Director of Athletics Advancement

The Director of Athletics Advancement provides strategic leadership for athletics-related partnership development, external engagement, and athletics philanthropy initiatives. This leadership role is responsible for cultivating and managing high-value corporate, alumni, family, and community relationships that generate sponsorship revenue, philanthropic support, and long-term institutional engagement opportunities.

Working collaboratively with the Director of Athletics, Associate Vice President of Institutional Advancement, and others, the Director oversees athletics engagement initiatives, supervises the Athletics Advancement Coordinator, and leads efforts to reach specific athletics fundraising and college-wide sponsorship and fundraising goals.

Primary Responsibilities

• Develop and execute comprehensive athletics partnerships and engagement strategy
• Supervise the Athletics Advancement Coordinator
• Cultivate and steward high-level corporate partnerships and sponsorship agreements.
• Manage a portfolio of athletics-related donors, prospects, alumni, families, and corporate partners.
• Personally solicit sponsorship and philanthropic commitments.
• Collaborate with Advancement leadership on campaign initiatives and donor pipeline development.
• Develop engagement strategies for alumni, former student-athletes, families, and community supporters, in collaboration with the Director of Alumni & Community Engagement.
• Represent the College at donor functions, athletic events, and community activities.
• Prepare strategic reports related to revenue, engagement, and donor activity.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and minimum 3 years of experience in advancement, athletics external relations, sponsorship development, fundraising, corporate engagement, or relationship management.
• Higher education experience and major donor portfolio management experience preferred.
• Advanced relationship-building and networking capabilities
• Strategic communication and negotiation skills
• Ability to manage complex institutional relationships
• Strong organizational and analytical skills
• Ability to attend athletic events, donor meetings, and community functions.
• Some evening, weekend, and limited travel responsibilities required.

Aquinas College, an inclusive educational community rooted in the Catholic and Dominican traditions, provides a liberal arts education with a global perspective, emphasizes career preparation focused on leadership and service to others, and fosters a commitment to lifelong learning dedicated to the pursuit of truth and the common good.

Aquinas College is recognized as the exceptional Catholic liberal arts college that prepares individuals for careers of leadership and service in developing a sustainable and just global community. Aquinas College is recognized by its values: Faith, Service, Learning and Community.

Aquinas College prides itself as a leader in sustainability, and this requires the participation of every member of the college community. In this regard, employees and their supervisors are expected to engage in the process of "appreciative inquiry" to identify ways that each position can advance sustainability in the employment experience.

In the performance of their respective tasks and duties, all employees are expected to conform to the Aquinas College Service Statement:

The College serves our community with excellence and respect through an institutional commitment to quality, accountability, cooperation, professionalism and responsiveness.

• -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:

Aquinas College is an equal opportunity employer and an inclusive educational community rooted in the Catholic Dominican tradition. Aquinas College provides a liberal arts education with a global perspective, emphasizes career preparation focused on leadership and service to others, and fosters a commitment to lifelong learning dedicated to the pursuit of truth and the common good. Aquinas College values: Faith, Learning, Service and Community.

Aquinas College offers an excellent benefits package that includes affordable medical, dental, and vision plans, generous paid vacation each year as well as paid holidays, paid sick time and short-term disability, and college-paid life and AD&D insurance. Additionally, Aquinas employees and their dependents are eligible for free tuition at Aquinas after one year of full-time employment.