Associate Athletic Director for External Operations

University of North Carolina at Greensboro

Greensboro, NC

JOB DETAILS
SKILLS
Advertising Operations, Alliance/Partner Management, Athletics, Brand Marketing (Branding), Brand Strategy, Budget Management, Campaigns, Coaching, Communication Skills, Corporate Funding, Corporate Sales, Creative Services, Customer Relationship Management (CRM), Data Analysis, Email Marketing, Engagement Marketing, Establish Priorities, Fundraising, Graphics, Higher Education, Leadership, Licensing, Marketing, Marketing Strategy, Merchandising, Metrics, Multimedia, Music, Onboarding, Online Marketing, Performance Analysis, Performance Management, Performance Metrics, Performance Reviews, Photography, Presentation/Verbal Skills, Product Pricing, Project/Program Management, Public/Media/Press/Analyst Relations, Revenue Growth, Revenue Planning, Sales, Sales Analysis, Sales Pipeline, Sales Promotions, Scripting (Scripting Languages), Social Media, Social Media Marketing, Sports, Strategic Planning, Time Management, Writing Skills
LOCATION
Greensboro, NC
POSTED
30+ days ago

Posting Details

Position Information

Position Number 997959 Functional Title Associate Athletic Director for External Operations Position Type Administration - Staff Position Eclass University Information

Located in North Carolina's third largest city, UNC Greensboro is among the most diverse, learner-centered public research universities in the state, with 18,000 students in eight colleges and schools pursuing more than 150 areas of undergraduate and over 200 areas of graduate study. UNCG continues to be recognized nationally for academic excellence, access, and affordability. UNCG is ranked No. 1 most affordable institution in North Carolina for net cost by the N.Y. Times and No. 1 in North Carolina for social mobility by The Wall Street Journal - helping first-generation and lower-income students find paths to prosperity. Designated an Innovation and Economic Prosperity University by the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities, UNCG is a community-engaged research institution with a portfolio of more than $67M in research and creative activity. The University's 2,600 staff help create an annual economic impact for the Piedmont Triad region in excess of $1B.

Primary Purpose of the Organizational Unit

The Department of Intercollegiate Athletics is administratively housed in the Office of the Chancellor. The University's seventeen teams compete as members of NCAA Division I and the Southern Conference. Over 300 student-athletes, coaches and staff make up the department.

Position Summary

The Associate Athletic Director (AD) for External Operations is responsible for providing leadership, organization, administration and evaluation of the external operations of the department to include corporate sponsorships (Learfield), marketing, promotions, media relations and ticket sales (Taymar). This individual will be responsible for creating a comprehensive branding, awareness and marketing strategy for the department to include merchandising, licensing and other new revenue generating ideas.

As a member of the Spartan Council staff, this individual will have responsibility for day-to-day operations, budget oversight and personnel of units: Ticket Operations, Marketing and Fan Engagement, Corporate Sponsorships and Fundraising, Strategic Communications, and Live Production.

The Associate AD for External Operations will work in collaboration with the Executive Associate Athletic Director of External Operations to develop, implement and update the department's strategic plan, as part of the overall University's strategic planning process.

The Associate AD for External Operations will share responsibility with other members of the Spartan Council to market the department of athletics through fundraising, ticket sales and other forms of community engagement.

This position also requires the performance of any additional duties assigned by the Executive Associate Athletic Director of External Operations.

Minimum Qualifications

  • A Master's degree in Sports Administration is required OR a Bachelor's in related area and two years related professional-level experience.
  • Additionally, 5 - 7 years of increasingly responsible experience at a Division I institution in one or more of the following areas: public relations, ticketing, marketing, and fundraising.
  • Demonstrated expertise as a strategic thinker with skills in supervision, project management, fundraising, marketing, and public relations.
  • Excellent oral and written communication skills are required.
  • The position requires an individual with initiative and a high energy level that will allow for working "long hours" inside and outside of the University to meet expected results.
  • The position requires evening and weekend assignments.

Additional Required Certifications, Licensures, and Certificates Preferred Qualifications Special Instructions to Applicants

Applicants are required to upload a list of at least three (3) professional references that includes:

  • Name
  • Company Name
  • Type of reference (Professional, Supervisor, Colleague, Academic, or Personal). One (1) of those references will need to be a current or previous supervisor.
  • Email Address
  • Contact Phone Number

Recruitment Range Commensurate with experience Org #-Department Intercollegiate Athletics - 85001 Job Open Date 04/13/2026 For Best Consideration Date Job Close Date Open Until Filled Yes FTE 1.000 Type of Appointment Permanent If time-limited, please specify end date for appointment. Number of Months per Year 12 FLSA Exempt

Key Responsibilities

____

Percentage Of Time 25 Key Responsibility

Marketing and Fan Engagement

Essential Tasks

  • Lead overall marketing strategy, branding, and fan engagement initiatives.
  • Oversee game presentation: scripts, promotions, music, video board content, run‑of‑show.
  • Oversee digital strategy: social media, email marketing, and web presence.
  • Coordinate with ticketing to drive sales, promotions, and attendance growth.
  • Plan and execute community outreach, grassroots marketing, and campus engagement.
  • Give insight on promotional schedules and theme nights for all sports.
  • Oversee sponsorship activation in coordination with the external affairs or corporate sales team.
  • Use data analytics to guide marketing decisions and measure campaign performance.
  • Collaborate with athletics communications, creative services, and multimedia units.
  • Manage budgets for marketing, promotions, and fan experience.
  • Strengthen student‑section engagement and on‑campus visibility.

Percentage Of Time 20 Key Responsibility

Ticketing and Revenue

Essential Tasks

  • Input on annual ticket revenue plans: season tickets, mini‑plans, single‑game, group sales, and premium seating.
  • Oversee the ticket office: staffing, training, sales culture, customer service standards, and daily operations.
  • Oversee dynamic pricing strategies based on demand, opponent, time of year, and historical data.
  • Create group sales pipelines with youth sports, civic groups, alumni chapters, and local businesses.
  • Input on coordinating retention and renewal campaigns using CRM data, segmented messaging, and outbound calling.
  • Analyze sales performance weekly and adjust tactics quickly.

Percentage Of Time 20 Key Responsibility

Corporate Sponsorship and Fundraising

Essential Tasks

  • Develop and maintain corporate partnerships, ensuring fulfillment and renewals.
  • Create new inventory (digital, in‑venue, experiential) to expand sponsorship opportunities.
  • Represent athletics in the community through chamber events, civic groups, and business outreach.
  • Collaborate with the foundation on donor‑centric events tied to ticketing and premium experiences.

Percentage Of Time 20 Key Responsibility

Oversight of Strategic Communications and Live Production

Essential Tasks

  • Guide social media strategy to align with revenue goals and brand identity.
  • Oversee creative services (graphics, video, photography) to support marketing and recruiting.
  • Coordinate with sports information/communications to ensure consistent messaging.

Percentage Of Time 15 Key Responsibility

Supervision

Essential Tasks

  • Direct supervision of unit leaders such as directors of marketing, ticketing, live production, fan experience, and sometimes corporate partnerships.
  • Daily oversight of staff performance including workload management, project prioritization, and accountability for deadlines.
  • Hiring, onboarding, and training to build a cohesive external team with shared standards and expectations.
  • Conducting performance evaluations with clear KPIs tied to revenue, attendance, engagement, and brand metrics.
  • Professional development planning to grow staff skills in sales, digital marketing, analytics, and leadership.

ADA Checklist

ADA Checklist

R for Rare (0-30%), O for Occasional (30-60%), F for Frequent (60-90%), C for Constant (90-100%).

Physical Effort Hand Movement-Repetitive Motions, Hand Movement-Grasping, Holding, Finger Dexterity, Reading, Writing, Vision-Visual inspection, Hearing, Talking, Standing, Sitting, Walking, Lifting-0-30 lbs., Pushing/Pulling, Climbing-Stairs, Bending, Squatting, Crawling Work Environment Driving - Car/Truck, Inside, Outside

Applicant Documents

Required Documents

  • Resume/CV
  • Cover Letter
  • List of References

Optional Documents

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

    • Please indicate how you learned of the vacant position for which you are applying:
  • UNCGjobsearch Website

  • Greensboro News & Record

  • Carolina Peacemaker

  • Other Newspaper

  • The Chronicle of Higher Education

  • Inside Higher Ed

  • Other Professional Journal

  • NCWorks.gov

  • UNC System Job Board

  • Other Online Job Board

  • Personal Networking

  • Other

    • If you selected "Other", please provide the name of the resource here.

(Open Ended Question)

    • Are you eligible to work in the United States without sponsorship?
  • Yes

  • No

    • Will you now or in the future require visa sponsorship for employment at the University of North Carolina in Greensboro?
  • Yes

  • No

About the Company

U

University of North Carolina at Greensboro