Athletic Director

Athletic Director - Foundation Academies

Reports to: Sr. Director of External Strategic Partnerships & Athletics

Stipend: $15,600

Position Summary: The Athletic Director provides visionary leadership for Foundation Academies' athletic department, ensuring student-athletes excel both on and off the field. This role is responsible for strategic planning, program development, staff management, and compliance with all athletic regulations. The Athletic Director sets the direction for middle and high school sports programs, ensuring alignment with FA’s mission while fostering a culture of excellence, inclusion, and accountability.

This leader plays a key decision-making role, overseeing coaching staff, athletic programming, student eligibility, budget management, and community engagement. The ideal candidate is a proactive problem-solver, capable of handling both high-level planning and day-to-day operations.

Qualifications: Internal candidates interested in the position of Athletic Director must meet the following qualifications:

• Mission-Driven: Embrace the Foundation Academies' mission to prepare all scholars for college and embody the core values of the school.
• Resourceful and Solution-Oriented: Demonstrate a proactive, problem-solving mindset with a track record of achievement in previous roles.
• Growth-Oriented: Be open and eager to be challenged in a fast-paced environment, continuously learning and improving.
• Team Player: Must be adaptable and collaborative, with the ability to work well with all stakeholders, including scholars, staff, parents, and the community.
• Highly Organized: Ability to manage and prioritize multiple tasks, particularly scheduling events, practices, and competitions.
• Interpersonal Skills: Strong communication skills, both verbal and written, with the ability to connect with diverse groups.
• Judgment and Integrity: Exercise excellent judgment, maintain high ethical standards, and uphold scholar confidentiality.
• Passion for Sports: A genuine enthusiasm for competitive athletics and fostering a positive athletic environment for scholars.
• Self Starter: Takes initiative to anticipate challenges, propose solutions, and drive continuous improvement without constant oversight.

Certification:

• Must be eligible to obtain a NJ Supervisor Certification within 1 year
• CPR/AED Certification

Supervision:

• Directly supervises all coaching staff and athletic coordinators, ensuring alignment with FA’s mission and compliance with all policies.

Athletic Director's Responsibilities: The Athletic Director is responsible for the comprehensive oversight and management of the athletic department in collaboration with the Enrichment and Health/PE departments. Specific duties include:

1. Strategic Planning: Setting long-term goals for the department.
2. People & Program Oversight: Holding coaches accountable and developing athletic programs.
3. Crisis Communication: Managing incidents with professionalism and transparency.
4. Visibility & Engagement: Being an active presence at school events, practices, and games.
5. Program Management and Logistics:
• Work in partnership with the Director of Operations to coordinate transportation, facility reservations, game scheduling, and logistical support for all teams.
• Serve as the primary representative at all Penn Jersey Athletic Association Meetings, representing Foundation Academies’ interests.
• Develop and oversee the athletic department’s budget, ensuring funds are allocated appropriately and efficiently.
• Partner with the finance department  to secure funding for practice and game facilities, ensuring registration deadlines are met.
6. Fundraising and Donor Relations:
• Collaborate with the Advancement Team to acknowledge and engage with athletic donors, ensuring their contributions are recognized and appreciated.
• Develop strategies for ongoing fundraising to support athletic programs and enhance the scholar-athlete experience.
7. Equipment, Inventory, and Facilities Management:
• Manage the inventory of athletic equipment, uniforms, and other essentials, ensuring proper storage and replacement as needed.
• Oversee the maintenance and acquisition of practice and game field locations, working with both internal and external stakeholders.
• Ensure that all equipment complies with safety standards and is properly maintained.
8. Compliance and Documentation:
• Scholar-Athlete Compliance: Health forms, eligibility, etc.
• Staff Certification Compliance: CPR, AED, required training, etc.
9. Marketing and Communications:
• Work closely with the Marketing Team to promote FA Athletics, ensuring timely updates on the school website, social media, and community engagement platforms.
10. Coach Evaluation and Development:
• Regularly evaluate coaching staff, providing constructive feedback, support, and professional development opportunities.
• Provide ongoing performance evaluations, professional development, and mentorship to coaching staff, ensuring they uphold FA’s core values and foster a positive, inclusive team culture.
• Collaborates with the Talent Team to ensure all coaches maintain required certifications and remain up to date with required training.
11. Events and Ceremonies:
• Partner with the Operations Team to secure venues for ceremonies celebrating team and individual accomplishments, such as awards nights or recognition events.
• Lead the planning and execution of athletic ceremonies, ensuring meaningful recognition of scholar-athletes and coaches.
12. Other Responsibilities:
• Handle other tasks as necessary to ensure the athletic department runs efficiently and that Foundation Academies provides competitive sports programming that aligns with the school's mission and values.
• Support scholar-athletes and coaches in overcoming challenges to ensure an overall positive and enriching experience for all involved.

Be advised that you may be required to perform other related duties as assigned to support the evolving needs of the organization.