About Salem Public Schools, where belonging leads to opportunity.
Salem is a small, diverse city with a proud maritime and immigrant history. Salem Public Schools is an urban public school district enrolling nearly 4,000 students in 10 schools. Our vision is to ensure that all students will be locally engaged, globally connected, and fully prepared to thrive in a diverse and changing world. We hold dear our core values of belonging, equity, and opportunity in everything we do. We seek individuals who are passionate about urban education and understand the urgency of improving student achievement for all students, regardless of ability, economic status, gender/gender identity, language, race/ethnicity, sexual orientation, or other backgrounds. We invite you to learn more about our strategic plan and core priorities on our website at https://salemk12.org/.
The Athletic Director provides strategic, instructional, operational, and fiscal leadership for the Salem Public Schools interscholastic athletic program at the high school and middle school levels.
The Athletic Director is responsible for ensuring that the athletic program is student-centered, equitable, fiscally responsible, operationally effective, compliant with district and MIAA requirements, and aligned with the mission and priorities of Salem Public Schools.
This position requires a leader who can successfully manage both the student-facing and business operations of a comprehensive athletic program. Responsibilities include supervision and evaluation of athletic department personnel; recruitment, hiring, onboarding, and retention of coaches and staff; budget development and management; purchasing and procurement; requisitions and contracts; transportation and facility scheduling; equipment and inventory management; management of athletic revenues and fundraising activities; compliance and risk management; and the development of systems that ensure accountability and effective use of district resources.
The Athletic Director works under the direct supervision of the Salem High School Principal and collaborates closely with district leadership, school administrators, the Business Office, Human Resources, Buildings and Grounds, Health Services, school staff, families, community partners, athletic leagues, and the MIAA.
Role Responsibilities:
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Provide strategic leadership and administration of the high school and middle school interscholastic athletic programs.
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Develop and implement a comprehensive vision for athletics that prioritizes student achievement, belonging, participation, wellness, sportsmanship, leadership development, and equitable access to athletic opportunities.
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Ensure compliance with all Salem Public Schools, league, conference, MIAA, and applicable state and federal policies, regulations, and requirements.
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Maintain systems to ensure compliance with academic, medical, safety, and participation eligibility requirements for student-athletes.
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Develop, implement, and monitor consistent expectations for coaches, student-athletes, families, spectators, and athletic department personnel.
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Promote positive sportsmanship and maintain a welcoming environment for students, families, visiting teams, officials, and community members.
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Plan and coordinate athletic awards programs, recognition events, student leadership opportunities, and other activities that celebrate student-athlete achievement.
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Oversee implementation of district wellness initiatives related to athletics and student participation.
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Mediate conflicts involving students, families, coaches, athletic personnel, and other stakeholders.
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Develop, propose, manage, and monitor the Athletic Department's annual operating budget in alignment with district priorities, fiscal procedures, and principles of equity across athletic programs.
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Maintain accurate, timely, and transparent records of expenditures, encumbrances, revenues, purchase orders, requisitions, contracts, and other financial transactions.
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Manage all Athletic Department purchasing, procurement, and requisition processes in accordance with Salem Public Schools policies, municipal procurement requirements, and applicable laws and regulations.
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Develop annual purchasing plans and timelines to ensure that uniforms, equipment, supplies, transportation, officials, facility rentals, technology, and other program needs are identified and procured in a timely manner.
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Review, approve, and monitor Athletic Department expenditures and ensure purchases remain within approved budget allocations.
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Work collaboratively with the district Business Office to reconcile budgets, resolve outstanding purchase orders and invoices, monitor expenditures, forecast financial needs, and ensure appropriate fiscal controls.
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Develop and maintain systems for collecting, documenting, depositing, reconciling, and reporting athletic revenues, including ticket sales, fundraising proceeds, user fees when applicable, and other athletic-related funds.
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Manage contracts and relationships with vendors and service providers, including transportation providers, officials, athletic trainers, security personnel, facility providers, equipment suppliers, and other contractors.
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Oversee scheduling and payment processes for buses, officials, security, event personnel, and other athletic program services.
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Develop and maintain an accurate inventory management system for uniforms, equipment, technology, supplies, and other Athletic Department assets.
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Establish replacement cycles and long-range purchasing plans for major athletic equipment, uniforms, and capital needs.
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Coordinate with Buildings and Grounds regarding athletic facility maintenance, field preparation, capital improvement priorities, custodial services, safety concerns, and facility use.
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Provide the Executive Principal with regular budget, procurement, staffing, operational, and program status reports and immediately communicate significant fiscal, personnel, safety, or compliance concerns.
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Develop and maintain an annual staffing plan for the Athletic Department based on program needs, student participation, budget allocations, contractual requirements, and district priorities.
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Lead the recruitment, screening, interviewing, selection, recommendation for appointment, and onboarding of qualified coaches and athletic personnel in collaboration with the Executive Principal and Human Resources.
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Ensure that all coaching and athletic department vacancies are posted, interviewed, and filled in accordance with district policies, collective bargaining agreements, and established timelines.
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Verify that coaches and athletic personnel complete all required certifications, background checks, training, and other employment requirements before beginning their assignments.
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Directly supervise, manage, support, and evaluate coaches and other Athletic Department personnel in accordance with district expectations and applicable collective bargaining agreements.
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Establish clear annual performance expectations for coaches and Athletic Department staff.
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Conduct regular meetings with coaches and athletic personnel to communicate expectations, review program operations, address concerns, and strengthen program effectiveness.
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Maintain documentation of employee performance, feedback, evaluations, professional development, corrective actions, and other personnel matters.
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Address employee performance concerns promptly and collaborate with the Principal and Human Resources when additional intervention or corrective action is necessary.
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Develop systems to strengthen the recruitment and retention of a diverse, highly qualified coaching staff that reflects the students and communities served by Salem Public Schools.
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Identify and coordinate professional learning opportunities for coaches and Athletic Department personnel.
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Develop and maintain comprehensive annual, seasonal, weekly, and daily athletic schedules.
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Coordinate all practices, games, tournaments, transportation, officials, facilities, security, supervision, and other operational requirements.
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Ensure effective communication of schedules, cancellations, changes, transportation arrangements, and facility information to students, families, coaches, staff, officials, and other stakeholders.
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Coordinate with school and district administrators to ensure adequate administrative supervision and event coverage.
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Regularly observe or schedule designee to supervise practices, home and away contests, tournaments, and athletic events.
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Maintain procedures for emergency response, inclement weather, facility closures, game cancellations, and other operational disruptions.
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Coordinate athletic facility use with Buildings and Grounds, community organizations, leagues, and other users.
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Maintain current knowledge of MIAA regulations, league requirements, district policies, Title IX requirements, student eligibility standards, and applicable laws and regulations.
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Organize and document all required safety, health, concussion, CPR/AED, emergency response, and other mandatory trainings for coaches, athletic staff, student-athletes, and families.
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Collaborate with Health Services and athletic trainers to ensure compliance with student medical eligibility requirements and appropriate return-to-play protocols.
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Maintain accurate records of student eligibility, staff certifications, training completion, incidents, injuries, investigations, and required reports.
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Develop, communicate, and regularly review emergency action plans for athletic facilities and events.
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Immediately report significant safety, personnel, fiscal, compliance, or operational concerns to the Executive Principal and appropriate district leadership.
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Serve as the primary liaison between the athletic program and students, families, staff, school administration, district leadership, community organizations, athletic leagues, the MIAA, and local media.
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Develop clear systems and protocols for regular communication with coaches, student-athletes, families, school staff, and district leadership.
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Maintain accurate and current athletic program information through district communication systems, websites, schedules, and other approved platforms.
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Build partnerships with community organizations, youth athletic programs, colleges and universities, local businesses, and other organizations that expand opportunities for Salem students.
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Develop strategies to increase student participation in athletics, particularly among student groups historically underrepresented in interscholastic athletic programs.
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Regularly analyze participation, program quality, student experience, budget, staffing, and other relevant data to identify areas for program improvement.
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Perform other job-related duties as assigned by the Executive Principal.
The Athletic Director reports directly to the Principal.
The Athletic Director will participate in regular supervisory meetings with the Principal to review:
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Athletic Department budget performance and financial projections;
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procurement, requisitions, contracts, and outstanding financial obligations;
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staffing vacancies, hiring timelines, employee performance, and personnel concerns;
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seasonal schedules, transportation, facilities, security, and event operations;
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student participation, equity, eligibility, and program quality data;
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safety, compliance, risk management, and significant incidents; and
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progress toward annual Athletic Department goals and improvement priorities.
The Athletic Director will provide periodic written reports and maintain documentation sufficient to demonstrate effective fiscal management, personnel supervision, regulatory compliance, program implementation, and progress toward established goals.
What You’ll Bring:
We are looking for candidates who have diverse backgrounds and experiences, are inspired by our mission and are highly motivated to change children’s lives through education. You’ll be right at home here if you are a reflective practitioner who values collaboration with colleagues and pushes yourself, your work and the people around you to the next level. We expect our SPS employees to:
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Hold a deep commitment to students and families and value diversity - The SPS community is vibrant, diverse in background, ethnicity, language, and perspective. You embrace and affirm the backgrounds of all members of the SPS community and view our diversity as a powerful resource that supports us each in learning and doing our best work.
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Hold high expectations for yourself, students, and colleagues – You see potential in all, especially our SPS students, and maintain high expectations for achievement, while providing the support necessary to meet that bar. You hold yourself to high expectations, modeling SPS values and seeking opportunities to continuously improve.
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Build authentic, caring relationships with colleagues, students, and families – You build strong relationships across students, families, and colleagues that are collaborative in nature and contribute to the individual and collective success of SPS. You partner with families and colleagues to make decisions in the best interest of students and learning.
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Embrace feedback – You are a reflective practitioner who learns from mistakes and challenges and uses them as opportunities for professional development. You model persistence and growth mindset and thrive in a culture of feedback.
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Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university.
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Proper Massachusetts DESE administrator licensure for the position, or eligibility to obtain the required licensure within the timeline established by Salem Public Schools.
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Current authorization to work in the United States.
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Current CPR/AED certification or ability to obtain certification prior to the start of employment.
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Demonstrated experience supervising, managing, or leading athletic programs, educational programs, nonprofit organizations, municipal programs, or similarly complex organizations.
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Knowledge of or demonstrated ability to learn MIAA regulations, student eligibility requirements, Title IX requirements, safety regulations, and other laws and policies governing interscholastic athletics.
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Strong organizational skills and demonstrated ability to establish and maintain systems for financial management, staffing, scheduling, documentation, compliance, and accountability.
Work Year: This is a full-time, full-year position. Please click here to view the 2026-27 district and/or school calendars.
Salary: Associate Principal (Elementary) salaries in the Salem Public Schools are determined by the Salem Administrators Association collective bargaining agreement. Salary information can be found in Appendix A.
Benefits: The City of Salem offers Group Insurance Commission (GIC) benefits to all full-time employees. Click here for more information about our health benefits.
Equal Opportunity Employer
Salem Public School District is committed to maintaining a work and learning environment free from discrimination on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, pregnancy, gender identity, sexual orientation, marital/civil union status, ancestry, place of birth, housing status, age, citizenship status, veteran status, political affiliation, genetic information or disability, as defined and required by state and federal laws. Additionally, we prohibit retaliation against individuals who oppose such discrimination and harassment or who participate in an equal opportunity investigation.
