School Athletic Director

About the role

The School Athletic Director plays a critical role in overseeing the development and implementation of a comprehensive high school athletics program. Reporting to Executive Director CPS Sports Administration and under the direction of the school administrator, the School Athletic Director is responsible for administering the extra-curricular athletic programs, supervising staff, maintaining records, responding to requests for information, implementing policies, assessing department needs, evaluating programs, developing and updating handbooks, informing the school community, staying current on research and issues, developing a grade check system, monitoring academic performance, managing fiscal operations, coordinating departmental activities, and managing facilities.

Responsibilities

• Administering the extra-curricular athletic programs
• Supervises licensed and non-licensed staff in Athletics including Assistant Athletic Directors, coaches, trainers, and support staff
• Maintains files and records required by policy, regulation, law, and good practice
• Responds to requests for information
• Implements board policies and advises the administration on regulatory matters related to athletics
• Assesses department needs through consultation with students, staff, and parents
• Evaluates the extra-curricular athletic programs and engages in long-term planning
• Develops and updates handbooks, brochures, and policy manuals
• Informs the school community about extracurricular athletic programs
• Stays current on research, issues, and regulations related to athletic programs
• Develops a grade check system for student athletes
• Maintains and assures that all eligibility reports and lists of participation are submitted on a weekly basis
• Develops and updates team schedules on all school platforms for public viewing
• Oversees transportation for all team travel
• Develops a school safety plan for every home venue
• Maintains and supports academic performance of student-athletes
• Directs and coordinates the fiscal operations within the departments
• Engages in fiscal planning-short and long-range
• Assists in preparing and implementing the school system budget and coordinates department purchasing
• Recommends capital improvements and negotiated contract agreements
• Serves as a consultant in the selection of supplies and materials
• Supervises all ticket sales and fund-raising events of the athletic programs
• Administers the receipt and disbursement of student activity funds
• Assists OSA with hiring and payment of coaching staff
• Supervises and guides the planning and execution of all parent volunteer organizations
• Creates the Schedules for All Operations and Activities within the Departments
• Issues timely announcements of upcoming events and deadlines
• Schedules and pays officials, athletic trainers, ticket takers, announcers, clock operators, and police for supervision of home contests
• Hires, schedules, and provides payment to lifeguards for all aquatic sports
• Arranges transportation for athletic contest participants
• Verifies each athlete's eligibility for participation in each contest
• Arranges all details of visiting teams' needs, as appropriate
• Provides for emergency health care and first aid treatment
• Arranges field, gymnasium, and aquatics center practice schedules, including arrangements for summer programs and non-school use of playing fields and facilities if applicable
• Coordinates with CPS for stadium usage
• Coordinates with Chicago Park Districts to execute IGA’s for athletic facilities
• Recommends, manages, supervises, and evaluates staff recruits, screens, interviews, and recommends prospective coaches
• Makes coaching assignment recommendations
• Ensures all coaches and staff are CPS and State certification compliant
• Supervises and evaluates coaching staff and other athletic staff
• Develops and applies a coaching evaluation system
• Supports opportunities for professional development for the coaching staff
• Maintains staff time and attends professional meetings
• Investigates complaints regarding employee conduct or performance
• Encourages the development and use of new strategies and philosophies
• Provides staff leadership to promote the athletic objectives of the district
• Assists coaches in the handling of day-to-day problems
• Resolves staff problems and provides support to coaches
• Coordinates the development, implementation, review, and revision of the extra-curricular athletic program
• Attends practices and games for purposes of evaluation and needs assessment
• Attends professional conferences to keep abreast of promising instructional practices
• Enforces the State and City board policy on equal educational opportunity
• Develops an effective comprehensive and equal opportunities athletic program for all male and female students
• Advises on modification of programs to meet individual students' academic and health needs
• Investigates complaints and grievances
• Participates in the work of state and national associations
• Facilities Management: Manages and develops facilities, inspects buildings, grounds, machines, and equipment, issues repair orders, provides specifications for maintenance of athletic facilities/fields, determines safety and obsolescence of equipment, enforces compliance with occupational health and safety codes and standards, oversees maintenance of swimming pools in a clean, safe, and sanitary condition, recommends watering and spraying schedules for school athletic fields, orders and oversees repairs or replacements of defective parts, assists in the development of specifications for construction projects, assists in identifying and using community resources for the athletic program, procures space for teams outside of CPS facilities, supervises departmental activities and operations, coordinates public or special events (Homecoming, Senior Days, Award Ceremonies, Fundraisers), supervises part-time student help including clinical hours, develops and places into operation appropriate rules and regulations governing the conduct of athletic activities, oversees the implementation of the insurance program covering school athletes, completes incident reports for minor to traumatic injuries, works to resolve conflicts, anticipates and resolves potential problems, organizes, plans, and coordinates departmental awards including recognition of alumni, former coaches and staff, and conducts in-season team meetings to review student code of conduct
• Public Relations: Establishes a positive image for departments within the school and the community, interacts, and aids in the development of feeder programs, plans and supervises an annual recognition program for school athletes, keeps records of the results of school athletic contests, maintains a record file of all award winners, announces athletic scholarships, conducts in-season team meetings to review student code of conduct, maintains appropriate professional relationships with parents, parent groups (e.g. Athletic Boosters), school volunteers, and outside agencies, responds to requests for information, oversees summer athletic programming, performs other related duties as assigned for the purpose of ensuring the efficient and effective functioning of summer athletics.

Qualifications

• Type of Education Required: Bachelor’s degree from accredited college or university; Master’s degree and/or general administrative endorsement preferred
• NIAAA Certified Athletic Administrator
• Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities: Ability to interact and communicate effectively with a variety of audiences, ability to coordinate and manage all aspects of the athletic program, including finances, ability to motivate student athletes and coaches, ability to make rational decisions under stressful conditions, proficiency using technology and applications, including Microsoft Office (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Google Suite, and web content editing software