Assistant Director, Student-Athlete Career Development

Job Description

POSITION SUMMARY

Reporting directly to the Associate Athletic Director for Student-Athlete Enhancement, this position advances the successful athletic-to-career transition of student-athletes by delivering targeted programming, individualized advising, and employer engagement initiatives. The role emphasizes holistic student-athlete development through the cultivation and maintenance of strong internal and external partnerships, including Tampa Bay professionals and USF alumni.

Responsibilities

Career Development Oversight

• Provide individualized and cohort-based career advising to student-athletes, including career exploration, résumé and cover letter development, LinkedIn optimization, interview preparation, and job search strategies.

• Assist student-athletes in identifying career interests and translating athletic and leadership experiences into marketable professional competencies.

• Develop and deliver workshops and programming focused on career readiness, workplace professionalism, networking, negotiation, and life skills.

• Support and collaborate with the Selmon Mentoring Institute to align career development initiatives with mentoring programming.

Programming & Event Coordination

• Plan, coordinate, and implement career development programming tailored to the unique schedules and competitive demands of student-athletes.

• Organize and execute career-related events, including career fairs, networking opportunities, mock interviews, internship preparation sessions, and senior transition programming.

Employer, Alumni & Community Engagement

• Develop and maintain relationships with employers, alumni, and industry professionals to expand job shadowing, mentorship, internship, and employment opportunities for student-athletes.

• Serve as the primary liaison to the USF Career and Professional Development (CCPD) office to align resources and opportunities.

Assessment, Documentation & Reporting

• Track and maintain data related to student-athlete internships, employment opportunities, and post-graduate placement outcomes.

• Assist in the design, development, and promotion of the unit’s annual report and other impact documentation.

International Student-Athlete Advisor

• Provide individualized advising and support to international student-athletes.

• Oversee and support the International Student-Athlete Club (iSAC).

• Serve as primary liaison to the USF Office of International Services to ensure compliance and appropriate support structures.

Professional Development & Innovation

• Actively pursue ongoing professional development opportunities.

• Research, evaluate, and recommend innovative best practices to ensure programming remains current, effective, and aligned with industry standards.

• Secure appropriate approvals and implement new initiatives when warranted.

• Continuously assess and enhance programming while maintaining alignment with unit goals and strategic priorities.

• Effectively communicate new concepts, ideas, and recommendations to staff and supervisor.

Additional Areas of Student-Athlete Enhancement

• Serve as unit liaison for assigned sport teams.

• Assist with and promote recruiting efforts with sport teams and coaches as appropriate.

• Support additional areas of Student-Athlete Enhancement programming outside of primary oversight when needed to ensure operational efficiency across the unit.

Performs other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree required with at least one (1) year of experience in a student affairs or student personnel position; or

• Master’s degree in Higher Education, College Student Personnel, Sports Recreation Administration, or related field.

• Work experience may not substitute for the Bachelor’s degree requirement.

• Degree Equivalency Clause: Four years of direct experience for a bachelor’s degree.
  • Senate Bill 1310- The Florida Senate (https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2023/1310) is conditional upon meeting all employment eligibility requirements in the U.S.
  • SB 1310: Substitution of Work Experience for Postsecondary Education Requirements
  • A public employer may include a postsecondary degree as a baseline requirement only as an alternative to the number of years of direct experience required, not to exceed:
  • (a) Two years of direct experience for an associate degree;
  • (b) Four years of direct experience for a bachelor’s degree;
  • (c) Six years of direct experience for a master’s degree;
  • (d) Seven years of direct experience for a professional degree; or
  • (e) Nine years of direct experience for a doctoral degree
  • Related work experience may not substitute for any required licensure, certification, or registration required for the position of employment as established by the public employer and indicated in the advertised description of the position of employment.
  • Minimum Qualifications that require a high school diploma are exempt from SB 1310.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Higher Education, College Student Personnel, or related field.

• Direct experience working in intercollegiate athletics and student-athlete services.

• Experience working with diverse student populations and constituent groups (student-athletes, faculty, administrators, alumni, community members).

• Experience with program development and oversight.

• Experience working within a collaborative team environment.

• Experience developing and facilitating training programs.

• Experience with event planning and coordination.