SENIOR DIRECTOR / EXTERNAL FOOTBALL OPERATIONS

Position Information

Position Information

Posting Number

S-3618

Position Number

79880

Type of Recruitment

INTERNAL

Position Title

Position Information

Position Information

Posting Number

S-3618

Position Number

79880

Type of Recruitment

INTERNAL

Position Title

SENIOR DIRECTOR / EXTERNAL FOOTBALL OPERATIONS

Position Summary

The Senior Director of Football Operations and External Relations will oversee and manage all external activities for the football program, with a primary focus on fundraising, donor relations, and enhancing the program’s brand and visibility within the community. This role will work closely with university leadership, athletic department staff, alumni, and key stakeholders to ensure the continued growth and success of the football program through strategic external engagement. The Senior Director will be responsible for developing and executing a comprehensive external relations strategy to support the program’s fundraising goals, cultivate and steward donor relationships, and ensure that the football program is well-represented across all external markets in conjunction with the Chippewa Athletic Fund staff.

Required Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree.

Two years of experience in operations or donor relations at the collegiate level.

Experience in fiscal management/budgeting.

Strong computer database experience.

Proven organizational skills with an attention to detail.

Ability to communicate effectively and project a positive attitude.

Knowledge of

NCAA

rules and compliance.

Ability to perform the essential functions of the position, with or without reasonable accommodation.

Preferred Qualifications

Master’s degree.

Supervisory experience.

Prior experience in football operations.

Duties & Responsibilities

Collaborates with the athletics communications team and the Chippewa Athletics Fund (

CAF

) staff regarding communication with external donors/prospective donors, fundraising efforts, etc.

Assists in planning and executing fundraising events, donor appreciation initiatives, etc. in collaboration with

CAF

.

Cultivates relationships with community members with an interest in the football program.

Develops and executes short and long term strategies for external relations.

Works closely with the head coach, athletic director, and other program staff to ensure alignment of external efforts with the football team’s goals.

Supervises and manages interns in the football program, providing leadership and support in their efforts to grow the program’s external footprint.

Collaborates with the athletic department’s marketing team to ensure consistent messaging and branding across all platforms.

Provides regular updates to key stakeholders regarding the impact of contributions on the football program.

Performs other duties as assigned by the Head Coach.

Supervision Exercised

Supervisors are expected to support the Leadership Standards of Central Michigan University and foster a culture that inspires excellence. The Leadership Standards define how we lead and treat others in our teams. As leaders, it is our responsibility to seek input from our teams to continuously improve leadership abilities and demonstration of the standards. Additionally, it is our responsibility to encourage and support the growth and development of those whom we lead. At

CMU

, we encourage employees to grow both personally and professionally, and thus advance CMU’s culture of excellence.

Message to Applicants

Central Michigan University is dedicated to fostering a broadly diverse and inclusive campus that respects all social identities, experiences, and perspectives. In an effort to further this initiative, we are especially interested in candidates who will advance and promote an inclusive and supportive environment for every member of our university community.

You must submit an on-line application in order to be considered as an applicant for this position.

Cover letters may be addressed to the Hiring Committee.

Supervisors are expected to support the Leadership Standards of Central Michigan University and foster a culture that inspires excellence. Please review the Leadership Standards before applying for this position.

Employee Group

Professional & Administrative -Salary

Staff Pay Level

Pay Range

$65,000 - $80,000 per year

Division

President

Department

Athletics

Position Status

Regular

Position End Date

Employment Status

Full-Time

FTE

1.00

Position Type

12 month

Weekly Work Schedule

Mon-Fri, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. / weekends and evenings as needed

Location

Mount Pleasant, MI

About the Department

About CMU

Central Michigan University has a more than 125-year legacy of preparing students to become leaders and changemakers in their communities and in their personal and professional lives.

We serve nearly 15,500 students on our Mount Pleasant campus, in satellite locations around the state and throughout the country, and through flexible online programs. Many of our approximately 300 undergraduate, master’s, specialist and doctoral programs in the arts, media, business, education, human services, health professions, liberal arts, social sciences, medicine, science and engineering are nationally ranked for excellence.

CMU

leads the nation in leadership development programming through our Sarah R. Opperman Leadership Institute, and we are proud to be among only 5% of U.S. universities in the top two Carnegie research classifications. Our faculty work with graduate and undergraduate students in areas such as Great Lakes research, medical innovation, engineering technology and more.

Central is home to 17 men’s and women’s Division 1 sports including football, basketball, gymnastics, baseball, wrestling and more. Our student-athletes achieve great success in competition and in the classroom, capturing Mid-American Conference championships and maintaining an average cumulative

GPA

of 3.17.

CMU

is located in Mount Pleasant, a community that blends the best of small-town living with big-city amenities. It’s part of the culturally varied and vibrant Great Lakes Bay Region that also includes Saginaw, Bay City, Midland and the state’s largest Native American community, centered on the Saginaw Chippewa Isabella Reservation in Mount Pleasant.

Area residents enjoy the mix of outdoor activities, cultural events, shopping and dining options, and family attractions. Other major Michigan destinations and attractions — Lansing, Grand Rapids, Detroit, Traverse City, wineries, beaches, golf and ski resorts, and many more — are within easy reach of the city’s central location in Michigan’s Lower Peninsula.

CMU

employees enjoy access to a nationally recognized wellness program along with health care and benefits that exceed regional, state and national norms.

CMU Leadership Standards

Central Michigan University is a place where we value students and work for their success, where we act as family, and where employees are engaged, appreciated and have extraordinary opportunities to make a difference.

We intentionally maintain and strengthen the hallmark

CMU

culture that sets us apart from our peers by expecting

CMU

leaders and employees to model the following Leadership Standards and develop them within their teams.

Please review the Leadership Standards before applying for this position.

EEO Statement

CMU

, an AA/EO institution, strongly and actively strives to increase diversity and provide equal opportunity within its community.

CMU

does not discriminate against persons based on age, color, disability, ethnicity, familial status, gender, gender expression, gender identity, genetic information, height, marital status, national origin, political persuasion, pregnancy, childbirth or related medical conditions, race, religion, sex, sex‐based stereotypes, sexual orientation, transgender status, veteran status, or weight (see https://www.cmich.edu/offices-departments/OCRIE ).

If you wish to see “EEO is the Law” posters, please click here .

CMU

does not discriminate on the basis of sex in the education program or activity that it operates, including admission and employment, and is required by Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 not to discriminate in such a matter.

Inquiries about the application of Title IX can be made to CMU’s Title IX Coordinator, the US Department of Education’s Assistant Secretary, or both.

CMU’s Title IX Coordinator can be reached at:

Phone: 989-774-3253

Office: 103 E. Preston St.

Bovee University Center, suite 306

Mount Pleasant, MI 48858

Email: titleix@cmich.edu

Posting Ends

04/27/2025

Open Until Filled

No

Supplemental Questions

Required fields are indicated with an asterisk (*).

1. * How did you first learn of this job opportunity? Please list the specific advertising source or indicate if it was word of mouth.

(Open Ended Question)

1. * Are you currently an internal employee of CMU according to the university's definition?

   • Yes
   • No

2. * If yes, to which employee group do you belong? (If not applicable, select "Not Applicable").

   • Not Applicable
   • Dispatcher
   • Medical Faculty
   • Office Professional
   • P&A, SO or Faculty
   • Police
   • Public Broadcasting
   • Sergeant
   • Service Maintenance
   • Supervisory/Technical

3. * Do you have at least a bachelor's degree?

   • Yes
   • No

4. * Do you have at least two years of experience in operations or donor relations at the collegiate level?

   • Yes
   • No

5. * Do you have fiscal management/budgeting experience?

   • Yes
   • No

6. Supervisors are expected to support the Leadership Standards of Central Michigan University and foster a culture that inspires excellence. Please review the Leadership Standards before applying for this position and click “Yes” if you understand and support the culture that is important to CMU.

   • Yes
   • No

Optional & Required Documents

Required Documents 1. Resume/Curriculum Vitae 2. Cover Letter

Optional Documents 1. List of References

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