Assistant Director of Student-Athlete Development and Letterwinner Engagement

Position Summary:
The Assistant Director, Student-Athlete Development & Letterwinner Engagement supports the mission of Rice Athletics and the SOAR Program by leading holistic development initiatives that empower student-athletes to thrive during and beyond their time at Rice. This position serves as a key architect of the SOAR 5 pillars (career development, personal enhancement, civic engagement, leadership & belonging, and letterwinner engagement) — assisting with signature programs such as Flight Plan, Beyond the Hedges, Night of the Owl, and the R Association Mentorship Program. The Assistant Director designs and executes experiential programming, supports student-athlete leadership development, and cultivates strategic partnerships with alumni, campus offices, employers, and community stakeholders. The role also leads efforts to engage and steward letterwinners through mentorship, reunions, social outings, communications, and collaborations with Development and Alumni Relations.

Minimum Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree

• Two (2) or more years of experience in student-athlete development, career services, player engagement, and/or alumni relations within a college/university athletics environment

  • Additional education may substitute for experience on a year-for-year basis

• Experience in program planning, advising, and event coordination

• Possess or obtain a valid Texas driver’s license within 30 days of hire; maintain a clean driving record

Preferences:

• Master’s degree in higher education, sport management, counseling, or a related field

• Experience in alumni relations, development, or external engagement in a collegiate athletics setting

• Experience in collegiate student-athlete development and career services

Skills:

• Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging

• Excellent communication skills: written, verbal, and visual

• Ability to advise and mentor student leaders in 1-on-1 and group settings

• Knowledge of student development theory and application

• Strong event planning and program management capabilities

• Competence in risk management and student training facilitation

• Comfort using data and metrics for assessment and improvement

• Proficiency with social media platforms and digital engagement tools

• Ability to learn new strategies

• Familiarity with fundraising in a higher education environment

Essential Functions:

• Assist in all aspects of the Flight Plan program, providing four years of development in NIL education, financial literacy, career and internship exploration, civic engagement, personal wellness, and leadership

• Serve as a liaison to the R Association and assist in coordinating alumni engagement events, reunions, and mentorship opportunities to build meaningful connections between student-athletes and letterwinners

• Manage career readiness initiatives, including internships, externships, employer visits, networking events, job postings, and the promotion of the SOAR office Career Corner communication

• Help develop and maintain the Preferred Employer Program, working with letterwinners and organizational partners to manage student-athlete internship and full-time job listings, employer information, and recruiting activities across a wide range of industries

• Assist in managing the SOAR Mentorship Program, including mentor recruitment, student-athlete matching, platform management, and outcome tracking

• Support and advise student-athlete leadership groups, including SAAC, PWAA, and affinity groups

• Aid in coordinating civic engagement and community service programming, connecting student-athletes with impactful service opportunities at Rice and in the Houston community

• Collaborate closely with the Rice Owl Club, Alumni Relations, and Center for Career Development on strategic student and alumni engagements or fundraising initiatives

• Manage event logistics, awards tracking, marketing campaigns, and social media content for student-athlete development and alumni initiatives

• Collect and analyze data to assess student engagement, post-graduation outcomes, and program effectiveness; use insights to inform strategy and planning

• Actively recruit and engage alumni, preferred employer partners, mentors, and other stakeholders in the SOAR Network

• Supervise student workers or interns and assist with onboarding new SOAR team members

• Assist in developing a strategic plan to increase the number and variety of alumni engagements

• Perform other duties as assigned in support of the SOAR mission and Rice Athletics departmental goals

• Recruit faculty and volunteers to facilitate their participation in alumni programs and events

• Produce reports and analyze the performance of alumni programs and services