SOUTH LAKE SCHOOLS
Job Description – Athletic Director
At South Lake Schools, we believe great schools are built through strong relationships. Together with our community, we create an engaging and nurturing environment where students thrive and staff feel valued, connected, and supported. Our small-school setting fosters meaningful collaboration and the opportunity to make a lasting impact on learners. Located along beautiful Lake St. Clair in St. Clair Shores, Michigan, our district offers a welcoming community with convenient access to the cultural attractions, dining, entertainment, and professional sports of Detroit, as well as the region’s scenic orchards, cider mills, and outdoor recreation, making South Lake Schools an exceptional place to live, work, and grow.
Job Summary/Goal:
The Athletic Director serves as a member of the District and high school leadership teams and provides leadership and oversight for South Lake Schools’ interscholastic athletic programs. The Athletic Director advances the District’s vision and mission by fostering a safe, inclusive, and student-centered athletic environment; promoting academic achievement, student well-being, sportsmanship, and competitive excellence; supervising coaches and athletic personnel; and collaborating with students, families, staff, and community partners. The Athletic Director ensures effective athletic program operations, compliance with District policies and applicable athletic regulations, and responsible management of athletic events, facilities, budgets, and student eligibility while contributing to a positive culture that promotes character, school pride, and student success.
Minimum Qualifications:
- Bachelor’s degree or higher in education, sports management, athletic administration, business administration, or a related field from an accredited institution.
- Valid Michigan teaching certificate and/or School Administrator Certificate preferred.
- Minimum of five years of successful experience in coaching, teaching, athletic administration, school leadership, or a related field, preferably at the secondary level.
- Demonstrated knowledge of interscholastic athletic program management, student-athlete development, and Michigan High School Athletic Association rules and eligibility requirements.
- Demonstrated ability to lead and manage athletic operations, including supervising coaches and athletic personnel; coordinating schedules, events, facilities, transportation, and budgets; and supporting student-athlete health and safety.
- Strong leadership, organizational, technological, problem-solving, communication, and interpersonal skills, including the ability to build positive relationships with students, families, staff, and community partners.
- Ability to fulfill the scheduling and attendance requirements of the position, including regular evening and weekend responsibilities.
- Such alternatives to the above qualifications as the Superintendent or designee may find appropriate and acceptable.
Reports to: Principal
Supervises: Coaches, athletic support personnel, event workers, and middle and high school interscholastic athletic programs as assigned.
Essential Competencies:
- Leadership and Program Improvement: Ability to collaboratively advance the District’s vision and continuously improve education-based athletic programs that promote achievement, equity, well-being, sportsmanship, and excellence.
- Athletic Program Management: Ability to manage schedules, events, facilities, transportation, officials, equipment, budgets, purchasing, records, and other operational requirements.
- Compliance and Safety: Knowledge of MHSAA rules, eligibility standards, District policies, applicable laws, emergency procedures, and student-athlete health and safety practices.
- Personnel Leadership: Ability to select, supervise, evaluate, develop, and support coaches and athletic personnel while promoting professionalism and accountability.
- Data-Informed Decision-Making: Ability to use participation, eligibility, academic, financial, safety, and program data to guide decisions and allocate resources.
- Culture and Community Engagement: Ability to foster an inclusive, respectful athletic culture and build productive relationships with students, families, staff, officials, booster organizations, and community partners.
- Communication and Problem-Solving: Ability to communicate effectively, resolve concerns, adapt to changing circumstances, and make timely, fair, and sound decisions.
Performance Duties and Responsibilities:
Leadership and Program Management
- Provides leadership, supervision, and continuous improvement of the District’s middle and high school interscholastic athletic programs.
- Develops and communicates a clear vision for education-based athletics aligned with the District’s mission, values, policies, and strategic priorities.
- Promotes academic achievement, equitable participation, student well-being, sportsmanship, ethical conduct, character development, school pride, and competitive excellence.
- Evaluates athletic programs, participation opportunities, and program outcomes and recommends improvements based on student needs, available resources, data, and established best practices.
- Participates as a member of District and high school leadership teams and contributes to goals, procedures, and initiatives related to interscholastic athletics.
- Represents the District at league, conference, regional, and Michigan High School Athletic Association meetings and activities.
Personnel Management
- Recruits, interviews, recommends, or hires, as authorized, qualified coaches and athletic personnel in accordance with District procedures.
- Supervises, supports, and evaluates coaches and assigned athletic personnel.
- Provides orientation, mentoring, professional development, feedback, and performance support for coaches and athletic personnel.
- Establishes and communicates expectations for professional conduct, student-athlete development, program operations, safety, and sportsmanship.
- Ensures coaches and athletic personnel satisfy applicable District, league, and Michigan High School Athletic Association training and qualification requirements.
- Verifies completion of required safety training and certifications, including CPR, AED use, first aid, concussion awareness, and sudden cardiac arrest response.
- Promotes collaboration, professionalism, accountability, and consistent expectations across athletic programs.
Student-Athlete Support
- Promotes academic achievement and monitors student-athlete eligibility in accordance with District policies and Michigan High School Athletic Association requirements.
- Coordinates and verifies athletic registration, physical examinations, consent forms, eligibility records, and other participation requirements.
- Collaborates with administrators, teachers, counselors, coaches, students, and families to support student-athletes’ academic achievement, attendance, behavior, health, safety, and overall well-being.
- Promotes student leadership, teamwork, sportsmanship, character development, positive behavior, and responsible decision-making.
- Supports equitable access to athletic opportunities and works to identify and reduce barriers to student participation.
- Administers and enforces the District’s athletic code of conduct and other athletic participation requirements.
- Investigates athletic program concerns, incidents, complaints, and alleged violations and refers student discipline or broader school matters to the appropriate administrator.
- Responds to student and family questions and concerns in a timely, professional, consistent, and impartial manner.
- Coordinates student-athlete and team recognition programs and celebrations.
Operations and Compliance
- Ensures compliance with District policies, athletic codes, league and conference regulations, Michigan High School Athletic Association requirements, and applicable state and federal laws.
- Serves as the District’s primary liaison to the Michigan High School Athletic Association and applicable athletic leagues and conferences.
- Develops and coordinates schedules for practices, contests, tournaments, and other athletic events.
- Coordinates contest arrangements, transportation, officials, facilities, security, medical coverage, event personnel, and other operational needs.
- Supervises or arranges appropriate supervision for home athletic events and designated away contests.
- Oversees athletic event management and game-day operations, including ticketing, crowd management, visiting-team accommodations, and spectator conduct.
- Coordinates the use of athletic facilities and works with appropriate personnel to address maintenance, custodial, security, and scheduling needs.
- Determines, in consultation with appropriate administrators and personnel, whether athletic practices or contests should be postponed, relocated, suspended, or canceled because of weather, facility conditions, or safety concerns.
- Maintains accurate participation, eligibility, scheduling, financial, personnel, safety, and program records and prepares required reports.
- Develops and maintains athletic handbooks, calendars, procedures, forms, contracts, rosters, and program communications.
- Uses appropriate technology and athletic management systems to coordinate registration, eligibility, scheduling, communications, records, and event operations.
Student-Athlete Health, Safety, and Risk Management
- Promotes a safe environment for student-athletes, coaches, officials, event personnel, and spectators.
- Develops, communicates, implements, and annually reviews emergency action plans for athletic facilities, practices, contests, and events.
- Ensures compliance with applicable concussion, sudden cardiac arrest, heat illness, injury-response, and return-to-participation requirements.
- Coordinates with administrators, medical providers, athletic trainers, emergency responders, and facilities personnel regarding athletic health and safety procedures.
- Inspects or arranges for the inspection of athletic facilities, fields, equipment, and playing conditions and responds appropriately to identified safety concerns.
- Maintains required documentation concerning injuries, incidents, emergency responses, and return-to-participation clearances.
- Supports emergency response, crisis communication, evacuation, crowd management, and reunification procedures during athletic activities.
Budget, Facilities, and Equipment
- Develops, administers, and monitors the athletic department budget in accordance with District procedures and financial controls.
- Monitors expenditures and coordinates athletic purchasing, contracts, and requisitions within delegated authority.
- Coordinates the inventory, distribution, maintenance, storage, replacement, and appropriate use of athletic uniforms, supplies, and equipment.
- Oversees ticket sales, event receipts, athletic accounts, and other program revenues in accordance with District procedures.
- Coordinates the maintenance, safety, scheduling, and improvement of athletic facilities and equipment.
- Promotes the effective and equitable allocation of athletic staff, facilities, equipment, and financial resources.
- Develops short-term and long-term recommendations regarding athletic facilities, equipment, staffing, and program needs.
- Coordinates fundraising and sponsorship activities in accordance with District policies and applicable requirements.
Communication and Community Relations
- Builds positive relationships with students, families, coaches, staff, officials, league representatives, booster organizations, youth athletic programs, community members, and other athletic stakeholders.
- Serves as the primary representative and point of contact for the District’s interscholastic athletic programs.
- Communicates schedules, participation requirements, program expectations, eligibility standards, safety information, accomplishments, and schedule changes in a timely and accessible manner.
- Conducts or coordinates preseason meetings for student-athletes, families, coaches, and athletic personnel.
- Promotes athletic programs, student-athlete accomplishments, sportsmanship, and community participation through District-approved communication channels.
- Develops partnerships with booster organizations, youth programs, local agencies, and community organizations that support District athletic programs.
- Promotes positive spectator conduct, school spirit, and community pride at athletic events.
- Responds to and assists in resolving concerns involving athletic programs with professionalism, consistency, fairness, and sound judgment.
Other Responsibilities
- Maintains current knowledge of applicable laws, regulations, technologies, professional standards, and best practices in interscholastic athletic administration.
- Participates in appropriate meetings, conferences, professional associations, and professional development activities.
- Maintains a visible presence at athletic practices, contests, tournaments, recognition activities, and community events, including regular evening and weekend responsibilities.
Employment Conditions:
- Employees shall remain free of any alcohol or non-prescribed controlled substance abuse in the workplace throughout their employment with the District.
- Employees shall comply with all Board policies and applicable federal and state laws and regulations, including but not limited to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), applicable non-discrimination requirements, and related educational regulations.
- Perform other responsibilities and duties as assigned by the Principal, Superintendent, or designee.
Terms of Employment: 212 days
Base Salary Range: $79,613 - $85,734
ADA Requirements:
The requirements below are representative of the physical demands and work conditions necessary to perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
- Ability to communicate effectively with students, families, coaches, staff, officials, event personnel, and community members in person, in writing, and through electronic means.
- Ability to read, analyze, interpret, and maintain athletic schedules, eligibility records, budgets, policies, regulations, safety plans, and other program documents.
- Ability to use standard office equipment, communication systems, athletic management platforms, computers, and other job-related technology.
- Ability to move throughout school buildings, athletic facilities, fields, gymnasiums, parking areas, and other District property to supervise programs, inspect conditions, and manage athletic events.
- Ability to remain in a stationary or standing position for extended periods while attending practices, contests, meetings, and other athletic activities.
- Ability to monitor and supervise student-athletes, coaches, event personnel, and spectators in indoor and outdoor settings.
- Ability to respond promptly and appropriately to emergencies, injuries, severe weather, crowd-management concerns, and other safety-related situations.
- Ability to transport, position, or move athletic materials, supplies, and equipment necessary to perform assigned responsibilities.
- Ability to travel within and outside the District for athletic events, meetings, conferences, and professional development.
- Ability to work a flexible schedule, including regular evenings, weekends, and other times outside the traditional school day.
- Ability to maintain regular and reliable attendance and be present at assigned locations as required.
Work Environment
Work is performed in offices, school buildings, gymnasiums, athletic facilities, outdoor fields, and other locations where athletic practices, contests, meetings, and events occur. The position involves frequent interruptions, changing priorities, and varying noise and activity levels. Duties may be performed in crowded environments and in changing weather conditions, including heat, cold, rain, wind, and humidity.
The position requires frequent interaction with students, families, coaches, staff, officials, spectators, and community members. The Athletic Director must be available for regular evening and weekend assignments and may be required to respond to schedule changes, emergencies, weather conditions, facility concerns, or other time-sensitive matters outside normal working hours.
The Board of Education is committed to maintaining a learning and working environment in which all individuals are treated with dignity and respect, free from discrimination and harassment. There will be no tolerance for discrimination or harassment on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, creed or ancestry, sex, marital status, genetic information, height, weight, sexual orientation, disability or age. The School District prohibits harassment and other forms of discrimination whether occurring at school, on School District property, in a School District vehicle, or at any School District related activity or event. Furthermore, the Board is committed to equal employment opportunities and the prevention of discrimination in all aspects of employment, including recruitment, selection, training, promotion and retention of staff. The Superintendent will designate compliance officers and develop and implement regulations for the reporting, investigation and resolution of complaints of discrimination or harassment. For additional information, contact the Superintendent or the Director of Special Services, 23101 Stadium Blvd., St. Clair Shores, MI 48080, (586) 435-1600.
Pay: $79,613.00 - $85,734.00 per year
Benefits:
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Education:
License/Certification:
- Teaching Certification (Preferred)
Work Location: In person
