Executive Director, Sports and Recreation

Executive Director, Sports and Recreation

Job ID: 297220
Location: Kennesaw, Georgia
Full/Part Time: Full Time
Regular/Temporary: Regular

Location

(Primary Location for Job Responsibilities) The position will work out of our Kennesaw campus located at 1000 Chastain Road NW, Kennesaw, GA 30144 and our Marietta campus located at 1100 South Marietta Parkway, Marietta, GA 30060.

Job Summary

The Executive Director of Sports and Recreation leads and oversees recreation services, club sports, and facilities management. This role involves strategic planning, budget oversight, fundraising, and ensuring safety and risk management. The Executive Director also fosters campus and community partnerships, supports student success, and enhances the university's mission through innovative programming, outreach, and facility management.

Responsibilities

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:

1. Offers strategic guidance to ensure alignment with the university-wide strategic plan in developing and delivering programs and services.
2. Ensures compliance with divisional, university, local, state, and national policies, regulations, and standards, encompassing fiscal management, risk management, business continuity, facility operations, assessment, talent management, marketing, and student-focused membership services.
3. Provides administrative oversight for departmental operations, including budget planning, resource allocation, fiscal controls, personnel management, department-wide evaluation and assessment, and establishing and reviewing policies, processes, and procedures.
4. Leads the department's leadership team to foster collaboration, encourage innovative problem solving, strengthen departmental relationships, and promote equitable treatment of staff.
5. Supervise and manage a comprehensive multimillion-dollar budget aligned with university and divisional strategic priorities, ensuring financial sustainability through effective monitoring, expense control, forecasting, and risk management while maintaining transparency and accountability.
6. Oversees and manages Public-Private Venture (PPV) projects, including proforma assumptions, deferred maintenance planning, capital replacement planning, Facility Condition Assessment Reports, annual business plans, and budget submissions to the Board of Regents.
7. Designs and implement a departmental assessment plan utilizing diverse reporting and data analysis methods to align programs and services with student needs, enhance divisional success, and contribute to university goals such as retention, graduation, and progression.
8. Ensures high-performance standards, achievement of departmental goals, and quality outcomes while fostering professional growth for staff.
9. Oversees hiring, retention, employee recognition, conflict resolution, disciplinary actions, and terminations while also supervising staff in their day-to-day responsibilities
10. Collaborates with the divisional development director to oversee fundraising activities, assess needs and resources, identify new funding opportunities, strategize grant proposals, and build relationships with community stakeholders and donors.
11. Develops and manage recreational programs that address the needs of both the campus and the local community. Partner with local organizations to create joint initiatives and events that enhance community engagement and promote well-being, thereby increasing the visibility and impact of campus recreation programming at KSU.
12. Supports additional divisional priorities and initiatives beyond the department's scope, as needed.

Required Qualifications

Educational Requirements
Bachelor's degree from an accredited institution of higher education in sports management, recreation management, higher education, public administration, or any field appropriate to the work.

Required Experience
Eight (8) years of managerial-level experience within a campus recreation organization, including experience with multiple facilities and programs, staff supervision, budget management, fundraising, and recruitment in recreational management or a related field.

Other Required Qualifications
Current, valid and unrestricted driver's license

Preferred Qualifications

Additional Preferred Qualifications
CPR/AED and First Aid Certified
National Intramural and Recreational Sports Association (NIRSA) Member

Preferred Educational Qualifications
An advanced degree from an accredited institution of higher education in Recreation, Park, Tourism Sciences, and/or Leisure Studies, Higher Education, or a comparable academic discipline is preferred.

Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities

ABILITIES
Ability to develop and implement effective strategic plans and recreational programs.
Ability to implement time management strategies so tasks and responsibilities are completed within the assigned deadlines
Ability to successfully interact with a complex and dynamic community comprised of individuals/groups from an array of backgrounds, identities, experiences, and communication styles
Ability to recognize and protect confidential information and exercise judgment, tact, and diplomacy in handling sensitive information and situations.
Ability to work and communicate effectively with colleagues from across campus, student representatives, and campus departments in reviewing established procedures, discussing improvements, solving problems, and following through implementing solutions
Able to handle multiple tasks or projects at one-time while meeting assigned deadlines

KNOWLEDGE
Knowledge of the importance of health, wellness, recreation, competitive sport, and fitness to a campus community and the theories, principles, and practices of student development and higher education administration.
Understand and apply NIRSA best practices and Council for the Advancement of Standards in Higher Education (CAS) to work
Knowledge and understanding of industry standards for personnel, equipment, and facilities
Demonstrated commitment to teamwork, development, operational excellence, customer service, ethical leadership, and continuing education.

SKILLS
Strong organizational, fiscal, and relationship-building skills.
Successful track record in fundraising and securing financial support for campus programs.
Excellent interpersonal, initiative, teamwork, problem-solving, independent judgment, organization, communication (verbal and written), time management, project management, and presentation skills
Proficient with computer applications and programs associated with the position (i.e., Microsoft Office suite)
Strong attention to detail and follow-up skills
Strong customer service skills and phone and e-mail etiquette

Other Information

This is a supervisory position.
This position has financial responsibilities.
This position will be required to drive.
This role is considered a position of trust.
This position does not require a purchasing card (P-Card).
This position may travel 25% - 49% of the time

Background Check

• Credit Report
• Standard Enhanced
• Education
• MVR
• 9 Panel Lab Drug Test