Position description

Reporting to the Vice-President, Student Affairs as a senior member of an integrated Student Affairs team, as the Director of Athletics, Recreation and Fitness you will provide effective vision, leadership, management, administration, and coordination of a broad-based athletics recreation and fitness portfolio which includes programs, activities and services at the varsity, intramural, club, recreational and fitness levels. The incumbent leads and inspires a dedicated and talented team of coaches, staff, volunteers, participants, student-athletes and students at all levels of sport including fitness, intramural, recreation, club, ACAA/CCAA, and AUS/U SPORTS and programs. You provide strategic leadership and actively promote the integration of extra-curricular and curricular activities in accordance with Mount Allison University’s Strategic Statement

Position Responsibilities

• Provides leadership and direction for the coaches, staff, participants, and student-athletes in the men’s and women’s programs at all levels of sport including intramural, recreation, club, ACAA/CCAA, and AUS/U SPORTS and programs
• Leads in the development of regionally and nationally competitive programs in accordance with the University and Mounties Athletics and Recreation strategic plans
• Responsible for oversight of the management of sports and recreational facilities and related equipment
• Ensures that varsity, recreational and fitness programming is highly inclusive and accessible; demonstrates and role models genuine commitment to equity in sports, recreation and fitness. Analyses usage and potential barriers to access and implements initiatives to reduce and eliminate these barriers.
• Develops, maintains, and promotes recreational programming to all members of the University community and external stakeholders
• Develops, oversees and promotes fitness programming in conjunction with university partners, including Wellness, faculty departments, student groups, and the Mount Allison Student Union (MASU) to promote integrated physical and mental health wellness activities across the university.
• Develops and promotes programs aimed at encouraging a lifelong commitment to health and wellness
• Develops academic partnerships and peer mentorship programs to provide increase academic and work-integrated learning opportunities related to fitness, wellness and sport.
• Facilitates genuine consultative work with student athletes and student recreational/fitness participants to ensure that students’ voices are meaningfully included in athletics, recreation and fitness decision-making.
• Manages the departmental budget with the Vice-President, Student Affairs and in accordance with the overall University budget approval process; manages the approved budget in line with university policies and procedures
• Manages and supervises staff, including administrators and coaches
• Builds and enhances a positive sporting culture, focusing on risk management, teamwork, collaboration, safety, wellness, integrity, and ethical behaviour. Ensures that educational programming including but not limited to sexual violence prevention, hazing prevention, bystander intervention, first aid, equity and inclusivity, conflict resolution and team building are provided to administrative and student staff, student team leaders, and student participants as appropriate.
• Advances recognition and support for Athletics and Recreation campus wide, promoting a positive culture and image for athletes and sport through the Mountie PRIDE initiative
• Exhibits and demonstrates a deep understanding, and commitment to, ACAA/CCAA, AUS/U SPORTS and other sport governing bodies rules and regulations. Serves on various committees, often in a leadership capacity
• Recruits and manages coaches, other Athletics & Recreation staff, and student employees
• Manages scheduling, fiscal, and other business matters for Athletics & Recreation in accordance with university and/or sport governing body policies
• Plays an active and leadership role in fundraising and development efforts on behalf of Athletics & Recreation while working collaboratively with Mount Allison’s University Advancement department
• Works with university student recruitment, schools and school boards as appropriate to recruit student-athletes, develop high school mentorship programming, and to provide information on athletics, recreation and wellness at Mount Allison.
• Represents Mount Allison University at AUS/U SPORTS ACAA/CCAA meetings and at other times as required
• Working together with Student Affairs develops and maintains conduct related policies and/or processes for coaches, athletes and recreation/fitness participants.
• Develops and maintains a positive relationship with students, staff, faculty, and alumni of Mount Allison University and members of sport governing bodies as well as with community-based organizations and partners
• Develops and maintains strong relationships with community-based athletic/recreational programs such as the Sackville Swim Club, Town Pickle Ball program and local basketball groups among others, including investigating areas of mutual partnership in the utilization of on and off campus facilities, with the priority being student access to a wide range of activities.
• Manages the dissemination of sports information through media coordination and the development and maintenance of website and social media strategies
• Other duties as required

Work Environment

• Meeting the expectations of multiple stakeholders can provide a significant stress inducing workload.
• This position will require extensive weekend and evening work, particularly during the fall and winter semesters.
• Travel requirements can be extensive and stressful during peak times.

Qualifications/skills

As the ideal candidate, you bring proven experience as a leader and manager in post-secondary athletics administration, recreation, fitness or a related field. You bring solid business and financial acumen and experience effectively managing teams and budgets. An exceptional communicator and natural collaborator, you understand how to achieve strategic objectives by building strong relationships within and outside of your organization. Your positive energy and tenacity in the pursuit of strategic goals inspires a high level of engagement and confidence within your team. You have proven your ability to capably manage multiple, moving priorities within a changing environment while always keeping the strategic vision of your unit and institution top of mind. Most importantly, you are passionate about the value of post-secondary education and the formative and lasting impact that varsity athletics programs, intramural programs and student clubs and societies have in student’s lives.

• A Bachelor’s degree in a related field; a master’s degree in a related field is an asset
• Extensive and related administrative experience in sport and recreation administration, ideally a minimum of 5 years: experience in a University or College setting would be an asset but not essential. Detailed knowledge of AUS/U SPORTS, ACAA/CCAA regulations is an asset
• Demonstrated record of successfully leading a complex and fast paced organization in a fiscally responsible manner
• Demonstrated ability to lead, manage, and oversee staff with focus on shared vision, commitment, and accountability
• Demonstrated ability to manage budgets in a complex and dynamic environment
• Demonstrated experience and success in fundraising and marketing
• Demonstrated commitment to equity, diversity, inclusion, and antiracism. Experience in using an equity-informed approach to leading teams and supporting athletes to thrive
• Demonstrated understanding of equity-based participation in sports and fitness, and experience in reducing and eliminating barriers
• Proven ability in hiring, supervising, and evaluating personnel
• Proven ability in cultivating, managing, and sustaining effective working relationships, with community and sport-based organizations
• Interest and ability to travel within Canada, and to work irregular hours such as evenings and weekends as needed

Key Competencies and Personal Attributes Leadership
You are a transparent, ethical, and principled leader with strong analytical capabilities, insightfulness, and judgement. You lead by example, are a good listener and foster and promote an environment of collaboration, and respect. You fulfill your commitments and demonstrate a sincere interest in the development and success of others and are comfortable putting the needs of others ahead of your own.

Commitment to Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
You have a strong commitment to increasing accessibility, equity, and diversity, and the ability to maintain an inclusive climate that reflects the goals of the Varsity Athletics, Recreation and Fitness Programs related to equity, diversity, and inclusion. You bring an equity-informed lens to your work and interact effectively and respectfully with people of different backgrounds.

Commitment to Education and Sports Excellence within the community
You support staff and students in maintaining and advancing the culture of innovation and excellence in sport and learning. You appreciate the strengths that come from building and maintaining connections with the internal and external community and promote an interdisciplinary approach to advancing the learning outcomes of students.

Commitment to Students
You will engage enthusiastically with student athletes and have a passion for enabling students to learn, grow and develop. You will prioritize the building of strong and meaningful relationships with student athletes and participants and creating an environment in which they thrive physically, mentally, socially and academically.

Relationship Building, Collaboration and Communication
You have a highly collegial and collaborative style, excellent communication skills, and the ability to inspire your team, including coaches, colleagues, and student athletes. You collaborate effectively, commit to supporting the larger group effort, and build and maintain cooperative and collegial relationships.

If you are interested in the challenges and opportunities that this position has to offer, please forward your application to: Lindsey Oram at loram@facetconnect.com.

Mount Allison is committed to diversity and inclusiveness. We encourage applications from members of racialized communities, Indigenous persons, persons with disabilities, and persons of all sexual and gender identities. We seek candidates with qualifications and knowledge to contribute specifically to the further diversification of our campus community.

At Mount Allison, we are committed to ensuring your interview experience is as comfortable and accessible as possible. If you require any accommodations or adjustments during the interview process, please do not hesitate to inform us. Your needs are important to us, and our dedicated team is here to support you.

Visit our website at www.mta.ca/employment for other employment opportunities at Mount Allison University or to register to receive e-mail notification of new opportunities.

We thank all applicants for their interest; however, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.