Laboratory Schools: Assistant Athletics Director

The University of Chicago; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 74,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

The University of Chicago Laboratory Schools seeks an Assistant Athletic Director to support management of the school's athletic department, overseeing 50+ teams across 17 sports and more than 94 coaching positions. The role requires organization, budgeting, event planning, CMS and social media management to enhance Lab's athletic presence.

Regular evenings and weekends are required; leadership in growing social media and coordinating with coaches are key components of this role.

Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Sports Administration or Educational Leadership or related field.
• At least four years of experience working with students in an independent or public school setting.
• At least five years as a middle/high school coach in an independent school.
• Knowledge of graphic, publishing, and web page software.
• Experience managing social media.

Responsibilities

• Plan, schedule, execute, and supervise athletic events including games, practices, tournaments, and related school events.
• Coordinate with coaches to ensure resources such as equipment, facilities, personnel, and transportation are available.
• Coordinate game-day operations: officials, scorekeepers, security, medical coverage, ticketing, transportation, and staff.
• Serve as administrator on duty for assigned home contests, including evenings and weekends.
• Assist in coordinating practice schedules and facility usage with internal departments and outside organizations.
• Support recruitment, hiring, onboarding, mentoring, and evaluation of coaches.
• Maintain coach certifications, background checks, CPR/AED training, and IHSA compliance documentation.
• Organize and manage uniform distribution and return; manage athletic equipment inventory.
• Maintain records of schedules, rosters, results, and statistics; report to administrators and leagues.
• Assist in budgets, policies, procedures, safety plans, and risk management for athletic programs.
• Provide leadership to coaches, athletes, and parents; ensure compliance with school policies.
• Collaborate to promote growth of athletic programs in line with Lab's mission and values.
• Lead social media expansion for Lab athletics and oversee content across platforms.
• Manage athletic calendar on the website with score updates and venue changes.
• Represent the school during games and league meetings; foster relationships with Chicago-area schools.
• Analyze data and evaluate team performance to inform strategies and training.
• Ensure compliance with NCAA and University rules and regulations.

Skills

Organizational skills

Communication skills

Leadership

Time management

Team collaboration

Education

Master’s degree in Sports Administration or Educational Leadership

Tools

Graphic software

Publishing software

Web design tools

Job description

DepartmentLab School PE/AthleticsAbout the Department

At the University of Chicago Laboratory Schools, students in Nursery through Grade 12 experience a world-class educational journey. Founded in 1896 by John Dewey as a place for educators to develop and explore novel approaches to pedagogy and curriculum, Lab continues to provide excitement and imagination in learning to this day. Academic rigor, experiential learning, and intellectual discourse are hallmarks of a Lab education. Lab educators are recognized for excellence in teaching and pride themselves on innovation in the classroom. Students in every grade have access to unparalleled resources, and all members of the Lab community benefit by partnerships and connections with the University of Chicago. Families who choose Lab care deeply about curiosity, inquiry, and creativity. No less than scholarship, Lab's mission prioritizes honoring diversity and exhibiting kindness. We are committed to building and supporting a teaching and learning community where young people see aspects of their backgrounds and identities reflected around them, where they feel a deep sense of belonging, and where they discover and use their voices to full effect. Today, 53-59 percent of Lab's student body are students of color. Families report speaking nearly 40 different languages in their homes. Approximately 60 percent of Lab families are also affiliated with the University of Chicago. Half of our families live in Hyde Park, and the rest come from across Chicago, the suburbs, and northwestern Indiana. Inclusion is a fundamental value at Lab, such that we celebrate every facet of community members' identities, and even where we disagree, we emphasize respect, civility, and maintaining a spirit of community. Lab seeks the finest employees to join our vibrant learning community. We employ people with a wide range of skills and training in many different disciplines, who have in common a love of learning and the wish to inspire that same love of learning in young people. We seek candidates for employment who thrive in an educational environment. We provide a great professional home for those committed to collaboration, ongoing personal and professional growth, and cultivating positive relationships. In turn, we strive to ensure that Lab is a joyful, welcoming, and inspiring place to work. Through our connection to the University, faculty, staff, and administrators enjoy benefits and opportunities that would be nearly impossible to match in any other environment.

Job Summary

The Assistant Athletic Director will be responsible for supporting the management of the school's athletic department. The Lab athletic program consists of over 50 teams across 17 sports and supports over 94 coaching positions. assistant athletic director will collaborate with the Assistant Athletic Director and Director of Athletics to maintain and organize a robust athletic program. The management of the department requires organization, communication, collaboration, budgeting, event planning, and data management skills. Additionally, content management system (CMS) skills and experience managing social media accounts are required as this position is to enhance and manage Lab's athletic online presence through the promotion and communication of the athletic program.

Responsibilities

• Assist in the planning, scheduling, execution, and supervision of all athletic events including games, practices, tournaments, and other related school events.
• Coordinate with coaches to ensure that all necessary resources are available including equipment, uniforms, facilities, personnel, and transportation.
• Coordinate game-day operations, including officials, scorekeepers, security, medical coverage, ticketing, transportation, and event staff.
• Serve as the administrator on duty for assigned home athletic contests, including evenings and weekends.
• Assist in coordinating practice schedules and facility usage with internal departments and outside organizations.
• Support the recruitment, hiring, onboarding, mentoring, and evaluation of coaches.
• Maintain coach certifications, background checks, CPR/AED training, and IHSA compliance documentation.
• Organize and manage uniform distribution and return.
• Manage athletic equipment inventory.
• Maintain accurate records of athletic programs including schedules, rosters, results, and statistics and ensure timely reporting to school administrators and leagues.
• Assist the Athletic Department in development and implementation of budgets, as well as policies and procedures for the safe and effective management of athletic programs, including emergency procedures, health and safety protocols, Athletic and Coaches Handbook, and risk management plans.
• Provide leadership and support to coaches, athletes, and parents in promoting positive attitudes, sportsmanship, and teamwork, and ensure compliance with all school policies.
• Collaborate with school administrators to promote and support the growth and development of the athletic programs in alignment with Lab's mission, vision, and values.
• Take a leadership role in growing the social media presence of Lab athletics through the development of a social media strategy that includes content development and dissemination on Lab's institutional social media platforms-Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram-and updating and maintaining Lab's athletic instagram account.
• Manage content on the school's website, including regular updates to the athletic calendar, with score updates, game schedules, and venue changes.
• Represent the school and athletic department during games and league meetings.
• Foster relationships with Chicago area schools to grow our athletic opportunities.
• Analyzes data and evaluates performance of teams in order to develop, implement, and teach game strategies.
• Ensures student-athletes and athletics representatives are informed of and comply with NCAA and University rules and regulations.
• Develops and implements new instructional, training, and conditioning programs.
• Teaches relevant skills to student-athletes during team practices, games, and individual/small group training sessions.
• Performs other related work as needed.

Preferred Qualifications

• Education: Master’s degree in Sports Administration, Educational Leadership, or a related field.
• Experience: A minimum of four years of experience working with students at an independent or public school, or comparable experience.
• A minimum of five years experience as a middle school/high school sports coach, in an independent school setting.
• Knowledge of graphic, publishing, and web page software.
• Knowledge of database design, input, and management.
• Experience with Chicago school sports leagues.
• Experience managing social media.

Preferred Competencies

• Excellent collaborative, interpersonal skills and positive attitude.
• Excellent organizational skills.
• Attention to detail.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to handle multiple, concurrent tasks and constant interruptions.
• Strong problem-solving skills.
• Creativity.
• Experience coaching sports.
• Ability to operate an automobile and a valid driver's license.

Working Conditions

Regular evening and weekend work is required throughout the academic year. Ability to attend athletic events on and off campus. Ability to lift and move athletic equipment up to 50 pounds. Frequent walking, standing, and movement between athletic facilities. Valid driver's license required; ability to operate school vehicles.

Application Documents

• Resume (required)
• Cover Letter (required)
• References (required)

The University of Chicago uses AI-assisted tools to streamline and augment some recruitment processes; however, AI is not used to make hiring decisions.

Job Family

Student Affairs & ServicesRole ImpactIndividual ContributorScheduled Weekly Hours40Drug Test RequiredNoHealth Screen RequiredNoMotor Vehicle Record Inquiry RequiredNoPay Rate TypeSalaryFLSA StatusExemptPay Range$73,600.00 - $95,250.00

Posting Statement

The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination. Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form. All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history. A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment. Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position. The University of Chicago's Annual Security & Fire Safety Report (Report) provides information about University offices and programs that provide safety support, crime and fire statistics, emergency response and communications plans, and other policies and information. The Report can be accessed online at: http://securityreport.uchicago.edu. Paper copies of the Report are available, upon request, from the University of Chicago Police Department, 850 E. 61st Street, Chicago, IL 60637.