Director, Football Recruiting

Summary

The Director, Football Recruiting directs on-campus visits and recruiting communications for football prospective cadet-athletes, their families, and other guests of the football program, to effectively promote Army West Point Football, while upholding standards of excellence established by the Head Football Coach. All the duties of the position must be conducted in adherence with the policies, rules, and regulations of the United States Military Academy (“USMA”), Army West Point Athletic Association Inc. (“AWPAA”), the American Athletic Conference (“Conference”), and the National Collegiate Athletic Association (“NCAA”).

Scope of Impact

The responsibilities outlined in this job description are integral to the success of the AWPAA Football program and this position has high level influence in the recruiting efforts of the Football program. This position will be responsible for executing the job duties according to already established policies and standard operating procedures. The campus visit is one of the most critical components in the recruiting process, so the Director has immense ability to impact the on-field success of the program. Disregard of NCAA rules can have a similar negative impact.

Level of Decision Making

The Director exercises strategic level decision making in recommendations made to the Executive Director of Player Personnel regarding planning and budgeting of campus visits and execution of communications strategies. The Director also exercises tactical decision making with assigning personnel responsibilities and potential short, fused schedule modifications during visits. Higher level decision making will happen through the Executive Director of Player Personnel and/or Chief of Staff. The employee must maintain a high level of professionalism, moral and ethical character, and be a role model. 

Success Factors

Success in this position will be evaluated by the Supervisor on the employee’s performance in a variety of areas, including but not limited to: Commitment to AWPAA Mission, Vision and Values; and supporting the AWPAA Strategic Plan and Priority Results.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities 

45% Campus Visits 

• Assist the Executive Director of Player Personnel to establish recruiting calendar to include dates for Official and Unofficial visits, prospect camps, junior days, and other recruiting events.
• Directly ensure visit program meets detail and excellence standards established by the Head Football Coach. 
• Oversee the overall planning and execution of official and unofficial visits that occur throughout the year. 
• Design and manage itineraries. Secure all hosts and direct all entertainment on Official Visits. Arrange all on-campus recruiting functions: facilities, meals, transportation, tours, meetings, classroom experiences, game tickets, photo shoots, etc. Secure all on-campus personnel to support recruiting (e.g., Superintendent, Dean, Commandant, Director of Athletics, TACs, Professors/Officer Representatives, Admissions, Center for Enhanced Performance, etc.). 
• Communicate with all support staff to meet visit needs (e.g., Recruiting Operations, Strength, Equipment, Video, Operations Training Room staff). Act as the liaison to DCA, Thayer Hotel, and all on and off campus restaurants and hotels used for recruiting. 
• Work with Recruiting Operations Assistant to ensure that flights and hotels are arranged for prospects and parents and that ground transportation is arranged for official visits. 
• Set seating chart for all recruiting dinners to have appropriate USMA personnel seated with prospects and parents. 
• Send “Background Survey” to official visit prospects ensuring necessary details are on hand and oversee any pre and post visit communication and advertising/marketing of visit opportunities. Coordinate with Chief of Staff to operationally support the visit plan within funding parameters and explore opportunities to realize recruiting budget savings when appropriate. 
• Coordinate proactively with compliance office to ensure all campus visit activities are within NCAA guidelines and report any suspected NCAA or USMA violations to the Head Football Coach immediately. 
• Work with Recruiting Operations assistant to support visit logistics and ensure Kimsey Center is always “visit ready”. 
• Report any issues to the Executive Director or Recruiting and/or Chief of Staff.

40% Recruiting Communications 

• Direct, coordinate and implement all external recruiting communications programs to include electronic, hard copy mail, telephonic and social media platforms. 
• Direct the creation and execution of a weekly recruiting content and social media campaign. 
• Provide oversight and leadership to the Twitter and Instagram accounts for the Army West Point Football program in conjunction with the department creative team and the AWPAA Athletics Communication staff. 
• At all times ensure that content is consistent with the USMA and the AWPAA goals and mission. 
• Conduct regular SWOT analysis with what other football programs are doing to optimize communication impact.

10% Special Events 

• Act as Coordinator for any recruiting camps, NFL/Pro-Day combines, walk-on try outs or other events as assigned. 
• Handle all logistics, communication, and marketing for these events to ensure a first-class experience for those involved. 
• Liaise with other campus entities (e.g., Security/Campus Access and Parking, Marketing, Finance, Gift Shop, Compliance, HR, etc.) required to execute the special event. 

5% Other Duties

Supervisory Responsibilities

• N/A

Work Conditions & Physical Requirements

This position must be able to handle the physical demands of office hours and recruiting events. 

• Must be able to remain in a stationary position 50% of the time.
• Occasionally move about inside the office to access file cabinets, office machinery, etc.
• Constantly operates a computer and other office productivity machinery, such as a calculator, copy machine, and computer printer.
• Frequently moves boxes/equipment weighing up to up to 30 lbs. around the office and across campus for various events.

• The person in this position frequently communicates with recruiting staff, coaches, and cadets to enhance their performance in recruiting. Must be able to exchange accurate information with all parties and develop trusting relationships.

• The person in this position frequently communicates with USMA staff and vendors. 
• Must be able to detect performance issues from long distances.
• Frequently works in outdoor weather conditions.

Travel 

This position must be able to travel as needed to attend competition and professional development events. 

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree from a four-year accredited institution or equivalent combination of education and experience may substitute between four and six (4-6) years’ experience working within an intercollegiate athletics department, professional sports organization and/or other elite sporting institution with specific experience in student-athlete recruitment, recruiting communications/social media, roster management and group leadership.  
• Knowledgeable in all the Microsoft Office products.  
• Experience with Recruiting Software (preferably ARMS) and Whistle.  
• Extensive knowledge in social media platforms (Instagram and Twitter primarily).   
• Strong interpersonal skills.
• Ability to interact effectively and professionally with coaches, administrators, Cadet-athletes, prospective Cadet-athletes, parents, etc.
• Takes initiative, hardworking, ability/willingness to figure out solutions to problems independently, creative.
• Extremely organized, detail oriented, self-starter and intrinsically motivated.
• Strong management skills; Proven ability to multi-task effectively.
• Strong leadership skills;
• Ability to prioritize assignments and meet deadlines.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced Degree, or equivalent combination of education and experience may substitute.
• Experience as a Recruiting Coordinator for a college or university football team. 

Additional Eligibility Requirements

• Must be eligible to work in the United States of America, without sponsorship.
• Must be eligible to work on a military installation, including a willingness to submit to a background screen.
• Must possess a valid driver’s license.

Pay Range

$60,000 - $61,000

This job posting contains a pay range, which represents the range of salaries that AWPAA believes, in good faith, at the time of this posting that it might be willing to pay for the posted position. AWPAA expects to hire for this position near the middle of the range. Only in truly rare and exceptional circumstances, where an external candidate has experience, credentials or expertise that far exceed those required or expected for the position, would AWPAA consider paying a salary or rate near the higher end of the range.

About Us

USMA is renowned as the world’s preeminent leadership development institution. Located on the banks of the Hudson River in West Point, NY, it is approximately one hour from New York City. The mission of USMA is "to educate, train, and inspire the Corps of Cadets so that each graduate is a commissioned leader of character committed to the values of Duty, Honor, Country and prepared for a career of professional excellence and service to the Nation as an officer in the United States Army." This position will be housed within the AWPAA, which is a non-profit corporation organized to manage and support the 30 intercollegiate athletic programs at the Academy. The AWPAA mission is to recruit, educate, train and inspire leaders of character who are committed to the values of Duty, Honor, Country through an extraordinary NCAA Division I athletic experience.

Equal Opportunity Employer

AWPAA is an equal opportunity employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other basis protected by law.

Applicant qualifications are considered without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other basis protected by law. 

Disclaimer Statement

This position description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change, or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice.