Assistant Athletic Director for Community Engagement

Kenyon College; Gambier (OH); On-site; USD 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Kenyon College seeks an Assistant Athletic Director for Community Engagement to lead initiatives connecting Athletics with students, alumni, faculty, staff, and the broader Kenyon community. The role oversees recreation, wellness, club and varsity sports, signature events, and engagement programs.

The position provides leadership for athletic programming, collaborates with campus partners, and supports Homecoming and other traditions, while upholding NCAA and institutional policies.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree required; Master's degree preferred.
• Three years of progressively responsible experience in collegiate athletics, campus recreation, student affairs, or a related field.
• Knowledge of NCAA Division III philosophy and regulations.
• Demonstrated experience supervising staff and student employees.
• Excellent organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to build collaborative relationships across campus.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement initiatives that increase engagement with Athletics, Fitness & Recreation across the Kenyon community.
• Enhance attendance and the overall fan experience at varsity athletic contests.
• Collaborate with campus partners to increase awareness and participation in departmental programs and events.
• Provide strategic leadership for recreation, wellness, and physical education activity programs.
• Serve as sport administrator for assigned varsity programs.
• Lead departmental traditions, signature events, and alumni engagement initiatives.

Skills

Leadership

Interpersonal skills

Communication skills

Collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree preferred

Job description

Kenyon College is conducting a search for a qualified candidate to fill the position of Assistant Athletic Director for Community Engagement.The Assistant Athletic Director for Community Engagement serves as a member of the Athletics, Fitness & Recreation leadership team and is responsible for developing meaningful connections between Athletics and the broader Kenyon community. This
position provides leadership for recreation and wellness programming, oversees assigned varsity sports and club sports, coordinates signature departmental events, and develops initiatives that enhance participation, attendance, and engagement across Athletics, Fitness & Recreation.

The Assistant Athletic Director serves as the department's lead administrator for initiatives that strengthen engagement among students, alumni, faculty, staff, parents, and the broader Kenyon community while advancing the mission of Kenyon College and theDepartment of Athletics, Fitness & Recreation.

Essential Responsibilities

Community Engagement:

• Develop and implement initiatives that increase engagement with Athletics, Fitness & Recreation across the Kenyon community.
• Enhance attendance and the overall fan experience at varsity athletic contests.
• Collaborate with Student Affairs, Admissions, Advancement, Athletics Communications, Residential Life, and other campus partners to increase awareness and participation in departmental programs and events.
• Utilize participation data and assessment tools to evaluate programming and identify opportunities for continuous improvement.
• Build partnerships that strengthen the connection between Athletics, Fitness &Recreation and the broader Kenyon community.

Recreation & Wellness:

• Provide strategic leadership and administrative oversight for the College's recreation, wellness, and physical education activity programs.
• Oversee the Kenyon Fit membership program, including membership operations, reporting, and participant engagement.
• Provide administrative oversight of the College's physical education activity program, including course offerings, instructor coordination, scheduling, andprogram assessment.
• Supervise recreation staff, student employees, and the part-time employee responsible for membership services.
• Provide administrative oversight of the College's club sports program.
• Evaluate participation trends and develop new programming that responds tostudent interests and community needs.

Sport Administration:

• Serve as the sport administrator for assigned varsity programs.
• Provide leadership and support to assigned coaches and programs.
• Promote compliance with NCAA, conference, institutional, and departmentalpolicies.
• Support departmental initiatives and special projects as assigned.

Signature Events & Community Traditions:

• Provide leadership for assigned departmental traditions, signature events, and community engagement initiatives.
• Serve as the Athletics Department liaison for Homecoming planning and implementation.
• Coordinate Athletics Hall of Fame activities and related alumni engagement initiatives.
• Collaborate with campus partners to plan and execute departmental events that strengthen engagement with Athletics, Fitness & Recreation.

Department Leadership:

• Serve as a member of the Athletics, Fitness & Recreation leadership team.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, professionalism, and exceptional customer service.
• Represent the department on institutional committees and collaborative initiatives as assigned.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree required; Master's degree preferred.
• Three years of progressively responsible experience in collegiate athletics, campus recreation, student affairs, or a related field.
• Knowledge of NCAA Division III philosophy and regulations.
• Demonstrated experience supervising staff and student employees.
• Excellent organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to build collaborative relationships across campus.

Kenyon College is a nationally prominent, private liberal arts college where academic excellence goes hand in hand with a strong sense of community and close relationships among students and professors.

Compensation and Benefits

Salaries at Kenyon are competitive and commensurate with experience. In addition to an attractive salary, Kenyon offers benefits for employees and their family members. Children of employees are eligible for 100% tuition waivers at Kenyon, and through the Great Lakes Colleges Association, children of employees are eligible for 90% tuition waivers at twenty-three other of the nation's finest liberal arts colleges.

We also offer health, dental and vision insurance, TIAA retirement, and many other benefits, including provisions for a spouse, families, and domestic partners. Details about benefits as well as conditions of employment are described more fully in our Staff Handbook.

Kenyon is a unique place to live and work. To discover why it should be your next home, click here.

Kenyon College is an equal opportunity employer, and we welcomeapplications from all qualified individuals. It is the College's policy to evaluate qualified applicants without regard to race, color, national origin, ancestry, sex, gender, gender identity, gender expression,sexual orientation, physical and/or mental disability, age, religion, medical condition, veteran status,marital status, or any other characteristic protected by institutional policy or state, local, or federal law.Kenyon College has a strong commitment to an inclusiveenvironment thatwelcomes all voices and perspectives.