Senior Associate Athletic Director of External Affairs

California State University; Sacramento (CA); On-site; USD 112,000 - 163,000; Full time

Job summary

California State University, Sacramento invites applications for the Senior Associate Athletic Director of External Affairs. The role provides strategic leadership over external operations including ticketing, marketing, partnerships, donor engagement, and NIL initiatives, with accountability for revenue generation and fan engagement in NCAA Division I athletics.

Reporting to the Director of Athletics, the appointee will align external strategies with campus priorities, supervise managers, and

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution or equivalent.
• 5–7 years of leadership experience in intercollegiate athletics/external relations with revenue generation.
• Experience supervising staff and managing through subordinate leadership structures.

Responsibilities

• Provide executive leadership and strategic oversight of external affairs operations.
• Oversee revenue-generating functions including ticketing, marketing, partnerships, and donor engagement.
• Align external strategies with institutional priorities and NCAA/conference regulations.

Skills

Executive leadership

Revenue generation knowledge

Strategic planning

Fan engagement

Relationship management

Negotiation

NCAA regulations knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree

Job description

Senior Associate Athletic Director of External Affairs

Job no: 562888
Work type: Management (MPP)
Location: Sacramento
Categories: MPP, Athletics, At-Will, Full Time, On-site (work in-person at business location)

Classification Title:Administrator III

Priority Application Date (Posting will remain open until filled):Sunday, November 22nd @ 11:55pm PT

Hiring Preference
Not Applicable

Position Summary

The Senior Associate Athletic Director of External Affairs serves as a senior leader within the Athletics Department and is responsible for the strategic leadership, integration, and performance of all external operations, including ticket sales and service, marketing and branding, corporate partnerships, fan engagement, and athletics advancement collaboration. The position provides executive oversight of multiple revenue-generating units and establishes a unified external affairs strategy designed to increase revenue, expand audience engagement, and elevate the visibility and reputation of Sacramento State Athletics.

Reporting directly to the Director of Athletics, the incumbent leads through subordinate managers to set direction, establish performance expectations, and ensure accountability across all external units. This role is responsible for aligning ticketing, marketing, donor engagement, and partnership efforts into a cohesive model that drives attendance, strengthens the fan and donor experience, and supports long-term financial sustainability.

The position operates in a highly visible NCAA Division I environment and serves as a key representative of the Athletics Department with campus leadership, corporate partners, donors, alumni, and the broader community. The incumbent ensures that all external strategies and initiatives align with institutional priorities, brand standards, and NCAA and conference regulations while supporting the overall mission and competitive success of Sacramento State Athletics.

Sacramento State Athletics is seeking an innovative, relationship-driven, and results-oriented leader to serve as Senior Associate Athletic Director of External Affairs. Reporting directly to the Director of Athletics, this position will provide strategic leadership for ticketing, marketing, branding, fan engagement, corporate partnerships, donor engagement, advancement collaboration, and NIL initiatives.

The successful candidate will lead through subordinate managers, develop integrated strategies to grow revenue and engagement, elevate the Hornet brand, strengthen campus and community partnerships, and support the long-term success of Sacramento State Athletics. If you are a strategic and collaborative leader ready to shape the next era of Hornet Athletics,

Anticipated Hiring Range:$10,000.00 per month -$14,584.00 per monthplus bonus incentives*

CSU Classification Salary Range: $6,891.00 per month -$22,119.00 per month

Salary placement will be determined based on relevant qualifications and professional experience.

*Available bonus incentives will be discussed with selected candidates during the interview process.

Work Hours: Monday through Friday with the frequent need to work evenings and weekends to meet operational needs.

Department Information

The program of Intercollegiate Athletics is organized and conducted as an integral part of the total educational program of the University. Academic excellence and athletic accomplishments go hand in hand at Sacramento State. There are three separate and unique missions in this program: to contribute to the educational objectives of the University; to provide a healthy, competitive athletic experience to individual student‑athletes; to serve as a public relations vehicle within the community.

The Department of Intercollegiate Athletics offers both academic courses and an intercollegiate athletics program. Academic courses offer the opportunity for individuals to gain knowledge and understanding in a particular area of expertise related to intercollegiate athletics.

Sacramento State has made a strong commitment to the achievement of national excellence at the NCAA Division I level. It also is committed to maintaining an equitable program between men and women.

Intercollegiate Athletics are members of the Big West, Western Athletic Conference, Mid‑Western Athletic Conference, Mountain Pacific Sports Federation and American Athletic Conferences. http://hornetsports.com/landing/index

Required Qualifications

Education:

• Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution of higher education or equivalent work experience.

Experience:

• Five (5) to seven (7) years of progressively responsible leadership experience in intercollegiate athletics, external relations, revenue generation, or a related field
• Demonstrated experience overseeing multiple revenue‑generating functions, including ticketing, marketing, corporate partnerships, and/or development
• Experience supervising professional staff and managing through subordinate leadership structures, including setting expectations and driving accountabilities

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities:

• Demonstrated ability to provide executive-level leadership and strategic oversight of integrated external affairs operations
• Knowledge of comprehensive revenue generation models, including ticketing, marketing, partnerships, and donor engagement
• Ability to develop and execute long‑term strategic plans using data-informed decision‑making
• Ability to lead and influence teams through subordinate managers and drive performance outcomes across multiple units
• Strong understanding of fan engagement, brand strategy, and revenue alignment
• Exceptional interpersonal and relationship management skills with ability to engage campus leadership, donors, and external partners
• Strong executive communication and negotiation skills
• Demonstrated ability to exercise sound judgment and independent decision‑making in complex environments
• Knowledge of NCAA regulations and NIL frameworks relevant to external operations
• Ability to manage complex operations, competing priorities, and organizational change
• Commitment to maintaining a welcoming and inclusive work environment with diverse colleagues and constituents including faculty, students, staff, and members of the community

Conditions of Employment

- Ability to work evenings, weekends, and travel as required.

- Satisfactory completion of the background check process.

PreferredQualifications

• Master’s degree in sport management, business administration, higher education, or a related field.
• Experience working in or with NCAA Division I athletics or a comparable environment preferred.
• Demonstrated success leading comprehensive external affairs or revenue-generating operations at the NCAA Division I level or comparable environment
• Proven track record of developing and executing integrated revenue strategies, including ticketing, marketing, partnerships, and advancement
• Experience overseeing ticket sales operations and fan engagement strategies, including pricing and revenue optimization
• Demonstrated success managing large‑scale budgets, revenue goals, and financial performance metrics
• Experience building and leading high‑performing teams through subordinate managers
• Proven success securing and managing high‑value corporate partnerships
• Experiencecollaborating with campus leadership and advancement units to align revenue and engagement strategies

Sacramento State is located in the heart of California’s capital city, five miles from State Capitol. The lush, 300-acre park‑like campus is situated along the American River, close to numerous bike trails and other recreational areas. Sacramento, also known as the "Farm-to-Fork Capital," is one of the most ethnically diverse and livable cities in the country, with a population of half of a million.

As California's capital university, Sacramento State transforms lives by preparing all students to lead, serve, and succeed. We are committed to our designations as a Hispanic Serving Institution, an Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution, and a Black Serving Institution, and to intentionally serving students reflective of these designations and all students who have been historically underserved in education.

As evidenced by the values embedded in our Hornet Honor Code, Sacramento State is committed to creating an inclusive environment where all faculty, staff, students, and guests are welcome and valued. Our commitment is more than simply ensuring that our campus is free from bias and discrimination, but is one devoted to celebrating many diverse identities, life experiences, and perspectives that enrich our community, teaching and learning.

To learn more about why you should join the Hornet Family, please visit the Why Sac State? page.

Equal Employment Opportunity
California State University, Sacramento is an affirmative action/equal opportunity employer and has a strong institutional commitment to the principle of diversity in all areas. We consider qualified applicants for employment without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender identity/expression, sexual orientation, pregnancy, genetic information, medical condition, marital status, veteran status, or disability. Sacramento State hires only those individuals who are lawfully authorized to accept employment in the United States.

Jeanne Clery Campus Safety ActNotification:

Pursuant to the Jeanne Clery Campus Safety Act, the current Annual Security Report (ASR) is available for viewing at https://www.csus.edu/clery.

The ASR contains the current security and safety‑related policy statements, emergency preparedness and evacuation information, crime prevention and sexual assault prevention information, and drug and alcohol prevention programming. The ASR also contains statistics of Clery Act crimes for Sacramento State for the last three (3) calendar years. Paper copies are available upon request by emailing the Clery Director at [e-mail].

Under the Clery Act, this position may be designated as a Campus Security Authority (CSA) depending upon the role on campus and/or job duties. If this position is identified by the Director of Clery Compliance as a CSA position, you will be notified via email and will be assigned the appropriate training in CSU Learn.

Education Code 89521 Requirements

Applicants will be required to disclose whether they have received a final administrative decision or final judicial decision determining that they have committed sexual harassment within the last 7 years only after a determination is made that they meet the minimum qualifications for the position, and before an offer of employment is extended. Applicants who reach the final stages of the application process must also sign a release form that authorizes the release of information by the applicant’s current and/or former employers to the CSU concerning any substantiated allegations of misconduct.

A background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily before any candidate can be offered a position with California State University, Sacramento. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the application status of applicants or continued employment of current California State University, Sacramento employees who apply for the position.

Out of State Employment

Sacramento State, as part of the CSU system, is a State of California Employer. As such, the University requires all employees (upon date of hire) to reside in the State of California.

Candidate must furnish proof of eligibility to work in the U.S. California State University, Sacramento is not a sponsoring agency for staff and management positions (ie. H-1-B Visa).

Note to Applicants:

Possession of the minimum qualifications does not guarantee an interview unless required by collective bargaining agreement.

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