Commissioner

Position Summary 

The Commissioner is the Chief Executive Officer of the conference and reports to the Council of Presidents. The NEC sponsors 25 intercollegiate sports, conducts 19 championships and has a staff of ten full-time professionals. The Commissioner will work in close consultation with the Presidents, Athletic Directors and Senior Woman Administrators of each member institution to manage the business of the conference and create innovative initiatives and strategies designed to advance the NEC’s mission and vision.

The Commissioner role requires expertise in leadership, diplomacy, innovation, change management, recruitment, revenue generation and internal and external relationship building. 

A successful candidate must possess the strong interpersonal skills necessary to effectively interact with the various conference constituencies and engage the membership in dialogue and effective decision-making. The Commissioner will serve as the public face and official representative of the conference with a variety of external groups.

The primary duties of the Commissioner are both operational and strategic in nature and include the following specific areas of responsibility.

Key Responsibilities 

Conference Operations & Staff Leadership  

• Oversee conference financial assets and budgets, and ensure compliance with the conference’s investment policy.

• Monitor and enforce NEC and NCAA bylaws and policies. 

• Demonstrate a commitment to build and sustain a welcoming environment for all conference members and office staff. 

• Competition

• Oversee regular season and championships’ competition for 25 sports.

• In partnership with member schools, enhance the overall student-athlete experience, to include conducting first-class events and championships as well as sustaining a membership environment that supports student-athlete development and well-being. 

 National Advocacy & Conference Governance

• Effectively navigate and manage the evolving landscape of collegiate athletics and serve as a national advocate for the conference on key NCAA issues.

• Champion strategic growth for the conference through addition of sports and/or expansion of league membership.  

• Lead membership decision-making efforts and ensure adherence to conference administrative regulations, bylaws, and policies. 

• Marketing, Media and Revenue Generation

• Execute marketing strategies that maintain and elevate the NEC’s brand presence in the local, regional, and national markets.  

• Be the public-facing representative of the conference across media, broadcast, and digital platforms. 

• Champion strategies to grow the NEC’s audience across all broadcasting and social media platforms. 

• Oversee content strategy to drive storytelling and fan connection. 

• Lead and execute all logistical planning, advertising and marketing, contract negotiations, and management of regional and national linear and digital media agreements for regular-season and Conference championships to boost revenue and exposure. 

• Lead and execute revenue generation strategies. Enhance current sponsorships and corporate partnerships. 

• Maintain a positive working relationship with all segments of the active media. 

Qualifications 

• A bachelor’s degree is required; an advanced degree is highly desirable. 

• Strategic planning and revenue generation experience is preferred.

• Substantial experience in collegiate athletics administration or equivalent experience in a related field. 

• Demonstrated commitment to the holistic student-athlete experience. 

• Ability to serve as the public face and continually represent the brand of the Conference. 

• Working knowledge of branding, social media, television and multimedia platforms, with experience in related contract negotiations. 

• Knowledge of and commitment to the rules and bylaws of the NCAA and the NEC.

• trong public relations, oral and written communication skills. 

• Strategic vision and an ability to mobilize support behind organizational goals, which requires essential change management skills. 

• Demonstrated leadership and strong work ethic. 

• Proven ability to select, recruit, motivate, inspire, mentor, and retain high performing Conference staff, regardless of backgrounds and experiences. 

• Strong skills in financial management. 

• Strong moral character and unwavering integrity.

Location & Travel 

The NEC is headquartered in Bridgewater, NJ with members across a six-state footprint. Regular travel is expected for events and in-person meetings. 

Compensation 

Compensation will be commensurate with experience and will include a competitive benefits package. 

Application Process 

The NEC invites nominations and applications or expressions of interest to be submitted to CSA Search & Consulting via their website. Applications must include a cover letter, resume or curriculum vitae, and list of references. For full consideration, application materials should be submitted to CSA by August 21, 2026. Confidential review of materials will begin immediately and continue until the appointment is made. 

For additional information please contact CSA Search & Consulting at nec.commissioner@csasearch.consulting

The NEC is an equal opportunity employer.