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 Merrimack College bylaws, rules, and regulations. This role supports compliance and institutional control, working closely with coaches, staff, student-athletes, and university personnel to mitigate risks. The position also involves serving as the primary liaison with the Faculty Athletic Representative and overseeing student-athlete welfare operations, including academic services and the Student-Athlete Advisory Committee (SAAC).

Responsibilities

• Oversee a comprehensive NCAA Division I athletics compliance program focusing on education, creation, 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 required information for reports such as 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 ARMS software.
• Ensure compliance with relevant policies in the clinics approval process.
• Oversee 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 and staff to communicate eligibility, academic, and admissions issues.
• Monitor the NCAA continuing eligibility certification process.
• Plan and execute strategies for student-athlete academic services.
• 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.
• 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

• Competitive salary
• On-campus position
• Professional development opportunities
• Commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion