Assistant to the Commissioner

The Great Northeast Athletic Conference seeks qualified applicants for the position of Assistant to the Commissioner. The NCAA Division III Ethnic Minority & Women’s Internship Grant Program has awarded the GNAC a two-year grant.

This position will provide the intern the opportunity to gain valuable experience in the management of the day-to-day operations of a college athletic conference as well as participation in the development and implementation of a conference strategic initiative. Under the guidance of the Commissioner and the intern’s mentor the Assistant to the Commissioner will be assigned the following responsibilities: 

Duties and responsibilities of the GNAC Assistant to the Commissioner
A. 2025 GNAC Professional Development Seminar: Every two years the GNAC, through the NCAA strategic grant, conducts a professional development seminar (PDS) for all coaches, assistants, ADs, SIDs, ATCs, Deans of Students and Presidents (averages 200 plus per PDS). Over the years the themes have included: Student Athlete Well Being; Sportsmanship; Gender Equity; Mental Health; Game Day the DIII Way and Coaching Generation Z student athletes. The PDS is a sizeable event to coordinate and the intern, as the point person, will work closely with the commissioner on aspects of the PDS including the coordination of the budget, location, menu, audio visual and keynote speaker(s), pre and post publicity and the PDS evaluation.

B. Conference Communications: The intern will work with the GNAC Senior Associate Commissioner/Director of Media Relations to learn how to complete various tasks including the archival process of conference data and statistics on the GNAC website. The intern will become fluent in Presto, film exchange and other software systems as well as the rapidly evolving changes in these technologies. The intern will design, write and publish GNAC conference releases to all forms of media, and will update website and statistics. The intern will also assist the GNAC Senior Associate Commissioner/Director of Media Relations in working with athletic directors, coaches and institutional SIDs to solicit nominations for GNAC player of the week and player of year nominations as well as compiling nominations for the GNAC Man and GNAC Woman of the Year Awards, the GNAC Sportsmanship Awards and the Commissioner’s
Cups Awards, and assist with the ongoing updating of the GNAC record book.

C. Championships: Assist the Commissioner in overseeing conference championships and playoffs including event operations, ordering, delivery of awards to playoff and championship sites, setup of pageantry and presentation of awards. Will also work with the hosting school on post-game publicity.

D. Assist with initiative to recruit new sport officials: Visit GNAC campuses to identify and recruit potential sport officials from the student athletes at member institutions. The NCAA intern will be an important link to this unique program that provides aspiring sports officials with a first introduction to officiating. The intern will also work with assignors for the various sports in setting up training and certification for the officiating recruits.

E. Conference SAAC: Work in collaboration with the GNAC Assistant to the Commissioner for Student Athlete Experience and Student Athlete Success (ACSAE&SAS) as well as each institution’s SAAC Advisors. Assist with organization of annual GNAC SAAC Leadership events involving student athletes from our 16 member institutions. Update GNAC SAAC webpage. Attend SAAC meetings at each of the GNAC schools.

F. Strategic planning: The intern will work with the commissioner researching all aspects of DIII conferences, affiliations, finances and historical records for all sports.

H. Community: The intern will coordinate the recruitment and work assignments at the annual Brian Honan 5K. For the past 21 years hundreds of GNAC student athletes have volunteered at this event. Work with schools on Team Impact initiatives.

I. Compliance and Governance: Assist (ACSAE&SAS) with NCAA and GNAC rules interpretations, enforcement, eligibility, and membership rules education.

J. Mentor an undergraduate: Provide guidance and mentorship while supervising a GNAC undergraduate student working part time in the GNAC office.

K. Additional Duties/Projects as assigned by the Commissioner, Associate Commissioner and/or (ACSAE&SAS)

Qualifications:

A Bachelor’s degree and a sincere desire to launch a career in college athletics administration. Preferred experience in media relations, desktop publishing, social media, website management, and general computer knowledge. Strong writing, communication, organizational, research and multitasking skills, and a working knowledge of intercollegiate athletics are preferred.

This full-time 10-month position reports to and is evaluated by the conference Commissioner. The hired intern will be able to work remotely with some required times at the GNAC office in Winthrop and also attending events and GNAC contests at other locations. Salary will be $30,000 for 10 months. $10,000 in benefits will be provided as well as $3,000 for the intern’s professional development.

Anticipated start date is August 1, 2024. The successful candidate will attend an orientation August 5-7, 2024, at the NCAA Headquarters in Indianapolis and attend the January 2025 NCAA Convention in Nashville TN. Must have a valid driver’s license and be able to travel and work nights and weekends in accordance with conference game and meeting schedules.