Director of Athletics - Athletics (Fixed Term for 3 Years)

UAE Nationals are encouraged to apply

New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) seeks to appoint a Director of Athletics, reporting to the Dean of Students.

The Director of Athletics provides overall supervision, management, leadership, and vision for the Athletics Department. The Director establishes the department's strategic direction in alignment with the NYU Abu Dhabi mission and values. The Director provides leadership, supervision, and motivation for department staff as they support the needs of the students and the wider university community, with an emphasis on well-being, education and continuous learning.

The Director establishes a vision and quantifiable standards of excellence in intercollegiate and club sports, physical & health education, recreation and intramurals embedding the importance of overall well-being throughout. In addition, the Director develops, implements, and guides department-level policy, as well as administering and managing the department and all its related programs and services.

The Director effectively develops and communicates the department's mission, vision, and goals, as well as creates successful plans and proposals for senior administration on behalf of the department and its strategic initiatives, which also reflect the Division of Student Affairs' mission and alignment with the overall institutional strategy for student and community engagement. This includes external stakeholder engagement and  development and implementation of events on and offsite that embed NYUAD into the UAE community.

The primary responsibility of the Director of Athletics is to oversee all aspects of the athletic programs, operations and facilities that are sponsored by the university.

Required to lead a full time staff of 15 full time employees.

Key Responsibilities:

Strategic Direction and Vision 

• Establish and manage the department's vision and strategic direction, with a focus on leadership, education, and development
• Develop partnerships with relevant stakeholders
• Employ effective hiring and management practices to meet staffing needs and ensure professional excellence
• Review policies annually and ensure that operational and statistical reporting standards are met and completed for all stakeholders
• Encourage, promote, and instill a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, as well as a high level of cultural competence and respect for a diverse range of identities and experiences within the university to build community
• Mediate issues, resolve conflict and handle all concerns that surround athletics programming, facilities, staffing and program participants

Facility and Operational Oversight 

• Direct the comprehensive scheduling of all athletic facilities, as well as the oversight of the annual master athletic calendar in conjunction with the master university calendar
• Provide strategic direction for athletics and recreational equipment and facilities' maintenance, construction, and restoration, with a purposeful design for safety and future facility needs.

Administrative and Other Duties

• Show strong leadership of the department's programs and services through budget preparation, administration and management; provide effective and strategic resource management and facility utilization; and administer and monitor the capital, operations, and personnel budgets
• Oversee planning projects, international student travel and large scale partner events

Campus Community Responsibility 

• Consult with all students including student government leaders, student athlete leaders, and student-athletes on a regular basis to ensure that the department programs and services meet the needs of the various constituencies, including the leadership and support required for ongoing growth and student development
• Understand the needs of the NYUAD community and provide offerings as such
• Participate in educational programs and take on leadership roles in professional organizations to continue professional development

External Relations 

• Build relationships within the sports and wellness communities in the UAE, governing bodies and institutional partners
• Continuously share the progress of NYUAD Athletics by telling its story through online engagement and appropriate delivery of communications plans and collaborations with the university external relations team

Student Affairs Divisional Leadership Support 

• Provide ongoing support to the Student Affairs division by leading various committees, working groups and promoting a culture of professional development for staff
• Involvement in candidate recruitment weekends, welcome week and graduation will be required

Required Education:

• Master’s Degree in Sports Management, Education or Business
• First Aid / CPR certification or willingness to obtain
• Proficiency in the use of computer applications relevant to job duties, including Microsoft office suite, Google Workspace, IMLeagues, Adobe Creative Cloud.

Preferred Education:

• Master’s degree in related area and / or equivalent experience / training
• Leadership Training Certification

Required Experience:

• 5-7 years of  experience in a university or college sports program or related field
• 5 years in a leadership capacity and supervisory
• Previous experience sports coaching, teaching PE or group fitness classes
• Problem-solving skills
• Ability to multi-task and work with frequent interruptions
• Skill in effective listening.
• Excellent verbal communication skills, in the English language.
• Conflict Resolution 

Preferred Experience:

• 8-10 years experience in a university or college sports program or related field
• 7 years in a leadership capacity and supervisory experience
• Previous experience sports coaching, teaching PE or group fitness classes
• Demonstrated strong leadership acumen
• Advanced knowledge of program activity and best practices sports programming within Higher Education

The University is an equal opportunity employer committed to equity, diversity and social inclusion.

About NYUAD & Student Affairs

New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) is a central part of NYUAD’s global network, marked by a uniquely international student population (100+ nationalities); a rigorous, liberal arts and science academic program; and a location at the crossroads of the Arab world. We are a highly diverse community that shapes and examines issues of common humanity through multicultural perspectives; recognizes that the breadth of an education here extends far beyond the classroom and the campus; sees students themselves as educators; and recognizes that true engagement with the breadth of our diversity requires curiosity, humility, and engagement with contrasting views and values.

NYUAD’s Division of Student Affairs focuses on the out-of-classroom student experience, cultivating belonging, catalyzing development, and fostering engagement for a campus community of 1800+ students. The division brings together multiple functional areas – including cultural engagement, spiritual life, student engagement, community outreach, career development, athletics, residential education, health, wellness and more – to provide students with the structure, resources, and support to maximize their educational experience and reach their full potential.

Student Affairs Leader Profile

We look for inclusive leaders that nurture collaboration and pursue diversity in people, thought and perspective. They model candor, transparency, vulnerability, and good judgment. They are willing to receive feedback, accept ambiguity, take risks, acknowledge mistakes, and engage in conflict constructively. We want culture setters and strategic thinkers, who actively seek to align processes and programs with our values and institutional context. We seek those who are able to empower, inspire and motivate others to do and to be their best. Cultural humility undergirds our work, so our leaders need to be able to engage in the process of self-reflection and self-critique to both learn about others and to examine their own beliefs and cultural identities.

About the Department of Athletics

NYU Abu Dhabi’s Department of Athletics, positively impacts student wellbeing through the delivery of intercollegiate sports, recreational and intramural sporting and fitness opportunities along with a holistic Physical & Health Education program. These programs are also community developing and thrive through building relationships that foster a lifelong commitment to physical and intellectual well-being. By providing innovative programming that encourages collaboration, enhances the educational experience, creates overall balance and develops character in the pursuit of excellence, the Department promotes and complements the University’s liberal arts mission.