What are the responsibilities and job description for the ASSOCIATE ATHLETIC DIRECTOR / SPORT PERFORMANCE position at Central Michigan University?
The Associate Athletics Director for Sports Performance will be charged with leading and integrating the sports performance units within the athletics department to enhance the holistic development and competitive success of student-athletes. This position will focus on maximizing the relationship between key performance areas, including strength and conditioning, nutrition, athletic training, and sports psychology, to create a progressive, data-driven, and excellence-oriented program that fosters peak performance and well-being. This position plays a critical role in shaping the future of our athletics department and creating a high-performance culture that prioritizes the success and well-being of our student-athletes.
Required Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in sports science, kinesiology, exercise physiology, or a related field is required.
Minimum of 7 years of progressive experience in sports performance, strength and conditioning, athletic training, or a related field within intercollegiate athletics.
Demonstrated experience managing interdisciplinary teams and integrating diverse areas of expertise.
Strong knowledge of contemporary practices in strength and conditioning, sports nutrition, injury prevention, recovery, and sports psychology.
Proven ability to develop and implement data-driven performance strategies.
Exceptional leadership, communication, and organizational skills.
Ability to perform the essential functions of this position, with or without reasonable accommodation.
Minimum of 7 years of progressive experience in sports performance, strength and conditioning, athletic training, or a related field within intercollegiate athletics.
Demonstrated experience managing interdisciplinary teams and integrating diverse areas of expertise.
Strong knowledge of contemporary practices in strength and conditioning, sports nutrition, injury prevention, recovery, and sports psychology.
Proven ability to develop and implement data-driven performance strategies.
Exceptional leadership, communication, and organizational skills.
Ability to perform the essential functions of this position, with or without reasonable accommodation.
Preferred Qualifications
Certifications such as CSCS (Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist), ATC (Athletic Trainer Certified), or other relevant credentials are highly desirable.
Master’s degree in sports science, kinesiology, exercise physiology, or a related field.
Experience working at a MAC (Mid-American Conference) institution.
Master’s degree in sports science, kinesiology, exercise physiology, or a related field.
Experience working at a MAC (Mid-American Conference) institution.
Duties & Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership:
Develops and implements a unified vision for sports performance that aligns with the department’s goals of student-athlete success and competitive excellence.
Collaborates with sport coaches, athletic administrators, and other stakeholders to identify priorities and ensure alignment of sports performance initiatives with team objectives.
Integration and Collaboration:
Fosters interdisciplinary collaboration between strength and conditioning, nutrition, athletic training, and sports psychology to create a seamless approach to student-athlete performance and wellness.
Develops systems to enhance communication and shared decision-making among sports performance professionals.
Develops collaborative relationships with campus units who specialize in sports/data driven areas to enhance the student experience and work toward athletic performance goals.
Program Development:
Designs and oversees innovative performance programs that incorporate evidence-based practices and emerging trends in sports science and technology.
Ensures that programs are tailored to the specific needs of individual sports and athletes, emphasizing injury prevention, recovery, mental health, and peak performance.
Performance Monitoring and Analytics:
Leads efforts to collect, analyze, and utilize performance data to inform training, recovery, and nutrition strategies. – Evaluate program effectiveness through key performance indicators and make data-driven adjustments to enhance outcomes.
Staff Development:
Recruits, mentors, and oversees sports performance staff, fostering a culture of collaboration, professional development, and excellence.
Provides ongoing education and training opportunities to ensure staff remain at the forefront of their respective fields.
Student-Athlete Support:
Serves as a resource and advocate for student-athletes, promoting their physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
Develops programming and workshops to educate student-athletes on topics such as nutrition, recovery, mental resilience, and injury prevention.
Resource Management:
Oversees budgets, facilities, and equipment related to sports performance, ensuring efficient use of resources to support the department’s goals.
Identifies and pursues opportunities for partnerships, sponsorships, and fundraising to enhance sports performance capabilities.
Compliance and Safety:
Ensures all sports performance activities adhere to NCAA, conference, and institutional regulations and policies.
Maintains the highest standards of safety and ethical practices within all aspects of the sports performance program.
Other duties as assigned.
Develops and implements a unified vision for sports performance that aligns with the department’s goals of student-athlete success and competitive excellence.
Collaborates with sport coaches, athletic administrators, and other stakeholders to identify priorities and ensure alignment of sports performance initiatives with team objectives.
Integration and Collaboration:
Fosters interdisciplinary collaboration between strength and conditioning, nutrition, athletic training, and sports psychology to create a seamless approach to student-athlete performance and wellness.
Develops systems to enhance communication and shared decision-making among sports performance professionals.
Develops collaborative relationships with campus units who specialize in sports/data driven areas to enhance the student experience and work toward athletic performance goals.
Program Development:
Designs and oversees innovative performance programs that incorporate evidence-based practices and emerging trends in sports science and technology.
Ensures that programs are tailored to the specific needs of individual sports and athletes, emphasizing injury prevention, recovery, mental health, and peak performance.
Performance Monitoring and Analytics:
Leads efforts to collect, analyze, and utilize performance data to inform training, recovery, and nutrition strategies. – Evaluate program effectiveness through key performance indicators and make data-driven adjustments to enhance outcomes.
Staff Development:
Recruits, mentors, and oversees sports performance staff, fostering a culture of collaboration, professional development, and excellence.
Provides ongoing education and training opportunities to ensure staff remain at the forefront of their respective fields.
Student-Athlete Support:
Serves as a resource and advocate for student-athletes, promoting their physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
Develops programming and workshops to educate student-athletes on topics such as nutrition, recovery, mental resilience, and injury prevention.
Resource Management:
Oversees budgets, facilities, and equipment related to sports performance, ensuring efficient use of resources to support the department’s goals.
Identifies and pursues opportunities for partnerships, sponsorships, and fundraising to enhance sports performance capabilities.
Compliance and Safety:
Ensures all sports performance activities adhere to NCAA, conference, and institutional regulations and policies.
Maintains the highest standards of safety and ethical practices within all aspects of the sports performance program.
Other duties as assigned.
Supervision Exercised
Supervisors are expected to support the Leadership Standards of Central Michigan University and foster a culture that inspires excellence. The Leadership Standards define how we lead and treat others in our teams. As leaders, it is our responsibility to seek input from our teams to continuously improve leadership abilities and demonstration of the standards. Additionally, it is our responsibility to encourage and support the growth and development of those whom we lead. At CMU, we encourage employees to grow both personally and professionally, and thus advance CMU’s culture of excellence.
Message to Applicants
Central Michigan University is dedicated to fostering a broadly diverse and inclusive campus that respects all social identities, experiences, and perspectives. In an effort to further this initiative, we are especially interested in candidates who will advance and promote an inclusive and supportive environment for every member of our university community.
You must submit an on-line application in order to be considered as an applicant for this position.
Cover letters may be addressed to the Hiring Committee.
You must submit an on-line application in order to be considered as an applicant for this position.
Cover letters may be addressed to the Hiring Committee.
Employee Group
Professional & Administrative -Salary
Staff Pay Level
Pay Range
$95,000 - $105,000
Division
President
Department
Athletics
Position Status
Regular
Position End Date
Employment Status
Full-Time
FTE
1.00
Position Type
12 month
Weekly Work Schedule
Mon-Fri, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. / weekends and evenings as required.
Location
Mount Pleasant, MI
About the Department
About CMU
Central Michigan University has a more than 125-year legacy of preparing students to become leaders and changemakers in their communities and in their personal and professional lives.
We serve nearly 15,500 students on our Mount Pleasant campus, in satellite locations around the state and throughout the country, and through flexible online programs. Many of our approximately 300 undergraduate, master’s, specialist and doctoral programs in the arts, media, business, education, human services, health professions, liberal arts, social sciences, medicine, science and engineering are nationally ranked for excellence.
CMU leads the nation in leadership development programming through our Sarah R. Opperman Leadership Institute, and we are proud to be among only 5% of U.S. universities in the top two Carnegie research classifications. Our faculty work with graduate and undergraduate students in areas such as Great Lakes research, medical innovation, engineering technology and more.
Central is home to 17 men’s and women’s Division 1 sports including football, basketball, gymnastics, baseball, wrestling and more. Our student-athletes achieve great success in competition and in the classroom, capturing Mid-American Conference championships and maintaining an average cumulative GPA of 3.17.
CMU is located in Mount Pleasant, a community that blends the best of small-town living with big-city amenities. It’s part of the culturally varied and vibrant Great Lakes Bay Region that also includes Saginaw, Bay City, Midland and the state’s largest Native American community, centered on the Saginaw Chippewa Isabella Reservation in Mount Pleasant.
Area residents enjoy the mix of outdoor activities, cultural events, shopping and dining options, and family attractions. Other major Michigan destinations and attractions — Lansing, Grand Rapids, Detroit, Traverse City, wineries, beaches, golf and ski resorts, and many more — are within easy reach of the city’s central location in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula.
CMU employees enjoy access to a nationally recognized wellness program along with health care and benefits that exceed regional, state and national norms.
We serve nearly 15,500 students on our Mount Pleasant campus, in satellite locations around the state and throughout the country, and through flexible online programs. Many of our approximately 300 undergraduate, master’s, specialist and doctoral programs in the arts, media, business, education, human services, health professions, liberal arts, social sciences, medicine, science and engineering are nationally ranked for excellence.
CMU leads the nation in leadership development programming through our Sarah R. Opperman Leadership Institute, and we are proud to be among only 5% of U.S. universities in the top two Carnegie research classifications. Our faculty work with graduate and undergraduate students in areas such as Great Lakes research, medical innovation, engineering technology and more.
Central is home to 17 men’s and women’s Division 1 sports including football, basketball, gymnastics, baseball, wrestling and more. Our student-athletes achieve great success in competition and in the classroom, capturing Mid-American Conference championships and maintaining an average cumulative GPA of 3.17.
CMU is located in Mount Pleasant, a community that blends the best of small-town living with big-city amenities. It’s part of the culturally varied and vibrant Great Lakes Bay Region that also includes Saginaw, Bay City, Midland and the state’s largest Native American community, centered on the Saginaw Chippewa Isabella Reservation in Mount Pleasant.
Area residents enjoy the mix of outdoor activities, cultural events, shopping and dining options, and family attractions. Other major Michigan destinations and attractions — Lansing, Grand Rapids, Detroit, Traverse City, wineries, beaches, golf and ski resorts, and many more — are within easy reach of the city’s central location in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula.
CMU employees enjoy access to a nationally recognized wellness program along with health care and benefits that exceed regional, state and national norms.
CMU Leadership Standards
Central Michigan University is a place where we value students and work for their success, where we act as family, and where employees are engaged, appreciated and have extraordinary opportunities to make a difference.
We intentionally maintain and strengthen the hallmark CMU culture that sets us apart from our peers by expecting CMU leaders and employees to model the following Leadership Standards and develop them within their teams.
Please review the Leadership Standards before applying for this position.
We intentionally maintain and strengthen the hallmark CMU culture that sets us apart from our peers by expecting CMU leaders and employees to model the following Leadership Standards and develop them within their teams.
Please review the Leadership Standards before applying for this position.
Salary : $95,000 - $105,000
