Associate Director of Athletics for Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL)

Utah State University; Illinois; On-site; USD 60,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

An established industry player is seeking a dynamic Associate Director of Athletics for Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) initiatives. This pivotal role will empower student-athletes to build personal brands and maximize NIL opportunities. You will manage NIL platforms, provide educational programming, and foster relationships with key stakeholders. The ideal candidate will have a strategic mind, a background in business development or sports administration, and a passion for supporting student-athletes in their entrepreneurial journeys. Join a forward-thinking institution dedicated to innovation and excellence in athletics.

Benefits

Health Insurance

Retirement Plan

Professional Development Opportunities

Flexible Work Hours

Employee Assistance Programs

Qualifications

• 5+ years in business development or sports administration.
• Experience in NIL coordination or related role.

Responsibilities

• Coordinate NIL initiatives ensuring compliance with NCAA regulations.
• Develop educational programming for student-athletes on NIL opportunities.

Skills

Business Development

Athletics Compliance

Project Management

Communication Skills

Social Media Marketing

Personal Branding

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Business

Master's Degree

Tools

Google Suite

Microsoft Office

ARMS

Teamworks

Job description

Overview

Utah State University (USU) is currently hiring an Associate Director of Athletics for Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) (Assistant Director in HRIS System). This position will be a pivotal member of the Athletics Department, driving initiatives that empower student-athletes to build their personal brands, develop business acumen, and maximize NIL opportunities. This role involves managing NIL platforms, providing educational programming, and fostering relationships with key internal and external stakeholders, including coaches, compliance staff, donors, sponsors, and multimedia partners.

The Assistant Director will oversee all NIL-related operations, from creating educational resources and analyzing transaction data to coordinating mentorship programs and ensuring compliance with NCAA, state, and institutional regulations. This position requires a strategic and innovative approach, integrating NIL efforts with the university's mission while staying current on evolving legislative and industry trends. The Assistant Director will also serve as the primary liaison to the Office of Legal Affairs, compliance staff, and other university units, ensuring adherence to all applicable laws and policies.

Responsibilities

NIL Coordination and Oversight:

• Serve as the primary coordinator for the department's NIL initiatives, reviewing and processing NIL opportunities to ensure NCAA, conference, and university compliance.
• Develop and implement comprehensive NIL strategies that support student-athletes' personal branding, entrepreneurship, and business development.
• Monitor NIL activities, social media platforms, and other engagements to ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
• Work with external NIL platforms (e.g., INFLCR, ARMS, Opendorse) to manage NIL-related documentation, education, and reporting.
• Ensure NIL-related content is aligned with the department's overall messaging and mission.
• Stay updated on the latest NIL trends, legislative advancements, and NCAA compliance regulations.
• Provide strategic recommendations to ensure the university's NIL initiatives remain innovative and competitive within the evolving landscape.

Regulatory Affiars & Reporting:

• Collaborate with the compliance unit to ensure that all NIL activities comply with NCAA, state, and institutional regulations.
• Point of contact for policy-related questions and communicate with the Office of Legal Affairs regarding state law application and legal concerns related to NIL.
• Generate, analyze, and distribute monthly NIL transaction reports, tracking the success of student-athletes' NIL activities.
• Develop and produce an annual NIL report, summarizing key activities, transactions, and strategic outcomes related to the NIL program.
• Share insights and outcomes with key university leadership and external partners.

Educational Initiatives and Student-Athlete Support:

• Coordinate NIL educational programming for student-athletes, coaches, and staff, including personal branding, contract negotiations, and financial literacy.
• Deliver programming on NIL-related topics, including personal branding, marketing strategies, and business acumen.
• Support student-athletes in developing and evaluating NIL opportunities that align with their goals.
• Assist with student-athlete development initiatives tied to NCAA compliance and NIL.

Stakeholder and Community Engagement:

• Build and maintain strong connections with external partners, including sponsors, donors, and other key stakeholders to enhance NIL opportunities.
• Cultivate relationships with internal units such as compliance, student-athlete development, external engagement, multimedia rights holders, and the Office of Innovation.
• Serve as a point of contact for NIL inquiries from internal and external stakeholders, including boosters, agents, and prospective students.
• Represent the Athletics Department on policy related and NIL-related calls, webinars, and educational workshops.

Additional Responsibilities:

• Support game management operations for select events.
• Other duties as assigned

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in business, sports management, law, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in business development, athletics compliance, or sports administration.
  • Including at least one year of experience in NIL coordination, or a related role (internship or graduate assistantship included).

Preferred Qualifications

• Master's degree.
• Familiarity with NIL-related policies and industry.
• Experience with digital content creation and social media marketing.
• Background in personal brand management or creative content strategy.
• Proven ability to work with diverse populations and high-energy personalities.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Knowledge of state law impacts on policies, procedures, and guidelines related to NIL
• Strong project management, organization and detail orientation with an ability to manage and track large amounts of information for accuracy and timeliness
• Effective written and verbal communication skills
• Ability to follow processes and procedures with attention to detail.
• Strong interpersonal skills to deal effectively with individuals of all levels and work with a diverse group of students, coaches, faculty and staff.
• Proficiency in technology including Google Suite, Microsoft Office suite and social media applications. Knowledge of ARMS or Teamworks preferred.
• Knowledge of and commitment to NCAA and University rules and regulations; ability to understand, interpret and provide compliance-related information sessions.
• Ability to manage multiple tasks effectively in a dynamic environment.

Required Documents

Along with the online application, please attach:

Resume/CV to be uploaded at the beginning of your application in the Candidate Profile under “Resume/CV"

Name and contact information for 3 professional references to be entered into Candidate Profile

Cover letter to be typed/pasted at the end of your application

**Document size may not exceed 10 MB.**

Advertised Salary

Commensurate with experience, plus excellent benefits

ADA

Employees work indoors and are protected from weather and/or contaminants, but not, necessarily, occasional temperature changes. The employee is regularly required to sit and often uses repetitive hand motions.

University Highlights

Founded in 1888, Utah State University is Utah’s premier land-grant, public service university. As an R1 research institution, Utah State is dedicated to advancing knowledge and serving the public good through innovative research and scholarly activities that are grounded in reciprocal engagement with local, regional, and global communities. USU prepares students to be active, civically engaged leaders who are prepared to address critical societal challenges. Dedicated to providing a high-quality and affordable education, USU remains a leader in research, discovery, and public impact.

USU enrolls 28,900 students, both online and in person atlocations throughout the state. Utah State’s 30 locations include a main campus in Logan, Utah, residential campuses in Price and Blanding, and six additional statewide campuses, along with education centers serving every county. USU Online educates students from all 50 states and 55 countries. For over 25 years, USU Extension has served and engaged Utahns in all of Utah’s counties.

Competing at the NCAA Division I level, USU is a proud member of the Mountain West Conference and will join the Pac-12 Conference beginning in the 2026-2027 season. The Aggies’ long-standing tradition of athletic and academic excellence is exemplified by conference championships in multiple sports, reflecting USU's commitment to perseverance and achievement.

Utah State is dedicated to fostering a community where all individuals feel respected, valued, and supported. We seek to recruit, hire, and retain people from all walks of life who willchampion excellence in education, research, discovery, outreach, and service.We believe that promoting a strong sense of community and belonging empowers and engages all members of USU to thrive and be successful.Forbes recognized our commitment to employees when they namedUtah State the best employer in Utahin 2023.Learn moreabout USU.

The university provides aDual Career Assistance Programto support careers for partners who are also seeking employment.Additionally,USU is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities. To request a reasonable accommodation for a disability, contact the university’s ADA Coordinator in the Office of Human Resources at [phone] [e-mail].

*updated 02/2025

Notice of Non-discrimination

In its programs and activities, including in admissions and employment, Utah State University does not discriminate or tolerate discrimination, including harassment, based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other status protected by University policy, Title IX, or any other federal, state, or local law.

The following individuals have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the application of Title IX and its implementing regulations and/or USU’s non-discrimination policies:

Executive Director of the Office of EquityMatthew Pinner,[e-mail],Distance Education Rm. 401, 435-797-1266

Title IX CoordinatorCody Carmichael,[e-mail], Distance Education Rm. 404, 435-797-1266

Mailing address: 5100 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322

For further information regarding non-discrimination, please visithttps://equity.usu.edu/, or contact:

U.S. Department of Education,Office of Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights,800-421-3481,[e-mail]

*updated 09/2023