Director of Student - Athlete Development

Director of Student - Athlete Development

Director of Student – Athlete Development at Northwestern University

Reporting directly to the Senior Associate Athletics Director for Strategic Impact, Leadership and Student Engagement, this position is responsible for the development of the overall strategy and management of the King NU P.R.I.D.E. Program, the focus of which is the holistic development of Northwestern Student‑Athletes. The Director of the King NU P.R.I.D.E. Program will be fully immersed in the athletics and broader Northwestern community and will be responsible for collaborating with athletics department teams/coaches and units as well as campus and community partners.

Department: Univ Athletics – Admin

Salary/Grade: EXS/8

Note: Not all aspects of the job are covered by this job description.

Specific Responsibilities

• Collaborate with key stakeholders including Campus Partners, Kabiller NU for Life (Career Enhancement & Employer Relations), and ‘Cats Give Back (Community Outreach) to design and deliver holistic student‑athlete programming; co‑develop assessment tools to evaluate programming effectiveness.
• Lead the Student‑Athlete Advisor Committee (SAAC) and other student‑athlete leadership and well‑being initiatives, fostering engagement, advocacy, and personal development.
• Establish goals and objectives for each respective group; coordinate regular meetings and collaborate on the development of workshops, trainings, and dialogue spaces; spearhead the selection and personal development of student executive boards.
• Lead a committee to deliver large‑scale student‑athlete events, such as fall “Kick‑Off” and the end‑of‑year award show (NESPYs).
• Assist in the facilitation of external leadership engagement opportunities for student‑athletes (conferences/workshops), such as the NCAA Leadership Forum and Big Life Series Programming.
• Work alongside key stakeholders to design and implement transition programming that supports student‑athletes through pivotal academic, athletic, and personal development milestones.
• Communicate regularly with coaches, team support staff, compliance, and academic advisors on King NU P.R.I.D.E. student‑athlete engagement opportunities and programming.
• Manage the INVEST NU social media accounts in partnership with External Staff to connect student‑athletes to resources, amplify campus and Northwestern University Athletics and Recreation events, promote storytelling, and drive awareness through strategic content.
• Recommend and manage fiscal year budget for approval and manage expenditures to ensure compliance with department policies.
• Coordinate external reporting of King NU P.R.I.D.E. initiatives to program benefactors and University leadership, annually as needed.
• Remain up to date with trends and best practices to ensure NUDAR provides cutting‑edge support to a diverse population of student‑athletes and remains an industry leader promoting student‑athlete growth and wellbeing.
• Assist in other projects and programs at the request of the Senior Associate Athletics Director for Strategic Impact, Leadership and Student Engagement.
• Responsible for adhering to all Department and University policies and procedures, as well as the rules, regulations, bylaws and interpretations of the Big Ten Conference, CSC and the NCAA.
• Responsible for adhering to all Department and University continuing education initiatives and required certifications and trainings.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

• Successful completion of a full 4‑year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor’s degree, or appropriate combination of education and experience.
• Minimum 3–5 years relevant experience with student services in intercollegiate athletics; experience with the development and facilitation of training/educational workshops and dialogue spaces.
• Ability to communicate effectively one‑to‑one, in small groups, and in public speaking contexts.
• Strong organizational skills and demonstrated effective written communication skills, including but limited to well‑organized emails, letters and proposals.
• Ability to be self‑motivated, detail oriented, and to prioritize…