Associate Director, Strategy and Special Projects

careers-nyu; New York (NY); On-site; USD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

The Tisch Institute of Global Sport at New York University School of Professional Studies (NYU SPS) seeks an Associate Director, Strategy and Special Projects to oversee daily administrative, fiscal, and operational functions and to direct staff across units. The role leads strategic partnerships with Flagship, Applied, and Talent Partners and advances career pathways and global immersion initiatives.

The position requires 5+ years of executive operational leadership in higher education or

Qualifications

• Requires 5+ years of progressive leadership experience in executive operational management, business development, team management, and strategic partnership cultivation.
• Direct experience directing departmental budgets and driving business operations in complex organizational or higher education settings.
• Experience structuring, pitching, negotiating, and executing high-value business development deals or corporate-academic partnerships.
• Advanced operational, fiscal, and business management skills with knowledge of global sports industry trends, brand sponsorships, and experiential learning models.
• Excellent executive-level communication, negotiation, and stakeholder navigation with the ability to interface with C-suite and university leadership.

Responsibilities

• Oversee daily administrative, fiscal, and operational functions.
• Direct staff management and align organizational goals across academic and administrative units.
• Lead the Institute's strategic industry partnerships across Flagship, Applied, and Talent Partners.
• Operationalize strategic priorities such as career pathways and global immersion programs.
• Represent NYU SPS in the global sports business education landscape.

Skills

Executive communication

Negotiation

Strategic partnerships

Cross-functional leadership

Budget management

Education

Bachelor's degree (related field)

Advanced degree (MBA/MS/MEd)

Job description

Position Summary

The Tisch Institutue of Global Sport is seeking an Associate Director, Strategy and Special Projects to oversee daily administrative, fiscal, and operational functions, direct staff management, and maintain organizational alignment across academic and administrative units. Lead role in building, recruiting, and managing the Institute’s strategic industry partnership across three defined models: Flagship Partners, Applied Partners, and Talent Partners. Operate at the intersection of higher education and the global sports industry, operationalize key strategic priorities—enhancing structured career pathways, expanding global immersion programs (e.g., London, Abu Dhabi, Los Angeles), and cementing NYU’s position as a preeminent global destination for sports business education.

Qualifications

Required Education: Bachelor's Degree in a related field.Preferred Education: Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, Sports Management, Higher Education Leadership, Corporate Relations. or Master's Degree MBA, M.S. in Sports Business/Management, M.Ed. in Higher Education Administration, or related advanced degree.Required Experience: 5+ years of progressive leadership experience combining executive operational management, business development, team management, and strategic partnership cultivation. Proven track record of managing staff, directing departmental budgets, and driving business operations within a complex organizational or higher education environment. Direct experience structuring, pitching, negotiating, and executing high-value business development deals or corporate-academic partnerships.Required Skills, Knowledge and Abilities: Advanced operational, fiscal, and business management skills. Deep understanding of global sports industry trends, brand sponsorships, sports media, and experiential learning models. Exceptional executive-level communication, negotiation, and stakeholder navigation skills, with the ability to interface with C-suite executives, university leadership, faculty, and students. Strategic project management skills with a history of driving cross-functional initiatives from planning through execution.

Additional Information

In compliance with NYC's Pay Transparency Act, the annual base salary range for this position is USD $80,000.00 to USD $100,000.00. New York University considers factors such as (but not limited to) scope and responsibilities of the position, candidate's work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, as well as, market and organizational considerations when extending an offer. This pay range represents base pay only and excludes any additional items such as incentives, bonuses, clinical compensation, or other items.

Since 1934, the NYU School of Professional Studies (NYU SPS) has been a deeply respected institution of higher education that is grounded in applied learning. From its early years, training returning World War II veterans to fulfill the nation’s urgent need for skilled technical workers, it has evolved into a professional education powerhouse that offers 20 graduate degrees, 14 bachelor’s degrees for undergraduate students, four associate’s degrees, and a plethora of continuing education courses and credentials.

NYU SPS is a thought leader, and serves as an incubator for new ideas in industries that are constantly changing. We prepare students for in-demand jobs in fields including real estate, hospitality and tourism; global affairs; global sports management; publishing; marketing and public relations; project management; executive coaching and organizational consulting, human capital management; information technology, management and systems; translation; publishing and professional writing. NYU SPS is focused on building skills that open doors to opportunities in emerging fields and global markets. NYU SPS faculty members are leading experts in their areas of discipline, with a hands‑on approach that encourages students to push beyond their limits and to break new ground.

NYU aims to be among the greenest urban campuses in the country and carbon neutral by 2040. Learn more at nyu.edu/nyugreen.

NYU is an Equal Opportunity Employer and is committed to a policy of equal treatment and opportunity in every aspect of its recruitment and hiring process without regard to age, alienage, caregiver status, childbirth, citizenship status, color, creed, disability, domestic violence victim status, ethnicity, familial status, gender and/or gender identity or expression, marital status, military status, national origin, parental status, partnership status, predisposing genetic characteristics, pregnancy, race, religion, reproductive health decision making, sex, sexual orientation, unemployment status, veteran status, or any other legally protected basis. All interested persons are encouraged to apply at all levels.