Department: Univ Athletics - Admin
Salary/Grade: EXS/18

Job Summary:

The General Manager will be responsible for the administration of all operational functions related to the NCAA House Settlement (2024) and its impact on intercollegiate athletics, with a primary focus on football.  This role leads the player evaluation and recruitment. With a primary focus on sustained success and strategy implementation, this role will be charged with the planning, evaluating, negotiating, and tracking the distribution of revenue share payments and additional scholarship allocations to student athletes. 

This position has a significant emphasis football; however, involves collaborating with each of the 19 sport programs to effectively allocate designated resources, forecasting funding needs for future recruiting classes, and managing current roster expenditures throughout the year. In addition to revenue share payments the General Manager will have oversight of the Name, Image, Likeness (NIL) clearinghouse and analyzing market values and trends. This role will work closely with the Chief Operating Officer as well as the head coaches and support staff in order to maintain the highest commitment to competitive excellence while also ensuring fiscal responsibility. The General Manager will manage a total budget of over $20 million dollars and will be tasked with creating policies and practices to monitor and guarantee compliance with any rules, regulations set forth by the department, university, conference or appropriate governing bodies.

This role reports to the Combe Family Vice President for Athletics and Recreation, Athletic Director and second to the Dan and Susan Jones Family Head Football Coach.

Please note: *Willingness and ability to work a non-traditional schedule including evenings, weekends and holidays as required. *

Specific Responsibilities :

Financial Reporting and Policy Development: 

Department: Univ Athletics - Admin
Salary/Grade: EXS/18

Job Summary:

The General Manager will be responsible for the administration of all operational functions related to the NCAA House Settlement (2024) and its impact on intercollegiate athletics, with a primary focus on football.  This role leads the player evaluation and recruitment. With a primary focus on sustained success and strategy implementation, this role will be charged with the planning, evaluating, negotiating, and tracking the distribution of revenue share payments and additional scholarship allocations to student athletes. 

This position has a significant emphasis football; however, involves collaborating with each of the 19 sport programs to effectively allocate designated resources, forecasting funding needs for future recruiting classes, and managing current roster expenditures throughout the year. In addition to revenue share payments the General Manager will have oversight of the Name, Image, Likeness (NIL) clearinghouse and analyzing market values and trends. This role will work closely with the Chief Operating Officer as well as the head coaches and support staff in order to maintain the highest commitment to competitive excellence while also ensuring fiscal responsibility. The General Manager will manage a total budget of over $20 million dollars and will be tasked with creating policies and practices to monitor and guarantee compliance with any rules, regulations set forth by the department, university, conference or appropriate governing bodies.

This role reports to the Combe Family Vice President for Athletics and Recreation, Athletic Director and second to the Dan and Susan Jones Family Head Football Coach.

Please note: *Willingness and ability to work a non-traditional schedule including evenings, weekends and holidays as required. *

Specific Responsibilities :

Financial Reporting and Policy Development: 

• Prepare multi-year financial reports and provide insights and updates to the athletic director and senior leadership as needed.
• Developing policies and procedures related to resource allocation, distribution and scholarship budget management.

NIL Oversight:

• Oversee the NIL clearinghouse and analyze the financial commitments to ensure compliance while providing valuable data to enhance recruiting and roster management strategies. 
• Responsible for the development and management of the roster budget and all funding components including scholarships, Cost of Attendance, awards, revenue share and NIL.
• Presenting available NIL resources to current and future players and facilitating relationships with NIL partners.

Compliance and Best Practices:

• Stay updated on best practices in budget management, salary cap strategies, and compliance regulations relevant to collegiate athletics and in the Big Ten Conference.
• Responsible for adhering to all Department and University policies and procedures, as well as the rules, regulations, bylaws and interpretations of the Big Ten Conference and the NCAA.

Relationship Management and Negotiating:

• Develop and maintain strong relationships with Student-athletes, coaches and administrators in order to effectively and efficiently negotiate contract terms.
• Collaborate with all program coaches to establish and manage annual scholarship budgets and revenue allocations to maximize competitiveness.

Strategic Planning:

• Responsible for the management, analysis, and execution of revenue share commitments and scholarship allocations to ensure resource optimization and compliance.
• Forecast and analyze future recruiting class needs and provide recommendations to best utilize our athlete compensation.
• Work with coaches and other staff as appropriate to evaluate and identify player value through comprehensive assessment and analyzing prospects' on-field performance beyond traditional stats, account for factors like strength of schedule, system fit, and historical performance of similar transfers.
• Monitor and track current roster expenditures to ensure alignment with budget constraints throughout the academic year, fiscal year and salary cap year.
• Collaborate with the athletic director to align the football program with the overall athletic department strategy.

Additional Responsibilities:

• Responsible for adhering to all Department and University continuing education initiatives and required certifications and trainings.

Miscellaneous

• Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Successful completion of a full 4-year course of study in an accredited college or university leading to a bachelor's or higher degree; OR appropriate combination of education and experience.
• 5+ years of experience working in the field of athlete representation, contracts, salary cap or NIL. 
• 10+ years in sports or business management and/or recruiting experience.

Minimum Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities.)

• Significant experience and knowledge of the football landscape as well as current associated market trends. 
• Strong experience working with coach or athlete contract negotiations.
• Proven ability to understand complicated rules and regulations and possess the ability to communicate them concisely to a broad range of constituencies. 
• Demonstrate strong proficiency in financial management systems and data analysis. 
• Excellent ‎organizational, project management, problem-solving and customer service skills
• Must be able to effectively project plan to meet NCAA regulations requirement.  Ability to communicate and adhere to University, Big Ten Conference and NCAA policies, procedures, rules ‎and regulations. 
• Excellent ability to work cooperatively with others and effectively interact with diverse populations

Preferred Competencies: (Skills, knowledge, and abilities)

• Deep knowledge and understanding of implications of rules and regulations of the NCAA, Big Ten Conference and Northwestern University preferred.

Target hiring range for this position will be between $375,000 to $405,000 per year. Offered salary will be determined by the applicant’s education, experience, knowledge, skills and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data.

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_ Benefits: _
At Northwestern, we are proud to provide meaningful, competitive, high-quality health care plans, retirement benefits, tuition discounts and more! Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/b...to learn more.

_ Work-Life and Wellness: _
Northwestern offers comprehensive programs and services to help you and your family navigate life’s challenges and opportunities, and adopt and maintain healthy lifestyles.
We support flexible work arrangements where possible and programs to help you locate and pay for quality, affordable childcare and senior/adult care. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/b...to learn more.

_ Professional Growth & Development: _
Northwestern supports employee career development in all circumstances whether your workspace is on campus or at home. If you’re interested in developing your professional potential or continuing your formal education, we offer a variety of tools and resources. Visit us at https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/l..._to learn more . _

Northwestern University is an Equal Opportunity Employer and does not discriminate on the basis of protected characteristics, including disability and veteran status. View Northwestern’s non-discrimination statement. Job applicants who wish to request an accommodation in the application or hiring process should contact the Office of Civil Rights and Title IX Compliance. View additional information on the accommodations process.

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