Director, Athletics and Recreation

Posting Details

Position Information

Title
Director, Athletics and Recreation

Department
Athletics

Regular or Temporary
Regular

Hours Per Week
40

FLSA Determination
Exempt

Weeks Per Year

52

Open Date
04/04/2025

Open Until Filled
Yes

Full or Part Time
Full Time

Position Summary

Trinity is a highly selective, independent, nonsectarian liberal arts institution located in the capital city of Hartford, Connecticut. The college maintains a rigorous academic profile complemented by a vibrant co-curricular program. With more than 2,100 full-time undergraduate students, representing forty-three states and ninety-one countries, we consider our location in a culturally and socioeconomically diverse capital city to be among Trinity's most distinctive assets; and we cultivate strong connections with our surrounding neighbors and with institutions and organizations throughout Hartford and the region. As a preeminent liberal arts college in an urban setting, Trinity College prepares students to be bold, independent thinkers who lead transformative lives.

Functions Include:

• Provide vision, leadership, and oversight for an athletics and recreation department supporting varsity sports, recreational and club sports, the Quest leadership program, and a department staff of 68 total employees, including 24 head coaches, 28 assistant coaches, and 15 administrative staff.
• Provide oversight to the 6 athletic training staff, who are part of the overall Hartford HealthCare Campus team that consists of the Health Center, Counseling and Wellness Center, and Athletic training.
• Serve as the department's primary representative in interactions with leaders on campus, including the faculty team liaisons to support the institutional goals of academic excellence, diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.
• Create a collaborative environment with enrollment and the coaching staff to recruit and yield students.
• Work with the student success and enrollment management leadership team to support the well-being, retention, career development, and graduation of all students.
• Oversee facilities and an athletic department budget of $9.7 million that includes all program costs and the salaries/benefits of employees. This budget is supported by annual fundraising contributions of $1.2 million, endowed income of $1.2 million, and other operating income including rental/sales/miscellaneous) totaling about $640,000.
• Partner with the office of college advancement, including the alumni office, to provide effective, visionary leadership in creating and implementing a fundraising plan to increase giving for support, endowment, and capital projects. Work closely with donors interested in supporting the athletics and recreation program.
• Represent Trinity within NESCAC leadership to ensure the mission and goals of the conference are attained and ensure compliance with all Trinity College, NESCAC, and NCAA policies and regulations.
• Perform other related duties as assigned and based on departmental needs.

Qualifications

The successful candidate should have an advanced degree and significant, progressive professional experience leading a complex, dynamic, and diverse department. Experience within a highly selective liberal arts institution, collegiate-level coaching, and capital planning and fundraising experience are preferred. The successful candidate will possess a comprehensive understanding of intercollegiate athletics administration, scholar-athlete development, and NCAA compliance within a Division III environment. The next director should be able to mentor and inspire the professional development of coaching faculty and athletics administrators, commit to supporting wellness and recreation in the holistic development of students, and demonstrate strategic planning acumen. A collaborative management approach, coupled with superior communication and relationship-building skills; a commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, and social responsibility; strong planning and fiscal competencies; a familiarity with program development and assessment; and excellent problem-solving abilities are also desired. We expect the athletic director to appreciate that athletics and health and wellness initiatives support the vitality of the entire campus community.

In addition to the qualifications stated above, key stakeholders identified the following capabilities and attributes of a successful candidate:

• Advocates for scholar-athletes, coaches, and holistic student development.
• Builds strong relationships with students, staff, alumni, and institutional leadership.
• Champions fairness, belonging, and institutional mission.
• Leads strategic and intentional change, manages large teams with a clear vision, and enriches resources.
• Communicates effectively, delivers clear and decisive messages, engages alumni, and serves as a spokesperson for Trinity and Bantam athletics.
• Champions athletic success while upholding Trinity's academic excellence and competitiveness.
• Demonstrates grit, leads by example, and embraces challenges.
• Supports, develops and empowers coaches while maintaining accountability.
• Makes thoughtful, honest, and confident decisions.
• Solves problems with agility, adaptability, and openness to possibilities
• Fosters a high-performance culture with a commitment to well-being.
• Aligns athletics with the broader mission and priorities of the institution.

Special Instructions to Applicants

All applicants must apply online by submitting their resume, cover letter to: https://spelmanandjohnson.com/position/director-of-athletics-and-recreation/

Posting Number
S01026

Quick Link
https://trincoll.peopleadmin.com/postings/3497