Director of Athletics

Position Type:
Administration/Director

Date Posted:
4/16/2025

Location:
Albany High Complex

POSITION ANNOUNCEMENT

April 16, 2025

POSITION: Director of Athletics

LOCATION: Athletics Department
JOB SUMMARY:
The Dougherty County School System (DCSS) is seeking a visionary and results-driven Director of Athletics to lead, innovate, and elevate the district's athletics programs. This role provides strategic leadership, oversight, and development of all middle and high school athletics programs, ensuring they align with DCSS's commitment to excellence and student success. The Director of Athletics is responsible for the management of personnel, finances, facilities, compliance, and community engagement within the district's athletics programs. This position will actively foster a culture of integrity, sportsmanship, academic achievement, leadership development, and student wellness through athletics. The Director will work collaboratively with principals, school-based athletics directors, coaches, and district leadership to enhance athletic experiences that prepare student-athletes for success both in sports and in life. Additionally, the Director will oversee the DCSS Employee Wellness Center, ensuring its alignment with district goals for staff well-being.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS:

Bachelor's Degree in related field is required; Advanced degree in Educational Leadership, Athletics Administration or related field is preferred;

Must hold or be eligible for GaPSC Leadership Certification and/or Support License;

The National Interscholastic Athletic Administrators Association (NIAAA) credentials as RAA, CAA or CMAA is preferred;

First Aid Certification is required;

Ten years experience in a secondary school or college/university setting, with at least five years experience in school administration or athletics administration is required; experience as an Athletics Director is preferred;

Five years experience as a middle school, high school or college/university head coach is preferred;

Other combinations of applicable education, training, and experience may be considered.

CORE COMPETENCIES AND SKILLS:

Comprehensive understanding of Georgia High School Association (GHSA) bylaws and regulations;

Strong knowledge of Title IX, ensuring gender equity in all athletics programs;

Demonstrated ability to develop and implement strategic plans for athletic program growth and student development;

Experience with contract negotiations, vendor management, and financial oversight;

Strong leadership, team-building, and communication skills to foster collaboration across all stakeholder groups;

Ability to motivate and develop coaches, administrators, and student-athletes to reach their full potential;

Skilled in fundraising, sponsorships, and community engagement to enhance athletics program resources;

Proficiency in data analysis and assessment to evaluate athletics program effectiveness and student-athlete success;

Ability to oversee athletic facility maintenance and improvements to ensure safe, high-quality environments for competition and training.

PERFORMANCE RESPONSIBILITIES: Strategic Leadership & Program Oversight

Provides visionary leadership for DCSS athletic programs, aligning them with the district's strategic priorities;

Develops and implements a Five-Year Athletics Program Plan to drive innovation, competitiveness, and inclusivity in sports programs;

Oversees and ensures compliance with GHSA regulations, district policies, and state and federal laws;

Collaborates with principals, school athletics directors, and district leadership to expand athletic opportunities for students;

Champions the development of leadership, character, and sportsmanship among student-athletes.

Financial & Facility Management

Develops and manages the district-wide athletics budget, ensuring fiscal responsibility and strategic investment in programs;

Oversees fundraising, sponsorships, and revenue-generating activities, including booster clubs, ticket sales, and athletic events;

Works closely with Facilities Services to ensure the safety, maintenance, and enhancement of athletic fields, stadiums, gymnasiums, and other facilities;

Negotiates and manages contracts with vendors, game officials, transportation services, and other athletic organizations as needed;

Oversees procurement of athletic equipment ensuring quality, cost-effectiveness, and compliance with regulations.

Professional Development & Staff Leadership

Evaluates school-based athletics programs ensuring high-performance standards;

Leads professional development initiatives for coaches and athletics staff, including training on leadership, compliance and program administration;

Supports school administrators in recruiting, hiring, and evaluating head coaches.

Student-Athlete Development & Equity

Promotes academic achievement and leadership development for student-athletes through mentoring, academic monitoring, and support programs;

Ensures compliance with Title IX, developing strategies to increase participation in all sports, especially among female student-athletes;

Coordinates annual athletic physicals for all student-athletes;

Partners with school-based staff and academic departments to reinforce the connection between athletic participation and academic success.

Community Engagement & Public Relations

Strengthens partnerships with parents, community organizations, and local businesses to enhance athletics programs;

Serves as the district spokesperson for athletics, managing media relations and public communications, in conjunction with the department of Community Relations;

Promotes athletic achievements through social media, district publications, and community events;

Represents DCSS at regional, state, and national athletics conferences and events.

Operational & Compliance Management

Develops and maintains operating policies and procedures for all athletics programs and facilities;

Ensures emergency preparedness plans are in place for all athletic events and facilities;

Monitors GHSA bylaws, as well as state and federal laws related to athletics, and communicates updates to the appropriate district leadership;

Oversees athletics event logistics, including scheduling, security, transportation, and emergency response.

Other Duties

Perform other duties as assigned by the appropriate supervisor.

WORK ENVIRONMENT/PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:

Ability to lift/move up to 50 pounds occasionally and up to 20 pounds frequently;

Frequent standing, walking, bending, pushing, pulling, and reaching;

Frequent travel to school sites for athletic events, meetings, and supervision;

Ability to work evenings and weekends as required for athletic events;

Vision, hearing, and effective verbal communication are essential to job functions;

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

REPORTS TO: Chief of Staff

SALARY RANGE: Twelve-Month Contract - Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package, in accordance with the DCSS Compensation Guide

APPLICATION DEADLINE: Applications will be reviewed upon submission. To ensure consideration, please submit all required application materials by April 30, 2025.

INTERESTED APPLICANTS SHOULD APPLY ONLINE.

THE DOUGHERTY COUNTY SCHOOL SYSTEM DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE ON THE BASIS OF RACE, COLOR, RELIGION, AGE, SEX, NATIONAL ORIGIN, OR DISABILITY.

The System reserves the right to waive any qualifications or other provisions of this advertisement by statute or regulations.

Dougherty County School System uses Frontline Education to manage employment applications online.

About Us:
The Dougherty County School System is a leading catalyst and advocate for public education in Southwest Georgia. It's the largest school system in the second congressional district. The school district has 21 schools (13 elementary, 4 middle, 3 high schools, and 1 alternative middle/high school), 4 learning centers, and the Commodore Conyers College & Career Academy. All schools are accredited by Cognia. The DCSS offers a competitive salary and benefits package.

Dougherty County is recognized for its quail and duck hunting, fishing, the Flint River, and many cypress swamps. The County has a population of approximately 90,000. Our County has two institutions of higher education, Albany State University and Albany Technical College. Notable points of interest include the Albany Museum of Art, the Flint RiverQuarium, the Albany Civil Rights Institute, the Parks at Chehaw, Radium Springs Gardens, and Thronateeska Heritage Center, which includes the Museum of History, Wetherbee Planetarium, and the Science Discovery Center. Dougherty County is a short drive to Atlanta, the Georgia coast, as well as the Florida Gulf Coast beaches.

Important Note:
This document provides descriptive information about the above Dougherty County School System position. Work actually performed by incumbents in this position may vary. Although this document may be used for recruiting, staffing, or career planning, the information contained herein should only be used as a guideline or recommendation for the content of and qualifications for this position. The Dougherty County School System reserves the right to make changes to this document as deemed necessary without providing advance written notice.