Job Description

As part of a diverse community of faculty and staff who represent many faith traditions and worldviews, Marian University seeks an accomplished, strategic, and mission-centered leader to serve as Vice President/Director of Athletics, who will promote our Catholic Franciscan mission and identity through a nationally competitive athletics program centered on student success, formation, and leadership.

In its 175th year, and amid a historic presidential transition, Marian is building on the transformation often described as the Marian Miracle. Now a national doctoral research university serving more than 5,000 students (including over 740 student-athletes), Marian has achieved four consecutive years of record enrollment. Athletics is an important part of this momentum and of Marian’s continued growth, visibility, student experience, and mission to form transformative leaders.

The Vice President/Director of Athletics will lead a large, nationally competitive NAIA intercollegiate athletics program and foster a culture where student-athletes are students first. Grounded in Marian’s Franciscan Sponsorship Values, this leader will help student-athletes achieve excellence in learning, integrate faith and life, grow in character and leadership, and prepare to lead and serve with purpose.

As a senior institutional leader, the Vice President/Director of Athletics will work collaboratively across the university, contribute to university-wide strategy and decision-making, and provide the vision and leadership needed to position Marian Athletics for continued strength and success.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Actively engage the Catholic Franciscan mission and identity of Marian University by modeling the Franciscan Sponsorship Values and honoring the legacy of the founding congregation through transformative education, unity in diversity, leadership through service, integrating faith and life, and institutional policies.
• Serve as a senior university leader, contributing to institutional strategy, priorities, and decision-making.
• Develop and execute a compelling long-term vision and strategy for Marian Athletics that aligns competitive, academic, financial, enrollment, facilities, and institutional priorities.
• Put student success first, with high expectations for academic achievement, retention, graduation, well-being, leadership development, and preparation for life beyond Marian.
• Advance competitive excellence while fostering integrity, sportsmanship, accountability, and responsible stewardship.
• Recruit, develop, retain, and hold accountable outstanding coaches and staff who embrace Marian’s mission, advance student success, and sustain a culture of competitive excellence, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Partner across the university to advance student success, enrollment, mission, advancement, and other institutional priorities.
• Partner with Enrollment Management and university leadership to support sustainable student-athlete recruitment and retention aligned with Marian’s academic standards, enrollment strategy, and student-success expectations.
• Provide strong financial and operational leadership across budgeting, scholarships, facilities, compliance, risk management, resource allocation, and long-range planning.
• Grow philanthropic and earned revenue through donor and alumni engagement, sponsorships, strategic partnerships, events, and other opportunities that strengthen the long-term financial position of Marian Athletics.
• Serve as a visible and effective ambassador for Marian Athletics, building strong relationships with students, faculty and staff, alumni, donors, sponsors, community leaders, conference partners, and the broader community.
• Anticipate changes in intercollegiate athletics, governance, student-athlete expectations, technology, revenue models, and competitive dynamics and position Marian to respond strategically and successfully.

Required Qualifications

• Strong commitment to advancing Marian University’s Catholic Franciscan mission, identity, and Sponsorship Values.
• Demonstrated ability to serve as a senior institutional leader and contribute to university-wide strategy, priorities, and decision-making.
• A record of advancing academic achievement, student development, and competitive excellence.
• Progressive leadership experience in intercollegiate athletics, higher education, sports administration, or a related field, with demonstrated readiness to lead a complex and nationally competitive intercollegiate athletics program; senior-level collegiate athletics experience is strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated success leading complex organizations and developing high-performing coaches, administrators, and teams.
• Strong strategic, financial, and operational experience, including budgeting, resource allocation, facilities, compliance, and long-range planning.
• Demonstrated success building relationships and generating support among donors, alumni, corporate and community partners, and other external stakeholders.
• Experience with fundraising, donor engagement, sponsorships, partnerships, or other forms of resource and revenue development.
• Strong communication, collaboration, judgment, integrity, accountability, and responsible stewardship.
• A bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution; an advanced degree is preferred.

Preferred Qualifications

• Advanced degree in a relevant field.

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled.

For Consideration All Applications Require:

1. Cover Letter
2. Current resume or CV
3. Contact information of three professional references. The reference contact information must be entered after the application is submitted in the "My Presence" section of the applicant profile.
4. Responses to the supplementary mission & identity questions.

Please Review Marian University’s Mission & Identity Statement before responding to the supplementary questions on your application:

https://www.marian.edu/faith

Essential Functions:

Work hours necessary to perform job requirements satisfactorily on a regular basis. Manage absence from work in responsible manner to ensure service to clients, work teams, and coworkers. Comply with Marian University policies and practices and seeking clarification of them when necessary.

Physical Requirements:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use their hands to handle or feel objects, equipment, or controls; and talk or hear. The employee is occasionally required to stand; walk; reach with hands and arms; climb or balance; and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl.

The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, and the ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Limitations and Disclaimer:

The above job description is meant to describe the general nature and level of work being performed; it is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required for the position.

All job requirements are subject to possible modification to reasonably accommodate individuals with disabilities. Some requirements may exclude individuals who pose a direct threat or signify can’t risk to the health and safety of themselves or other employees.

This job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by the employee occupying this position. Employees will be required to follow any other job-related instructions and to perform other job-related duties requested by their supervisor in compliance with Federal and States Laws.

Requirements are representative of minimum levels of knowledge, skills and/or abilities. To perform this job successfully, the employee must possess the abilities or aptitudes to perform each duty proficiently. Continued employment remains on an “at-will” basis.

Marian University is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All individuals, including minorities, women, individuals with disabilities, and veterans are encouraged to apply.