Director, Student Athlete Academic Support Services

Job Description

Reporting to Associate Vice Provost for Academic Success Initiatives, the Director of Student Athlete Academic Support Services (SAASS) provides leadership for an academic affairs unit that develops and implements programs and services to facilitate the academic achievement, retention, and graduation of student-athletes. At the helm of academic support for 22 Division 1 NCAA athletic teams, this position works directly with the Provost Office and Athletic Department to ensure academic success. The Director oversees the department's human resource, administrative and financial operations. The director must work effectively with students, parents, coaches, academic administrators, faculty, and student services personnel, and athletics executive staff. The director will ensure the department's goals support and advance the priorities of the University's Strategic Plan. This role requires expertise in athletics administration as well as strong leadership, communication, and collaboration skills.

Administrative Oversight:
• Manage SAASS day to day operations, including budget management and the monitoring and supervision of 17 staff members, comprised of Administrative & Professional Faculty, University Staff, and full-time post graduate internship positions.
• Ensure departmental compliance with all NCAA, ACC, and University rules and regulations.
• Oversee departmental information technology and computer lab operations, and ensure department/staff compliance with IT, Acceptable Computer Use, and FERPA regulations.

Assessment and Evaluation:
• Assist in data collection and assessment; prepare and submit University, NCAA, ACC and other reports.
• Maintains an organizational structure and staffing to effectively accomplish the department's goals and objectives.
• Assess SAASS programs and services; compile annual reports to support these efforts.
• Oversee recruitment, training, supervision, and evaluation of SAASS employees.

Strategic Planning
• Establishes and implements short- and long-range departmental goals, objectives, and strategic plans.
• Implement essential policies and operating procedures.

View Full Description

Job Description

Reporting to Associate Vice Provost for Academic Success Initiatives, the Director of Student Athlete Academic Support Services (SAASS) provides leadership for an academic affairs unit that develops and implements programs and services to facilitate the academic achievement, retention, and graduation of student-athletes. At the helm of academic support for 22 Division 1 NCAA athletic teams, this position works directly with the Provost Office and Athletic Department to ensure academic success. The Director oversees the department's human resource, administrative and financial operations. The director must work effectively with students, parents, coaches, academic administrators, faculty, and student services personnel, and athletics executive staff. The director will ensure the department's goals support and advance the priorities of the University's Strategic Plan. This role requires expertise in athletics administration as well as strong leadership, communication, and collaboration skills.

Administrative Oversight:
• Manage SAASS day to day operations, including budget management and the monitoring and supervision of 17 staff members, comprised of Administrative & Professional Faculty, University Staff, and full-time post graduate internship positions.
• Ensure departmental compliance with all NCAA, ACC, and University rules and regulations.
• Oversee departmental information technology and computer lab operations, and ensure department/staff compliance with IT, Acceptable Computer Use, and FERPA regulations.

Assessment and Evaluation:
• Assist in data collection and assessment; prepare and submit University, NCAA, ACC and other reports.
• Maintains an organizational structure and staffing to effectively accomplish the department's goals and objectives.
• Assess SAASS programs and services; compile annual reports to support these efforts.
• Oversee recruitment, training, supervision, and evaluation of SAASS employees.

Strategic Planning
• Establishes and implements short- and long-range departmental goals, objectives, and strategic plans.
• Implement essential policies and operating procedures.
• Monitors and evaluates programmatic and operational effectiveness, and implements changes required for improvement.

Academic Support Services
• Oversee the implementation of academic support services that meet the needs of the student-athlete population; to include but not limited to advising, learning assistance, tutoring, mentoring, study hall.
• Implement effective orientation programming for incoming student athletes.
• Work with athletics administration, coaches, academic advisors, and other university constituents to facilitate the academic success of student athletes.
• Assist the Athletics Compliance Office and Office of Undergraduate Registrar with monitoring student-athlete eligibility.
• Provide timely and relevant information regarding NCAA continuing eligibility to appropriate stakeholders and work collaboratively to resolve eligibility issues in an effective and timely manner.
• Implement programming to foster working relationships with campus stakeholders.
• Serve on campus committees as assigned.

Required Qualifications

Master's degree from an accredited institution.
Experience developing and implementing academic success programs.
Understanding and experience with NCAA academic and eligibility rules and regulations.
Demonstrated skill in budget management.
Personnel supervision and evaluation.

Preferred Qualifications

Experience working with student-athletes in higher education.
Supervisory experience in a higher education student-athlete support services office.
Experience leading academic support within Football, Men’s Basketball, or Women’s Basketball.
Involvement in higher education professional organizations.
Understanding of college student development.
Excellent communication, interpersonal, project management, organizational, and leadership skills, with the ability to build consensus, foster collaboration, and inspire teams to achieve shared goals.

Overtime Status

Exempt: Not eligible for overtime

Appointment Type

Regular

Salary Information

110,000 - 120,000

Hours per week

40+

Review Date

July 7, 2025

Additional Information

The successful candidate will be required to have a criminal conviction check.

About Virginia Tech

Dedicated to its motto, Ut Prosim (That I May Serve), Virginia Tech pushes the boundaries of knowledge by taking a hands-on, transdisciplinary approach to preparing scholars to be leaders and problem-solvers. A comprehensive land-grant institution that enhances the quality of life in Virginia and throughout the world, Virginia Tech is an inclusive community dedicated to knowledge, discovery, and creativity. The university offers more than 280 majors to a diverse enrollment of more than 36,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in eight undergraduate colleges, a school of medicine, a veterinary medicine college, Graduate School, and Honors College. The university has a significant presence across Virginia, including the Innovation Campus in Northern Virginia; the Health Sciences and Technology Campus in Roanoke; sites in Newport News and Richmond; and numerous Extension offices and research centers. A leading global research institution, Virginia Tech conducts more than $500 million in research annually.

Virginia Tech endorses and encourages participation in professional development opportunities and university shared governance. These valuable contributions to university shared governance provide important representation and perspective, along with opportunities for unique and impactful professional development.

Virginia Tech does not discriminate against employees, students, or applicants on the basis of age, color, disability, sex (including pregnancy), gender, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, ethnicity or national origin, political affiliation, race, religion, sexual orientation, or military status, or otherwise discriminate against employees or applicants who inquire about, discuss, or disclose their compensation or the compensation of other employees or applicants, or on any other basis protected by law.

If you are an individual with a disability and desire an accommodation, please contact (Tracie Smith) at (tacie03@vt.edu) during regular business hours at least 10 business days prior to the event.

Apply Now

View Less Description