
• Works with Enrollment Management to ensure effective recruitment and retention of student athletes; and works with coaches to project and achieve new student enrollment each year;
• Collaborates with Enrollment Management to administer the athletic scholarship budget;
• Coordinates the public relations for the Athletics Department;
• Supervises the planning and development of the athletic department operating (approaching $8 million and likely to grow to just under $10 million by the time Division I reclassification[JEG1]  is complete) and capital budgets in conjunction with athletic administration personnel; planning includes long-range forecasting of intercollegiate program expenses and revenues;
• Assists the Campus Architect in the programmatic design of the $45 million renovation and expansion of the College’s athletic facilities;
• Monitors and administers the annual athletic budget by reviewing and ensuring the proper controls expenditures from athletics’ accounts in collaboration with Finance;
• Coordinates, with the compliance officer, staff conformity with all appropriate college, conference, and NCAA rules and regulations;
• Performs regular self-analysis to ensure Title IX compliance and regular external assessment to evaluate strengths and weaknesses of the institution’s compliance systems;
• Oversees development of sports schedules consistent with department and institutional competitive guidelines and NCAA standards;
• Collaborates on the development, implementation and evaluation of master planning for intercollegiate athletics, including the review of department’s mission and the general operational philosophy of Division I and II athletic programs, as well as the athletic facilities;
• Oversees the Recreation Center, which provides wholesome, safe recreational activity and entertainment for the participants, the student body, campus community, and the public. This includes management of club sports and intramural sports. Evaluate how the Recreation Center can contribute to the College’s retention goals;
• Collaborates with Student Development to grow the interaction with students and DI athletics as a way to enhance the overall student experience;
• Represents the athletic department with all facets of the College community (i.e., personnel, faculty, alumni);
• Working with a third-party advancement firm, supports a major gift and prospect portfolio and works to identify and cultivate new donor prospects;
• Prepares regular and special reports as warranted for use by the President;
• Assists the Alumni and Development offices in coordinating efforts of alumni support;
• Works with appropriate College staff in cultivating prospective contributors or benefactors of athletics;
• Serves the College as voting delegate at National Conference Athletic Association (NCAA), Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference (ECAC), and Northeast Conference (NEC);
• Works to maintain a positive public relations image with the media and the local community.

QUALIFICATION AND CORE COMPETENCIES

A successful candidate should possess the following qualifications, competencies and attributes:

• Extensive athletics experience in intercollegiate athletics, coaching, or athletics administration, including a proven track record, with increasing levels of responsibility, leading and managing athletics and coaches, required.
• A Bachelor’s degree, required. A Master’s Degree is strongly preferred.
• Considerable knowledge and experience working in a Division I institution, strongly preferred.
• Attentive to developing a cohesive culture and sense of community among coaches and athletic staff while at the same time implementing an administrative network that supports the College’s transition to Division I by demonstrating strong and inspirational leadership skills, emotional intelligence, charisma, and a strategic vision, with the ability to effectively push an agenda forward and obtain buy-in from others.
• Be an innovator with a futuristic orientation, intense curiosity, and confidence—be willing to try new opportunities, remain informed on recent trends and cutting-edge ideas, and lead effective change processes as necessary.
• Experience in sound fiscal and operational management as a strategic and data-informed decision-maker and leader with an appreciation for the strategic goals of the department, the College, community and public support for the athletic program.
• Possess emotional maturity, genuineness, self-confidence, common sense, sound judgment, fairness, creativity, discretion, decisiveness, political savvy, tact, resiliency, adaptability, and courage of convictions.
• Excellent supervisory and leadership skills, including the ability to supervise and develop multiple individuals at varying stages of their careers.
• Promote and support the values of diversity, equity, and inclusion and demonstrate an interest in the specific needs of traditionally underserved student populations.
• Possesses cultural competence that preserves the best aspects of Le Moyne’s culture and builds a high-performing, highly engaged organization by demonstrating strong interpersonal, relational and communication skills, patience and diplomacy with a broad array of constituents, maintaining the ability to be both firm and flexible, listening carefully, asking knowledgeable questions, learning the various departments within the unit and their intricacies, accepting input from staff, and then making well-informed decisions.
• Excellent judgment and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to delegate tasks in an appropriate manner and be able to work well with faculty members and academic leaders as well as with a network of College administrators in fundraising, student development, and finance and administration.
• Make difficult decisions when necessary, conduct difficult conversations when pertinent, listen to all sides of an issue, and build consensus across multiple constituencies.
• Review major processes, policies, and procedures to look for efficiencies and opportunities to combine, collaborate, share, develop, or discard antiquated functions and practices.
• Possess knowledge of student development theory and student success services.
• Willingness to travel on a regular basis to team sporting events and college events and programs.

 Le Moyne Benefits

403(b) Retirement contribution- (9.5% Employer match)
 Generous tuition coverage
 Health insurance options- (Medical, Dental, Vision, Flexible Spending Accounts)
 Health Savings Accounts- (Partially Employer funded)
 Basic Life & AD&D Insurance- (Employer paid)
 Short and Long Term Disability Insurance (Employer paid)
 Supplemental Life & AD&D Insurance
 Voluntary benefits- (Legal, Critical Illness, Hospital Indemnity, Accident Insurance, Pet Insurance etc.)
 12 paid holidays
 Generous time off package

Pay Range: $125,000 - $175,000 annually

Equal Employment Opportunity

Le Moyne College is an equal opportunity employer that is committed to diversity and inclusion in the workplace.  We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, citizenship & immigration or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws.

This policy applies to all employment practices within our organization, including hiring, recruiting, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, leave of absence, compensation, benefits, training, and apprenticeship.  Le Moyne makes hiring decisions based solely on qualifications, merit, and business needs at the time.

Application Instructions:

To apply for this position please click the 'Apply Now' button and submit the required materials for consideration:

• Cover letter outlining your interest in the position

• Current resume

• Contact information for 3 professional references

In order to receive timely consideration in this search, all candidates should submit their interest and required materials no later than Monday, July 15, 2024. The successful candidate is expected to start in this position no later than August 31, 2024.