Director of Student Athlete Support Services

Gardner-Webb University; Shelby (NC); On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Retirement matching

Tuition remission

Health insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Short term/long term disability

Life insurance

Paid time off

Paid sick leave

17 paid holidays

Wellness opportunities

On-campus health center

Job summary

Gardner-Webb University in Boiling Springs, NC, invites applications for aDirector of Student-Athlete Support Services. The role oversees comprehensive academic support, personal development, and well-being programs to promote student-athlete success.

You will work with coaches, campus partners, and compliance staff to ensure NCAA progression toward degree requirements. The Director collaborates with the athletics leadership team to create an environment where student-athletes thrive

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree required.
• 1-3 years’ experience in a related field preferred.
• Proficient in MS Word, Excel, and Outlook.
• Strong written, verbal, organizational, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Commitment to student-athlete development and academic success.
• Experience with NCAA academic requirements.

Responsibilities

• Provide individualized academic support and planning for student-athletes.
• Monitor academic performance, attendance, and NCAA progress toward degrees.
• Collaborate with compliance and academic staff on eligibility and degree requirements.
• Assist with transfer credit evaluations for prospective student-athletes.
• Develop academic success plans for at-risk students.
• Conduct regular one-on-one meetings to assess progress and resources.
• Coordinate tutoring, study hall, and learning strategies with Student Success.
• Maintain records related to advising, progress, and interventions.
• Advocate for student-athlete success with campus partners.
• Assist with course registration, scheduling, and degree exploration.
• Participate in departmental meetings and professional development.
• Maintain knowledge of NCAA, Big South, and GWU policies.
• Contribute to a positive, inclusive culture within athletics.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Skills

MS Office

Communication

Organizational skills

Interpersonal skills

Multitasking

NCAA compliance

Student-athlete development

Higher education experience

Education

Bachelor's Degree

Job description

Reporting to the Senior Associate AD / SWA, the Director ofStudent-Athlete Support Services is responsible for overseeingcomprehensive support services designed to promote the academicsuccess, personal development, well-being, retention, and overallsuccess of student-athletes. The Director serves as a key member ofthe athletics leadership team and collaborates with coaches,academic staff, campus partners, and other stakeholders to createan environment where student-athletes can thrive academically,personally, and athletically. The Director of Student-AthleteSupport Services is responsible for adhering to NCAA progresstoward degree requirements as well as academic requirementsoutlined in Bylaw 14 of the NCAA Manual.

Key Responsibilities

• Provide individualized academic support to student-athletes,including academic planning, course selection, degree progress, andgraduation planning.
• Monitor student-athlete academic performance, attendance,academic standing, and NCAA progress toward degreerequirements.
• Assist with monitoring eligibility and progress-toward-degreerequirements in collaboration with the athletic department'scompliance and academic services staff.
• Assist with transfer credit evaluations for prospectivestudent-athletes
• Develop individualized academic success plans forstudent-athletes who are academically at risk or experiencingacademic challenges.
• Conduct regular one-on-one meetings with student-athletes toassess academic progress, identify barriers, establish goals, andprovide appropriate resources.
• Collaborate with coaches and athletic department staffregarding student-athlete academic progress while maintainingappropriate confidentiality.
• Coordinate academic support services, including tutoring, studyhall, learning strategies, time management, organization, and testpreparation with the Division of Student Success
• Track and maintain accurate records related to academicadvising, student-athlete progress, degree completion, and academicsupport interventions.
• Communicate with campus academic units, faculty, advisors,learning specialists, and other university resources to advocatefor student-athlete success.
• Assist student-athletes with course registration, scheduleplanning, major exploration, academic transitions, and preparationfor graduation.
• Participate in departmental meetings, professional development,student-athlete programming, and special projects.
• Maintain current knowledge of NCAA, Big South Conference, andGardner-Webb University academic policies and procedures.
• Contribute to a positive, inclusive, and student-centeredculture within the athletic department.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor’s Degree
• 1-3 years’ experience in a related field is stronglypreferred.
• Excellent computer proficiency (MS Office – Word, Excel andOutlook).
• Excellent written, verbal, organizational, and interpersonalcommunication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities and work effectively in a fast-paced environment.
• Demonstrated commitment to student-athlete development andacademic success.
• Experience with NCAA Academic requirements

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous experience working in a Division I collegiate athleticdepartment or athletic academic support environment.
• Familiarity with NCAA eligibility and progress-toward-degreerequirements.
• Experience working with academic advising or student-athletemanagement systems.
• Experience supporting students from diverse backgrounds and/orstudents who are academically at risk.
• Experience developing academic success programming, workshops,or student development initiatives.

Travel Requirements

• Weekends and some travel may occur

Competitive Benefits

• Retirement matching
• Tuition remission
• Health insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Short term/long term disability
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Paid sick leave
• 17 paid holidays
• Wellness opportunities
• On-campus health center

Gardner-Webb University is a Christian university committed tohelping individuals become more in faith, learning, and service.Located in Boiling Springs, North Carolina, GWU offers the benefitsof a close-knit community with easy access to Charlotte, Asheville,and the greater Greenville-Spartanburg region. Founded in 1905 androoted in the Baptist tradition, the University now servesapproximately 3,000 students across more than 80 undergraduate andgraduate programs. As a Carnegie Doctoral/Professional institution,Gardner-Webb is dedicated to academic excellence, leadershipdevelopment, and meaningful service to others.

Our community reflects a shared commitment to One Webb, creating anenvironment where people support one another, pursue their purpose,and work together to make a lasting impact. GWU attracts studentsfrom across the nation and around the world and competes in NCAADivision I athletics with 22 teams and more than 500student-athletes.