Laboratory Schools: Assistant Athletics Director

uchicago; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 85,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Chicago Laboratory Schools in Chicago seeks an Assistant Athletic Director to support the management of the school's athletic department, overseeing over 50 teams across 17 sports and more than 90 coaching positions.

The role requires strong organization, budgeting, event planning, CMS and social media management to enhance Lab’s athletic presence, plus collaboration with coaches, administrators, and leagues.

Qualifications

• CMS management experience required.
• Experience managing athletic programs preferred.
• Strong organizational and budgeting abilities.

Responsibilities

• Plan, schedule, and supervise athletic events.
• Coordinate resources like equipment and transportation.
• Manage game-day operations and staff.
• Recruit, hire, and mentor coaches.
• Maintain certification and IHSA compliance.
• Grow Lab athletics’ social media presence.
• Update athletic website and calendar.
• Represent Lab at league meetings.
• Collaborate with administrators to align with Lab’s mission.
• Foster relationships with Chicago-area schools.

Skills

CMS management

Social media management

Budgeting

Event planning

Data management

Coaching recruitment

IHSA compliance

Background checks

CPR/AED training

Job description

Department

Lab School PE/Athletics

About 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