Associate Athletic Director, Aztec Club; Administrator

Job no: 562841
Work type: Management (MPP)
Location: San Diego
Categories: MPP, Athletics, At-Will, Full Time, On-site (work in-person at business location)

Join San Diego State University as the Associate Athletic Director, Aztec Club and play a key role in advancing philanthropic support for SDSU Athletics. This position leads the day-to-day operations of the Aztec Club, with a focus on leadership annual giving, donor cultivation and stewardship, and programs that strengthen engagement with alumni, former student-athletes, fans, and supporters.

Working closely with Athletics Development and University Relations and Development, you’ll oversee key annual giving programs, build relationships with donors, manage donor benefits and engagement strategies, and supervise the Assistant Director, Aztec Club.

• Cultivate, solicit, and steward leadership annual donors, including members of the Football and Men's Basketball Director's Cabinet.
• Develop strategies to increase donor giving, engagement, and retention.
• Cultivate former student-athletes and identify prospective major gift donors for the Athletics Development team.
• Work toward established annual fundraising goals and metrics.
• Aztec Club & Annual Giving
  • Lead the day-to-day operations and activities of the Aztec Club.
  • Oversee annual giving programs, including the annual fund, student-athlete recruitment and retention fund, and sport excellence funds.
  • Manage donor benefits, priority points, giving communications, online giving pages, and related annual fund initiatives.
  • Partner with the Athletic Ticket Office and other campus teams to coordinate donor benefits and giving requirements.
• Leadership & Team Management
  • Supervise and support the Assistant Director, Aztec Club.
  • Establish priorities, deadlines, and workflows in coordination with Athletics Development leadership.
  • Collaborate with development colleagues on annual plans, fundraising goals, and donor strategies.
  • Support the overall management and priorities of the Athletics Development unit.
• Athletics & Community Engagement
  • Represent SDSU Athletics at donor, community, and university events.
  • Participate in evening and weekend events that support donor cultivation, stewardship, and engagement.
  • Support evolving Athletics initiatives, including NIL-related efforts.
  • Collaborate with campus partners and advocate for the needs and interests of SDSU student-athletes.

We’re looking for an experienced fundraising or sales professional who enjoys building relationships, developing donor strategies, and leading annual giving programs.

Experience in areas such as the following is especially valuable:

• Annual giving, fundraising, development, or relationship-based sales
• Donor cultivation, solicitation, stewardship, and retention
• Developing and growing donor or client relationships
• Collegiate athletics or higher education advancement
• Fundraising systems such as Ticketmaster, Salesforce, Paciolan, or Ellucian
• Supervising or providing direction to staff
• Developing and executing fundraising plans and goals

The position requires a bachelor's degree and a minimum of three to five years of successful fundraising and/or sales experience.

• Build support for Aztec Athletics – Develop relationships with donors and supporters who are invested in SDSU Athletics and its student-athletes.
• Lead the Aztec Club – Help guide annual giving, donor engagement, stewardship, and benefits for a key part of Athletics Development.
• Work directly with donors – Build relationships with alumni, former student-athletes, fans, and community supporters.
• Collaborate across Athletics and Advancement – Work alongside Athletics leadership, development professionals, ticketing, University Relations and…