Assistant Director of Athletics, Programming

UAE Nationals are encouraged to apply. 

New York University Abu Dhabi (NYUAD) seeks to appoint an Assistant Director of Athletics - Programming, reporting to the Director of Athletics. 

The Assistant Director of Athletics - Programming directs and oversees the safe, fun and inclusive programming for University Sports Teams UST, Campus Recreation & Intramurals, and Physical and Health Education (PHE). Reporting to the Director of Athletics the role will lead the strategic planning, budget development, implementation plans, risk management and evaluation processes of the programming areas outlined and supervise a team of 5 staff to successfully deliver against the determined outputs.

The postholder will work closely with the Assistant Director of Athletics, Facilities & Operations to ensure all programs offered to students and the wider NYUAD community meet operational and facility requirements. Employee supervision and mentorship is critical for success and responsible for recruiting, training, supporting, task setting and monitoring and evaluation processes.

In addition to providing consistent and regular activities, events and competition for our University Sports Teams, Campus Recreation & Intramurals programs, the Associate Director will provide critical direction to the Physical & Health Education Program. As Physical & Health Education is an academic requirement for all students at NYUAD, the Assistant Director will work with the Director of Athletics and the Physical & Health Education Manager to ensure that the program utilizes pedagogic best practice in the delivery of physical and health education and complies with NYUAD academic quality standards, requirements and processes in consultation with the Registrar and the Vice Provost’s offices.

The Assistant Director will be required to support the functions of the broader Student Affairs division with involvement in various committees and working groups. The position may require evening and weekends commitments during the academic year.

The duties of this role may at times involve being exposed to data that may be sensitive in nature and require confidentiality.

Key Responsibilities:

• Ensures the adequate planning of all schedules of all University Sports events, including facility location approvals, required permits, equipment, and staffing
• Oversees all strategy, administrative and operational aspects of the programming areas
• Designs and helps program managers and coordinators implement recreational activities and events for students, faculty, and staff participants, individually or in groups
• Conducts ongoing evaluation of programs to ensure compliance with university, department, and program objectives
• Works with coaches, sports communications, athletics facilities & operations and administrative support staff to understand, plan, and execute programming needs successfully
• Provides short- and long-term planning for the programming areas
• Proposes revised standard operating procedures and guidelines to athletic, recreational and PHE programming. Ensures that Physical & Health Education aligns with the academic requirements and processes of the institution and continues to strategically enhance the program as per the Registrar and the Vice Provost’s offices. Facilitates and maintains a supportive environment for participants.
  Administrative and Other Duties Oversees and plans budgets for each programming area
• Ensures all policies and procedures are adhered to and updated as needed
• Participates in required professional development activities appropriate for experienced professionals in their field of expertise
• Manages program areas risk assessment processes and reports safety and risk issues to appropriate personnel, recommends improvements, and follows through to ensure that risks are appropriately managed and addressed
• Maintains flies, assesses data, records and prepares reports as necessary on all matters, including non-routine matters
• Employee Supervision Mentorship Recruits, hires, trains, supervises, and evaluates staff of all program areas
• Oversees and conducts training and orientation programs, guidance, instruction, and advising for staff and student leaders, individually or in groups, related to the best practices for programming in each area
• Encourages ongoing personal development of staff, regular check-ins and enables employee growth opportunities
• Responsible for role-modeling positive behaviors and leadership for student-athletes, coaches, employees, and participants
• External Stakeholder Engagement: Supports the Director of Athletics in fostering and developing relationships with other UAE based University Sports Departments, Abu Dhabi Sports Council, Abu Dhabi Department of Education & Knowledge, Ladies Sports Federation, etc
• Create ties to community-based recreation and sports companies, facilities, clubs, teams and coaches that will enable increased students and NYUAD community engagement and participation in activities and events
• Student Affairs Divisional Support Represents Athletics on divisional committees and working groups
• Assist in divisional planning and professional development
• Support other areas of Student Affairs, student recruitment, orientations and graduation events.

Required Education:

• Bachelors Degree in Sports Management, Business Management, Education or equivalent training
• 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, Adobe Creative Cloud.

Require Experience:

• 3+ years years of experience in Higher Education, Sports Management, Sports Programming

• Experience managing teams and planning and overseeing multiple programming areas

• Experience in strategic program management within a sports and recreation environment

• Experience sports coaching, teaching PHE or group fitness classes

• Skill in verbal and written communications and interpersonal relations

• Ability to delegate and give direction as needed

• Possess a high level of motivation

• Ability to work a flexible schedule

• Ability to work well in a team and in an unsupervised environment

• Problem-solving skills

• Ability to multi-task and work with frequent interruptions

• Skill in effective listening

• Excellent verbal communication skills, in the English language

Preferred Education:

• Master's Degree in Sports Management, Business Management equivalent training
• Experience using service management platforms, content management systems and space booking/reservation software
• Leadership Training

Preferred Experience:

• 5+ years in Higher Education, Sports Management, Sports Programming
• Working with multiple areas including Environmental Health & Safety, Risk Management, Compliance to assess and implement appropriate policies and procedures for various programs
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment
• Ability to multitask, handle a variety of projects simultaneously and oversee multiple employees at once
• Advanced knowledge of program areas, event management and best practices of sports programming within Higher Education
• Ability to quickly identify, trouble shoot, and resolve problematic on-site situations and resolve conflicts

NYU Abu Dhabi is a degree-granting research university with a fully integrated liberal arts and science undergraduate program in the Arts, Sciences, Social Sciences, Humanities, and Engineering. NYU Abu Dhabi, NYU New York, and NYU Shanghai, form the backbone of NYU’s global network university, an interconnected network of portal campuses and academic centers across six continents that enable seamless international mobility of students and faculty in their pursuit of academic and scholarly activity. This global university represents a transformative shift in higher education, one in which the intellectual and creative endeavors of academia are shaped and examined through an international and multicultural perspective. As a major intellectual hub at the crossroads of the Arab world, NYUAD serves as a center for scholarly thought, advanced research, knowledge creation, and sharing, through its academic, research, and creative activities.