Associate Athletic Director/Deputy Athletic Director for External Affairs

Valparaiso University - Valparaiso, IN

Full-time - Mid Level

Valparaiso, IN

Educational Services

About the position

The Associate Athletic Director/Deputy Athletic Director for External Affairs at Valparaiso University will oversee all external affairs units within the athletics department. This role involves strategic planning and execution related to donor relations, communications, marketing, and ticketing, while also serving as a liaison to sponsorship partners. The position is responsible for implementing a Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) strategy and acting as the primary contact for student-athlete NIL matters. The individual will also serve as a sport administrator for assigned sports, working closely with the Director of Athletics to enhance donor engagement and fundraising efforts.

Responsibilities

• Identify, cultivate, and solicit donor prospects for athletic teams and programs.
• Develop and maintain meaningful relationships with gift donors and prospects.
• Grow annual fund support and capital improvement and endowment support for Athletics.
• Engage alumni, students, faculty, staff, parents, and friends in supporting Valpo Athletics.
• Set annual goals and implement fundraising strategies for various teams and programs.
• Manage athletic donor relations and stewardship activities.
• Lead the management and stewardship of select/sport-specific donor groups.
• Engage former Valpo letterwinners to celebrate achievements and traditions.
• Collaborate with the Director of Athletics and coaches to assess departmental needs.
• Prepare strategies for effective solicitations in coordination with the Vice President for Advancement.

Requirements

• Master's Degree in a relevant field.
• 5 years of direct fundraising or related experience in major gift solicitation and closing.
• Strong skills in creating and sharing content on social media platforms.
• Experience in monitoring and responding to social media conversations.
• Strong interpersonal, organizational, management, and leadership skills.
• Ability to interact effectively with coaches, administration, student-athletes, and vendors.
• Thorough knowledge of NCAA rules and regulations.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience in marketing, admissions, public relations, trust officer, or sales.

Benefits

• Full-time position with competitive salary and benefits package.