Director of Athletics & Recreation

Department

CSL Dean of Students in the University

About the Department

With a rich and storied history, the University of Chicago’s Department of Athletics & Recreation endeavors to serve the broad range of fitness, physical recreation, and athletic needs of the University of Chicago community. The Department sponsors 20 intercollegiate teams and 570 student-athletes in various varsity sports. The Department sponsors more than 40 club sports and a diverse intramural sports program in which approximately 8,500 students participate each year. Numerous open recreation opportunities are provided in the two indoor facilities as well as the outdoor fields, courts, and running track. On an average day, approximately 2,100 students, faculty and staff use the athletic and recreational facilities on campus.

Job Information

Responsibilities:

• Provide exemplary and visionary leadership and role-modeling for sustaining a culture of professionalism, integrity, and respect at all levels.
• Lead the athletics, fitness, and recreational sports programs that report to the Director of Athletics and Recreation and provide a vision and strategy by setting goals, stimulating program development, allocating resources, assessing student and other institutional needs, developing appropriate policies, fostering open communication with and among campus constituencies, promoting relevant evaluation methodologies, and participating in decision-making processes.
• Oversee the administration of the intercollegiate athletics program. Maintain accountability for its design, operation, and evaluation, ensuring compliance with institutional, UAA, Midwest Conference, and NCAA guidelines and requirements. Monitor Title IX compliance.
• In collaboration with the University Advancement department, develop a strategic plan to ensure ongoing philanthropic effort and success.
• Identify and meet the Department’s fundraising goals by leading the strategic planning, coordination and supervision of fund-raising events and promotional activities for intercollegiate athletics.
• Partner with the Office of College Admissions to respond to and anticipate, in innovative and creative ways, the needs of a new generation of incoming students. Organize and monitor recruitment efforts of the coaching staff to ensure strong recruiting classes that meet institutional needs and goals.
• Provide the professional development and mentoring that are necessary to attract, develop, and retain a diverse group of successful coaches and administrative staff, while also fostering an inclusive environment bolstered by positive morale and strong relationships.
• Lead the management and operation of the Gerald Ratner Athletics Center and the Henry Crown Field House, as well as the outdoor fields, courts, and running track.
• Participate actively in national conference meetings and activities. Preside over and speak at signature University events, including the Annual Athletics Hall of Fame celebration and Aims of Athletics address.
• Establish and maintain effective working relationships and communications with faculty, administrators, staff, the student body, student-athlete advisory bodies, alumni, parents and friends, donors, and the local community regarding athletics and recreation at the University.
• Continue departmental momentum around building and cultivating community relationships with local schools and non-profit organizations with engagement from departmental staff and student-athletes.
• Champion a committed effort to support students to find a balance between academic and athletic success in a rigorous academic setting, while simultaneously working with faculty/staff, both internal and external to the Department, to support this commitment.
• Serve as a strategic leader on campus, contributing to discussion about how to better serve students and the University’s mission.
• Seek opportunities to participate and contribute to University committees and campus discussions on a variety of student and institutional issues.
• Provide vision and oversight for a quality and comprehensive intercollegiate sports information and marketing program.

Competencies:

• The University of Chicago welcomes current athletic leaders, as well as those whose intellectual curiosity, collegiality, and proven understanding of Division III athletics will serve the University well. The successful candidate will bring many of the following professional qualifications and personal qualities:
• Excitement and optimism for the role of athletics and recreation in higher education while navigating the complexities of external forces impacting the work.
• Wisdom and superb judgment. The capacity to make and stand by difficult decisions while mindful of the need for fairness, consistency, and the impact of each decision on individuals and the broader community.
• Evidence of engagement in campus life issues and a record of providing support and opportunities for students. The ability to advocate persuasively for student interests and cultivate broader student engagement around supporting athletics.
• Liveliness of intellect and the commitment to engage collaboratively with colleagues. A habit of mind that will be at home in an intensely analytic culture that values rigorous inquiry and debate.
• A commitment to diversity and the ability to develop and support inclusive communities. A demonstrated record of advancing diversity and a deep understanding of the educational value of a diverse community.
• Ability to serve as an effective and willing ambassador for the Department and the University, including the capacity to be an effective leader in fundraising efforts.
• A record of fostering excellence in student development. The ability to foster collaboration and productive partnerships with a broad range of constituencies, both within and outside the institution.
• Proven skills as a senior manager in a complex organization. Demonstrated ability to mentor and develop staff and provide successful oversight of people, budget, and space. An inclination to clarity and accountability.
• The flexibility, managerial creativity, and resiliency required to achieve results in an intricate organization. Openness to risk, change, and criticism. A high degree of self-confidence and the ability to face challenges calmly.
• Ability to build creative partnerships and engage faculty, students, staff and parents as champions of athletics.
• Demonstrated capacity to communicate broadly across the University and work across boundaries, cultivate and sustain collegial relationships, and build unity around difficult issues.
• The maturity, presence, and gravitas to engage effectively with all constituencies, including University trustees.
• Devotion to the highest ethical standards and personal and professional integrity above reproach. Play an active role in refining, articulating, and disseminating these standards.

Additional Responsibilities

Education, Experience or Certifications:

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree required.

• Advanced degree preferred.

Experience:

• Leadership with the highest ethical standards required.

• Demonstrated commitment to a program of academic and athletic excellence required.

• Demonstrated experience in donor development and fundraising required.

• Coaching and teaching experience is highly desirable preferred.

Application Documents

• Resume/CV (required)

• Cover letter (required)

• For full consideration, application materials should be submitted to Parker Executive Search’s website: https://www.parkersearch.com/opportunities/director-of-athletics-and-recreation by April 24, 2026. Confidential review of materials will begin immediately and continue until the appointment is made.

Job Family

Senior Administrators

Scheduled Weekly Hours

37.5

Drug Test Required

No

Health Screen Required

No

Motor Vehicle Record Inquiry Required

No

Pay Frequency

Monthly

Pay Rate Type

Salary

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FLSA Status

Exempt

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Pay Range

$230,000.00 - $270,000.00

The included pay rate or range represents the University’s good faith estimate of the possible compensation offer for this role at the time of posting.

Benefits Eligible

Yes

The University of Chicago offers a wide range of benefits programs and resources for eligible employees, including health, retirement, and paid time off. Information about the benefit offerings can be found in the Benefits Guidebook.

Posting Statement

The University of Chicago is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, or expression, national or ethnic origin, shared ancestry, age, status as an individual with a disability, military or veteran status, genetic information, or other protected classes under the law. For additional information please see the University's Notice of Nondiscrimination.

 

Job seekers in need of a reasonable accommodation to complete the application process should call 773-702-5800 or submit a request via Applicant Inquiry Form.
 

All offers of employment are contingent upon a background check that includes a review of conviction history.  A conviction does not automatically preclude University employment.  Rather, the University considers conviction information on a case-by-case basis and assesses the nature of the offense, the circumstances surrounding it, the proximity in time of the conviction, and its relevance to the position.
 

The University of Chicago's Annual Security & Fire Safety Report (Report) provides information about University offices and programs that provide safety support, crime and fire statistics, emergency response and communications plans, and other policies and information. The Report can be accessed online at: http://securityreport.uchicago.edu. Paper copies of the Report are available, upon request, from the University of Chicago Police Department, 850 E. 61st Street, Chicago, IL 60637.