Associate Athletic Director of Compliance and Student-Athlete Welfare

Merrimack College - North Andover, MA

Full-time - Mid Level

North Andover, MA

1,001-5,000 employees

Educational Services

About the position

The Associate Athletic Director for Compliance and Student-Athlete Welfare at Merrimack College is responsible for overseeing all athletics compliance activities related to NCAA Division I, Conference, and institutional regulations. This role supports compliance and institutional control, collaborates with various stakeholders, and ensures the welfare of student-athletes through effective academic services and support. The position also involves serving as a primary sport administrator for several sports, depending on experience and interests.

Responsibilities

• Oversee a comprehensive NCAA Division I athletics compliance program focusing on education, enforcement, and monitoring of policies and procedures.
• Provide ongoing NCAA DI rules programming and educate student-athletes, coaches, and staff on applicable rules.
• Investigate, resolve, and self-report NCAA rules violations and file waiver requests as necessary.
• Lead the research, writing, and submission process for waiver requests.
• Compile and submit required reports, including Academic Progress Rate (APR) and various NCAA reports.
• Update current policies and procedures in the department's compliance handbook.
• Coordinate with the financial aid office to monitor athletic financial aid administration.
• Oversee the National Letter of Intent process for incoming student-athletes.
• Serve as primary administrator for NCAA Applications and related software.
• Oversee the clinics approval process for compliance with relevant policies.
• Ensure completion of all required annual NCAA attestations.
• Provide oversight to the Assistant Athletic Director for Compliance and Student-Athlete Affairs and the Athletic Admissions Coordinator.
• Collaborate with the Faculty Athletics Representative to certify student-athlete eligibility for participation and financial aid.
• Work with coaches, student-athletes, and staff on eligibility, academic, and admissions issues.
• Monitor the NCAA continuing eligibility certification process.
• Plan and execute strategies for student-athlete academic services and support.
• Serve as primary sports supervisor for several sports, providing leadership and guidance to head coaches.
• Foster a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion within the department and campus.
• Represent the department on various campus committees as needed.
• Work nights/weekends and travel with teams when necessary.

Requirements

• Bachelor's degree required; Master's degree preferred.
• Working knowledge of NCAA rules and regulations.
• Three to seven years of experience in college compliance, with NCAA Division I experience preferred.
• Outstanding verbal and written communication skills.
• Ability to educate and communicate with a broad range of constituents about NCAA DI compliance.
• Ability to work in a dynamic, fast-paced environment and manage stressful situations.
• Strong organizational and time management skills.
• Exceptional leadership skills.

Nice-to-haves

• Working knowledge of NCAA Applications and ARMS software.

Benefits

• Health insurance
• Paid holidays
• Professional development opportunities
• Tuition reimbursement
• Flexible scheduling