Director of Student Athlete Success and Community Engagement - Daemen University

Daemen University is a dynamic, independent, liberal arts institution committed to excellence in student centered learning. The University places special emphasis on preparing students for excellence in professional life, civic engagement, and on instilling and understanding that learning is an exciting lifelong journey. Students are encouraged to be creative, innovative, ethically minded leaders for an ever-changing, diverse, and interconnected world.

The Mission of Daemen University is to prepare students for life and leadership in an increasingly diverse and complex world through the integration of education and professional preparation. Daemen University is going beyond instrumental needs to foster the development of individuals who are dedicated to the health and well-being of local and global communities.

Purpose of Role

Reporting to the Assistant Athletic Director for Compliance and Student Success, this position coordinates the academic and personal development of student-athletes including, not limited to, coordinating community engagement initiatives for Daemen Athletics. This position also serves as a liaison to the Student Success Center, Faculty Athletic Representative and Career Services on behalf of the Division of Athletics.

About This Opportunity

Joining our Athlete team, the Director of Student-Athlete Success and Community Engagement

will be responsible for the following:

• Collaborate with Assistant Vice President for Student Success to augment services to provide for academic success of student-athletes.
• Act as liaison between Division of Athletics, Faculty Athletics Representative and the College's Academic community.
• Develop and oversee an effective system for appropriate study and life skill strategies.
• Oversee the monitoring of study-table hours and participation of student's and fulfillment of academic contracts
• Work with the Director for Compliance to monitor academic standing of student-athletes including the monitoring of full-time enrollment of student-athletes.
• Work with the Director for Compliance to develop and implement a communication system for faculty concerning team travel and missed class time issues.
• Serves as liaison for Daemen Athletics with the Office of Student-Affairs and Global Programs
• Collaborate with various Division of Athletics staff to develop and implement life skills and leadership training, and appropriate team activities.
• Coordinate and oversee Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC).
• Serve as the primary contact for all teams regarding Community Engagement activities.
• Work with the Director of Operations to plan various Community Engagement Events.
• Assist with activities related to Daemen Athletics involvement in the WNY Girls in Sport program and National Girls and Women in Sport Day programming.
• Operates the program under the rules and regulations of the College, the NCAA, NEC and the ECC
• Assist in the recruitment of prospective student-athletes
• Supervise Academic Support Graduate Assistant that is shared with Center for Allied and Unified Sport and Exercise (CAUSE)
• Assist with scheduling athletic teams for CAUSE sessions and oversee Team Impact Fellows
• Assist with planning and organizing special events.
• Develops and manages annual calendar events and activities.
• Performs other duties as assigned in the Division of Athletics.

Required Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree
• Master's degree, preferably in sport management/administration, higher education, or a similar field; or an equivalent combination of experience and education may be substituted for a Master's degree
• Minimum three years' experience in higher education
• Previous experience in mentoring/academic advising for students
• Superior ability to engage families and prospective student-athletes
• Ability to facilitate and constructively participate in group meetings
• Strong written and verbal communication and interpersonal skills
• Must be able to work cooperatively with the Department's administrative, coaching and support staff, as well as various entities and constituents on and off-campus
• Knowledge of academic support services and the ability to effectively use them.
• Ability to work mornings, evenings, weekends, and holidays when necessary.
• Ability to drive a personal or university vehicle for the purpose of college business when necessary
• Ability to travel when necessary
• Knowledge of recruiting techniques and the ability to effectively use them.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's Degree
• Demonstrated knowledge of and experience with NCAA rules/regulations particularly as it pertains to eligibility issues.
• Demonstrated knowledge and ability in the areas of administration and supervision of personnel; working with college students in an academic setting, crisis management; interacting and consulting with college academic advisors, faculty and college administrators regarding student-athletes' course scheduling and other appropriate academic issues/concern
• Experience in strategic planning and execution in higher education settings
• Previous experience as a student-athlete

Total Compensation

Daemen University offers a robust total compensation package that includes:

• Health insurance with an option of two plans: an HSA plan with the deductible funded by employer HSA contributions, or a copay plan.
• Dental insurance through the Guardian network.
• Vision insurance through the Guardian network, and an option between the VSP or Davis plans.
• An 8% employer contribution to the retirement savings account when employees contribute just 5%.
• Fully paid long term disability insurance, guaranteed-issue life insurance for new hires up to a volume of $150,000.
• Tuition waiver for full-time employees and their qualified dependents. Entrance in Tuition Exchange scholarship opportunities to pursue education at other institutions.
• Generous time off for administrative and staff employees.

Daemen University strongly encourages all campus community members to get vaccinated for COVID-19, including a booster vaccine.