Deputy Athletic Director - Strategy & Operations

Position Summary

Charlotte Athletics is seeking a dynamic, highly organized, and strategic leader to serve as Deputy Athletic Director / Strategy & Operations. As a core member of the executive leadership team, this leader will serve as a trusted thought partner to the Director of Athletics while providing the day-to-day operational leadership that keeps the department running with discipline, responsiveness, and clarity. The role is responsible for keeping the trains running across Athletics through strong daily operational management, rigorous project management, and consistent executive follow-through, while also carrying broader strategic responsibilities tied to planning, communication, financial coordination, and leadership support. The successful candidate will formally oversee the Athletics Communications unit, provide accountability over revenue share and NIL parameters, manage the Director of Athletics Dashboard, serve as the primary liaison to the Office of General Counsel, partner on financial oversight, and represent the AD across campus.

Position Design Intent

This position is engineered to be the internal strategy and operations engine of Charlotte Athletics. It is designed to connect executive priorities to day-to-day execution, ensuring that strategic direction is translated into visible action across the department. The role combines operational command, project management discipline, and executive judgment so that Athletics functions smoothly on a daily basis while leadership remains focused on the broader direction of the department. Any future expansion of scope remains strictly discretionary and subject to evolving organizational needs and leadership evaluation.

Key Responsibilities

·       Lead the day-to-day operations of the Director of Athletics' office, ensuring disciplined prioritization of the AD's time, engagements, decisions, and follow-up.

·       Serve as a central operational leader responsible for keeping the department running efficiently and ensuring key initiatives, meetings, and deliverables stay on track.

·       Own department-wide project management as a core responsibility, including tracking milestones, coordinating cross-functional execution, surfacing bottlenecks, and holding leaders accountable to deadlines and outcomes.

·       Develop comprehensive executive briefings, presentations, and strategic frameworks for the AD’s engagements with the Chancellor, Chancellor's Cabinet, Board of Trustees, and other critical stakeholders.

·       Provide strategic direction and direct administrative oversight for the Athletics Communications department, ensuring internal and external messaging aligns with the AD's vision and protects the Charlotte 49ers brand.

·       Provide direct oversight and accountability for the tracking and execution of revenue share and Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) payments and agreements, ensuring complex transactions comply with departmental policies and the shifting collegiate landscape.

·       Serve as the primary liaison with the Office of General Counsel to track athletics-related items and monitor the progress of reviews, contract executions, and legal processes between Athletics and the General Counsel office.

·       Manage and regularly review the Director of Athletics Dashboard, visually tracking key performance indicators (KPIs) and operational metrics to ensure strategic goals are being met across the department.

·       Partner closely with the Chief Financial Officer to monitor multi-million-dollar operational budgets, review expenses, and provide executive-level financial summaries to the AD.

·       Serve as the sport administrator for selected Division I varsity sport programs, providing leadership and operational support to head coaches.

·       Act as the primary representative for the Director of Athletics in critical on-campus university committees and UNC System meetings when the AD is unavailable.

·       Monitor the internal pulse of the department, proactively identifying and resolving operational bottlenecks, communication gaps, and cross-unit friction before they require AD intervention.

Leadership and Management Expectations

The Deputy AD / Strategy & Operations is expected to blend strong day-to-day operational leadership with sound executive judgment. This leader must be highly organized, calm under pressure, and capable of bringing structure to complex and fast-moving priorities. Success in the role requires the ability to influence across departments, drive accountability without unnecessary bureaucracy, and pair strategic thinking with strong execution.

Qualifications

·       Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution required.

·       Minimum of 8-10 years of progressive leadership experience in collegiate athletics operations, professional sports administration, strategy and operations, or complex executive support roles.

·       Proven track record of managing high-level executive operations, leading cross-functional projects, and preparing C-level or AD-level briefings.

 Preferred Experience

·       Master’s degree in sports administration, business administration, or a related field.

·       Experience working in professional leagues (NFL, NBA, MLB, MLS, NHL) or on the player representation agency side is highly preferred.

·       Experience as a Division I student-athlete, providing a deep understanding of the student-athlete experience.

·       Background encompassing varied aspects of athletics administration, including operations, communications, project management, or major event management.

Key Competencies

·       Exceptional written and verbal communication skills; demonstrated ability to oversee public relations and strategic messaging.

·       Strong financial acumen with the ability to interpret budgets and partner effectively with finance professionals.

·       Advanced project management skills with a demonstrated ability to move complex initiatives from conception to completion, including dashboard and KPI tracking.

·       High political agility and the ability to navigate complex university legal, compliance, and governance structures.