JOB DESCRIPTION -
ATHLETIC DIRECTOR
Chicago Public Schools (CPS) is the third-largest school district in the United States, serving
over 330,000 students across 500 schools and employing nearly 36,000 staff members, most
of whom are teachers. CPS has ambitious goals to ensure that every student, in every school
and every neighborhood, has access to a world-class learning experience that prepares each
for success in college, career, and civic life. To fulfill this mission, we make three
commitments to our students, their families, and all Chicagoans: academic progress, financial
stability, and integrity. Five core principles are embedded within these commitments:
high-quality, rigorous instruction; talented and empowered educators; safety and support;
economic stability; and collective impact.
Reporting to the Executive Director of CPS Sports Administration and under the direction of
the Building Principal, the Athletic Director plays a critical role in overseeing the development
and implementation of a comprehensive high school athletics program.
The Athletic Director will be held accountable for the following responsibilities:
- Administering the extra-curricular athletic programs
- Supervises licensed and non-licensed staff in Athletics, including Assistant
Athletic Directors, coaches, trainers, and support staff.
- Maintains files and records required by policy, regulation, law, and good
practice. (Player record cards, Aspen-eligibility, physicals, transfer paperwork,
transportation requests, coaching certifications)
- Responds to requests for information. (From OSA, IHSA, FOIA, Title IX, Law
Department, Colleges for recruiting, Press releases)
- Implements board policies and advises the administration on regulatory matters
related to athletics.
- Assesses department needs through consultation with students, staff, and
parents. (Equipment, budgeting, transportation, upgrades to venues,
technology)
- Evaluates the extra-curricular athletic programs and engages in long-term
planning. (Adding or dropping programs or levels, Title IX requirements,
additional coaches or trainers)
- Develops and updates handbooks, brochures, and policy manuals.
- Informs the school community about extracurricular athletic programs.
(Through websites, emails, media, and social media)
- Stay current on research, issues, and regulations related to athletic programs.
(Academic, Racial, Gender, and socio-economic issues in sport.)
- Develop a grade-check system for student-athletes.
- Maintains and assures that all eligibility reports and lists of participation are
submitted weekly.
- Develops and updates team schedules on all school platforms for public
viewing.
- Oversees transportation for all team travel.
ATHLETIC DIRECTOR
- Develops a school safety plan for every home venue.
- Monitors and Supports the Academic Performance of Student-Athletes
- Oversees Individual Study Plan (ISP) process for academically at-risk
student-athletes
- Develops academic support mechanisms for the benefit of student-athletes,
including but not limited to: study hall, advising, postsecondary guidance, etc.
.
- Directs and Coordinates the Fiscal Operations within the Departments
- Engages in fiscal planning, short and long-range.
- Assists in preparing and implementing the school system budget and coordinates
department purchasing.
- Recommends capital improvements and negotiated contract agreements.
- Formulates specifications to be incorporated into contracts and bids.
- Serves as a consultant in the selection of supplies and materials.
- Supervises all ticket sales and fundraising events of the athletic programs.
- Administers the receipt and disbursement of student activity funds.
- Assists OSA with hiring and payment of coaching staff.
- Supervises and guides the planning and execution of all parent volunteer
organizations.
- Creates the Schedules for All Operations and Activities within the Departments
- Issue timely announcements of upcoming events and deadlines.
- Schedules and pays officials, athletic trainers, ticket takers, announcers, clock
operators, and police for supervision of home contests.
- Hire, schedule, and pay lifeguards for all aquatic sports.
- Arranges transportation for athletic contest participants.
- Verifies each athlete's eligibility for participation in each contest..
- Arranges all details of visiting teams' needs, as appropriate.
- Provides emergency healthcare and first aid treatment.
- Arranges field, gymnasium, and aquatics center practice schedules, including
arrangements for summer programs and non-school use of playing fields and
Facilities, if applicable.
- Managing contracts for every athletic contest
- Coordinates with CPS for stadium usage
- Coordinates with the Chicago Park District to execute IGAs for athletic facilities
ATHLETIC DIRECTOR
- Recommends, Manages, Supervises, and Evaluates Staff
- Recruits, screens, interviews, and recommends prospective coaches.
- Makes coaching assignment recommendations.
- Ensures all coaches and staff are CPS and State certification compliant
- Supervises and evaluates coaching staff and other athletic staff.
- Develops and applies a coaching evaluation system.
- Supports opportunities for professional development for the coaching staff.
- Monitors staff time and attendance at professional meetings.
- Investigate complaints regarding employee conduct or performance.
- Encourages the development and use of new strategies and philosophies.
- Provides staff leadership to promote the district's athletic objectives.
- Assists coaches in the handling of day-to-day problems.
- Resolves staff problems and provides support to coaches.
- Coordinates the Development, Implementation, Review, and Revision of the
Extra-Curricular Athletic Program
- Attends practices and games for evaluation and needs assessment purposes.
- Attends professional conferences to stay up-to-date on promising instructional
practices.
- Enforces state and City board policies on equal educational opportunity.
- Develops an effective, comprehensive, and equal opportunities athletic
- program for all male and female students.
- Advises on modification of programs to meet individual students' academic and
health needs.
- Investigate complaints and grievances.
- Participates in the work of state and national associations.
- Facilities Management: Manages and Develops Facilities
- Inspects buildings, grounds, machines, and equipment.
- Issues repair orders and provides specifications for maintaining athletic
facilities and fields.
- Determines the safety and obsolescence of equipment.
- Enforces compliance with occupational health and safety codes and standards.
- Oversees maintenance of swimming pools in a clean, safe, and sanitary
condition.
- Recommends watering and spraying schedules for school athletic fields.
- Orders and oversees repairs or replacement of defective parts.
- Assists in the development of specifications for construction projects.
- Assists in identifying and using community resources for the athletic program.
- Limited facilities, which require the athletic directors to procure space for teams
outside of CPS facilities
- Supervises Departmental Activities and Operations
ATHLETIC DIRECTOR
- Coordinate public or special events. (Homecoming, Senior Days, Award
Ceremonies, Fundraisers)
- Supervises part-time student help, including clinical hours.
- Develops and implements appropriate rules and regulations governing the
conduct of athletic activities.
- Oversees the implementation of the insurance program covering school
athletes.
- Complete incident reports for minor to traumatic injuries.
- Works to resolve conflicts; anticipates and resolves potential problems.
- Organizes, plans, and coordinates departmental awards, including recognition
of alumni, former coaches, and staff.
- Public Relations: Establishes a Positive Image for Departments within the School and
the Community
- Interacts and aids in the development of feeder programs.
- Plans and supervises an annual recognition program for school athletes.
- Keeps records of the results of school athletic contests, maintains a record file
of all award winners, and announces athletic scholarships.
- Conducts in-season team meetings to review the student code of conduct.
- Maintains appropriate professional relationships with parents, parent groups
(e.g., Athletic Boosters), school volunteers, and outside agencies.
- Responds to requests for information.
- Oversees Summer Athletic Programming.
- Oversees the summer programming to ensure State and City compliance.
- Performs other related duties as assigned to ensure the efficient and
effective functioning of summer athletics.
Education and Credentials Required:
- Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or University in Education.
- NIAAA Certified Athletic Administrator
Experience Required:
- Minimum of three (3) years of experience in sports program administration and/or
interscholastic sports
- Supervisory experience preferred
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
ATHLETIC DIRECTOR
- Ability to interact and communicate effectively with a variety of audiences.
- Ability to coordinate and manage all aspects of the athletic program, including
financials.
- Ability to motivate student athletes and coaches.
- Ability to make rational decisions under stressful conditions.
- Proficiency using technology and applications, including Microsoft Office (Excel, Word,
PowerPoint), Google Suite, and web content editing software .
Other Requirements:
- This role requires a non-traditional schedule which includes evening and weekend
hours based on the individual school’s needs. Hours may change seasonally.
- Transportation requirements (do they need a valid driver’s license? Access to a car or
just reliable transportation?
Conditions of Employment
As a condition of employment with the Chicago Public Schools (CPS), employees are required
to:
- Establish and Maintain Chicago Residency
Employees are required to live within the geographic boundaries of the City of Chicago
within six months of their CPS hire date and maintain residency throughout their
employment with the district.
- Be Fully Vaccinated or Submit to Weekly COVID-19 Testing
Employees are required to be fully vaccinated within 30 days of their hire date. Full
vaccination is defined as at least two weeks after your second shot of a two-shot
vaccination course, or at least two weeks after a one-shot vaccination course.
Unvaccinated staff must submit to weekly testing.
