School Athletic Director

Chicago Public Schools; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 85,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Chicago Public Schools seeks an Athletic Director to lead a comprehensive high school athletics program. The role oversees staff, budgeting, eligibility, scheduling, transportation, venues, and safety, reporting to the Executive Director of CPS Sports Administration. Strong leadership and collaboration with principals and coaches are essential.

Required are a Bachelor’s degree and NIAAA certification, with experience in interscholastic sports administration and program development.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced degree preferred.
• NIAAA certification or equivalent athletic administration credential.
• Experience leading high school athletic programs and budgets.

Responsibilities

• Oversee development and implementation of a comprehensive high school athletics program.
• Supervise licensed and non-licensed athletics staff and coaches.
• Manage eligibility, scheduling, transportation, and venue operations.
• Develop and monitor budgets, procurement, and contracts.
• Ensure compliance with board policies, Title IX, IHSA, and safety standards.

Skills

Leadership

Budget management

Staff supervision

Communication

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Education or related field

NIAAA Certified Athletic Administrator

Tools

Microsoft Office

Google Suite

Job description

CPS Careers | Search | Apply | Get Hired

Posting Date

Posting Date

: Aug 18, 2026, 6:20:46 PM

Primary Location

Primary Location

: West Side-2345 South Christiana Avenue (David G Farragut Career Acad)

JOB DESCRIPTION ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Description - External

Athletic Director

Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is the third-largest school district in the United States, serving over 330,000 students across 500 schools and employing nearly 36,000 staff members, most of whom are teachers. CPS has ambitious goals to ensure that every student, in every school and every neighborhood, has access to a world-class learning experience that prepares each for success in college, career, and civic life. To fulfill this mission, we make three commitments to our students, their families, and all Chicagoans: academic progress, financial stability, and integrity. Five core principles are embedded within these commitments: high-quality, rigorous instruction; talented and empowered educators; safety and support; economic stability; and collective impact.

Reporting to the Executive Director of CPS Sports Administration and under the direction of the Building Principal, the Athletic Director plays a critical role in overseeing the development and implementation of a comprehensive high school athletics program.

The Athletic Director will be held accountable for the following responsibilities:

Administering the extra-curricular athletic programs

Supervises licensed and non-licensed staff in Athletics, including Assistant Athletic Directors , coaches , trainers , and support staff.

Maintains files and records required by policy, regulation , law, and good practice. (Player record cards, Aspen-eligibility, physicals, transfer paperwork, transportation requests, coaching certifications)

Responds to requests for information . (From OSA, IHSA, FOIA, Title IX, Law Department, Colleges for recruiting, Press releases)

Implements board policies and advises the administration on regulatory matters related to athletics.

Assesses department needs through consultation with students , staff, and parents. (Equipment, budgeting, transportation, upgrades to venues, technology)

Evaluates the ext ra-curricular athletic programs and engages n long-term planning. (Adding or dropping programs or levels, Title IX requirements, additional coaches or trainers)

Develops and updates handbooks, brochures, and policy manuals.

Informs the school community about extracurricular athletic programs. (Through websites, emails, media, and social media)

Stay current on research, issues, and regulations related to athletic programs. (Academic, Racial, Gender, and socio-economic issues in sport.)

Develop a grade-check system for student-athletes.

Maintains and assures that all eligibility reports and lists of participation are submitted weekly.

Develops and updates team schedules on all school platforms for public viewing.

Oversees transportation for all team travel.

Develops a school safety plan for every home venue.

Monitors and Supports the Academic Performance of Student-Athletes

Oversees Individual Study Plan (ISP) process for academically at-risk student-athletes

Develops academic support mechanisms for the benefit of student-athletes, including but not limited to: study hall, advising, postsecondary guidance, etc.

.

Directs and Coordinates the Fiscal Operations within the Departments

Engages in fiscal planning, short and long-range.

Assists in preparing and implementing the school system budget and coordinates department purchasing.

Recommends capital improvements and negotiated contract agreements.

Formulates specifications to be incorporated into contracts and bids.

Serves as a consultant in the selection of supplies and materials.

Supervises all ticket sales and fundraising events of the athletic programs.

Administers the receipt and disbursement of student activity funds.

Assists OSA with hiring and payment of coaching staff.

Supervises and guides the planning and execution of all parent volunteer organizations.

Creates the Schedules for All Operations and Activities within the Departments

Issue timely announcements of upcoming events and deadlines.

Schedules and pays officials, athletic trainers, ticket takers, announcers, clock operators, and police for supervision of home contests.

Hire, schedule, and pay lifeguards for all aquatic sports.

Arranges transportation for athletic contest participants.

Verifies each athlete's eligibility for participation in each contest..

Arranges all details of visiting teams' needs, as appropriate.

Provides emergency healthcare and first aid treatment.

Arranges field, gymnasium, and aquatics center practice schedules, including
arrangements for summer programs and non-school use of playing fields and
Facilities, if applicable.

Managing contracts for every athletic contest

Coordinates with CPS for stadium usage

Coordinates with the Chicago Park District to execute IGAs for athletic facilities

Recommen ds , Ma nages, Supervises , and Evaluate s Staff

Rec ru its , screens , interviews, and re commen ds pros p ecti v e c o ac he s.

Mak es c oac hing assignment r ecom mendation s .

Ensures all coaches and staff are CPS and State certification compliant

Supervise s and evaluates coachin g staff and other athletic staff.

Develops and applies a coaching evaluation system.

Supports o pportun i ties for profess i o nal develo pment for the coach i ng s taf f .

Mo nitor s staff time and a t ten dance at p r of es s i o n al meet i ng s .

Inv estigate complaints regarding employee co n duct or per f orm ance.

Enc ou r age s the development and us e of new stra t egies and ph i l o s o p h i e s .

Pro vides st a f f leadership to promote t h e district's athlet ic objectives.

Ass ists in the development of specifications for construction projects.

Assists in identifying and using community resources for the athletic program.

Limited facilities, which require the athletic directors to procure space for teams outside of CPS facilities

Supervises Departmental Activities and Operations

Coordinate public or special events. (Homecoming, Senior Days, Award Ceremonies, Fundraisers)

Supervises part-time student help, including clinical hours .

Develops and implements appropriate rules and regulations governing the conduct of athletic activities.

Oversees the implementation of the insurance program covering school athletes

Complete incident reports for minor to traumatic injuries.

Works to resolve conflicts; anticipates and resolves potential problems.

Organizes , plans, and coordinates departmental awards, including recognition of alumn i, former coaches, and staff.

Public Relations: Establishes a Positive Image for Departments within the School and the Community

Interacts and aids in the development of feeder prog r ams .

Plans and supervises an annual recognition program for school athletes.

Keeps records of the results of school athletic contests , maintains a record file of all award winners, and announces athletic scholarships .

Conducts in-season team meetings to review the student code of conduct.

Ma inta in s a pprop ri ate professional re l ationsh ips w ith par e n t s, p a rent groups (e. g ., A th tic Bo oster s), school volun t eers, and outside agencies

Respon ds to requ e sts for i nformati on .

Oversees Summer Athletic P rogramm ing

Oversees the su m mer programm i ng to ensure State and City compliance.

Per forms ot her re l ated duties as assigned t o ens ure the eff i c ie n t and eff ect i ve fu nct i oning of summer athletics.

Education and Credentials Required:

Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or University in Education.

NIAAA Certified Athletic Administrator

Experience Required:

Minimum of three (3) years of experience in sports program administration and/or interscholastic sports

Supervisory experience preferred

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

Ability to interact and communicate effectively with a variety of audiences.

Ability to coordinate and manage all aspects of the athletic program, including financials.

Ability to motivate student athletes and coaches.

Ability to make rational decisions under stressful conditions.

Proficiency using technology and applications, including Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Google Suite, and web content editing software .

Other Requirements:

This role requires a non-traditional schedule which includes evening and weekend hours based on the individual school’s needs. Hours may change seasonally.

Transportation requirements (do they need a valid driver’s license? Access to a car or just reliable transportation?

Conditions of Employment

As a condition of employment with the Chicago Public Schools (CPS), employees are required to:

Establish and Maintain Chicago Residency

Employees are required to live within the geographic boundaries of the City of Chicago within six months of their CPS hire date and maintain residency throughout their employment with the district.

Be Fully Vaccinated or Submit to Weekly COVID-19 Testing

Employees are required to be fully vaccinated within 30 days of their hire date. Full vaccination is defined as at least two weeks after your second shot of a two-shot vaccination course, or at least two weeks after a one-shot vaccination course. Unvaccinated staff must submit to weekly testing.

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