Director of Athletics and Recreation

University of California Santa Cruz Santa Cruz, CA Full-time Education

Posted on April 9, 2024

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University of California, Santa Cruz
Director of Athletics and Recreation

University of California, Santa Cruz seeks a dynamic, student-centered, and culturally competent professional to serve as its next director of athletics and recreation. This is an on-site and in-person role; the anticipated start date is early 2024.

UC Santa Cruz is a student-centered research university and a member of both the Association of American Universities (AAU) and the prestigious, ten-campus University of California system. UC Santa Cruz, founded in 1965, is distinguished by its residential college system through which students live and learn in small communities organized around themes of broad intellectual interest. UC Santa Cruz offers rigorous academic programs and cutting-edge research opportunities that teach students how to think, not what to think. The University is located among the redwoods on the edge of the Pacific Ocean, approximately 70 miles from San Francisco, and is ideally suited for year-round outdoor activity.

The University is a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) and an Asian American Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution (AANAPISI) and was proud to be named a Social Mobility Innovator in recognition of the ways in which it educates economically disadvantaged students who graduate and obtain high-paying jobs. United by the pursuit of social justice and environmental sustainability, and driven by passion and curiosity, UC Santa Cruz students, faculty, staff, and alumni innovate across disciplines, seek to push the envelope of knowledge and deploy their expertise and voice to advocate for transformative change.

The Position
UC Santa Cruz Department of Athletics and Recreation provides a wide variety of sports programs and physical fitness activities, encouraging comprehensive health and lifelong wellness through physical activity, building community, and cultivating leadership. The intercollegiate athletics program participates in NCAA Division III intercollegiate athletics within the Coast-to-Coast Conference, which sponsors 17 men's and women's varsity teams. Since joining the NCAA in 1980, Banana Slug Athletics has won seven NCAA team titles, eighteen individual national titles, and earned 256 All-American awards. The University placed 86th in the 2022-23 Learfield Cup standings for Division III, with seven sports reaching the NCAA postseason. Operating as one department, the programs provided by the Department of Athletics and Recreation are designed to serve UC Santa Cruz students, faculty and staff, retirees, alumni, and local community members.

Reporting to the campus provost/executive vice chancellor, the director of athletics and recreation has overall responsibility for all aspects of the Department of Athletics and Recreation, including the visionary leadership, strategic development, management, coordination, and supervision of a comprehensive NCAA Division III intercollegiate athletics program with 17 sport teams and approximately 363 scholar-athletes; leadership of the University's non-credit bearing physical education program; and oversight of robust community wellness programming including sailing and boating opportunities at the Boating Center in Santa Cruz Harbor, aquatics, club sports, intramurals, outdoor programs, and group fitness. Additionally, the director will oversee the department's non-credit-bearing physical education programming and be responsible for compliance with all institutional, Coast-to-Coast Conference, NCAA, Title IX, and other relevant policies, rules, and regulations. The director leads a team of over 50 coaches and administrative staff and oversees an operating budget of approximately $2.7 million.

The new director will be responsible for continuing to enhance the competitiveness of a Division III intercollegiate athletics program found within an academically rigorous liberal arts and research-centered learning environment. The director will work collaboratively with coaches on the recruitment and retention of scholar-athletes; will continue to focus on developing relationships with alumni; will encourage and promote an equitable and inclusive community among all students and departmental staff; and will continue to advance and support the recreational, intramural, club sport, and community engagement programs. The new director will demonstrate a dynamic understanding of the components of recreational activities and the physical education curriculum in the collaboration, development, and implementation of community-wide wellness strategies. As a strong institutional partner, the director provides leadership to staff and coaches and works collaboratively and productively with a wide range of constituents, including but not limited to the Campus Provost's office to which it reports, and to the offices of External Relations, Student Affairs, the Student Union Assembly, the greater Santa Cruz community, the Coast-to-Coast Conference, and the NCAA.

Qualifications

A bachelor's degree and significant, progressive professional experience leading a complex, dynamic, and diverse department, CPR/First Aid/AED certification or have the ability to obtain it within 60 calendar days of hire, and a valid driver's license is required. The successful candidate will possess a comprehensive understanding of intercollegiate athletics administration, scholar-athlete development, NCAA compliance within a Division III environment, and an appreciation for recreation and physical education as a component of a comprehensive education. The next director should be able to mentor and inspire the professional development of coaching staff, recreation staff, and athletics administrators; commit to supporting recreation in the holistic development of students; and have demonstrated strategic planning acumen. A collaborative management approach, coupled with superior communication and relationship-building skills; a commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and social responsibility; strong planning and fiscal competencies; a familiarity with program development and assessment; and excellent problem-solving abilities are also desired. An advanced degree and significant capital planning and fundraising experience are preferred.

Application and Nomination
University of California Santa Cruz has retained the services of Spelman Johnson, a leading national executive search firm, to assist with leading this search. Applications submitted on or before Friday, November 8, 2023, will receive full consideration; applications will continue to be reviewed until the position is filled. A resume and a position-specific cover letter that includes a Statement of Contributions to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (visit https://chancellor.ucsc.edu/recruitment/diversity-equity-inclusion-contributions-statements.html for instructions) must be submitted via the Spelman Johnson website at www.spelmanjohnson.com/open-positions.

Nominations for this position may be emailed to Dell Robison, athletics practice leader and senior consultant, at ddr@spelmanjohnson.com or Anne-Marie Kenney, senior consultant, at amk@spelmanjohnson.com. Applicants needing reasonable accommodation to participate in the application process should contact Spelman Johnson at 413-529-2895 or email info@spelmanjohnson.com.

The anticipated hiring range is $165,000 to $200,000 annually.

COVID Vaccination Requirement
The University of California has implemented a COVID-19 Vaccination Policy covering all employees. To be compliant with the policy, covered employees must submit proof of vaccination or have an approved exception or deferral, eight (8) weeks from the date of hire.

Visit the UC Santa Cruz website at www.ucsc.edu.

The University of California is an Equal Employment Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, age, or protected veteran status. UC Santa Cruz is committed to excellence through diversity and strives to establish a climate that welcomes, celebrates, and promotes respect for the contributions of all students and employees.

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