Assistant Athletics Director for Administration (Executive Advisor I)

Overview

Working with a high degree of independence and discretion, the Executive Advisor anticipates organizational needs, identifies opportunities for improvement, and provides objective recommendations that support informed executive decision-making. The position leads complex cross-functional initiatives, builds collaborative partnerships across the institution, and represents the executive in meetings, committees, and strategic discussions.

 

This role does not directly supervise employees but leads through influence, collaboration, and project leadership. This role reports to the Vice President and Director of Athletics.

Responsibilities

Strategic Executive Advising

• Serve as a trusted advisor by providing strategic counsel on organizational priorities, emerging issues, institutional risks, and long-term planning.
• Research, evaluate, and synthesize complex information from multiple sources into concise recommendations that support executive decision-making.
• Anticipate challenges and opportunities, proactively identifying solutions before issues impact organizational objectives.
• Advise executive leadership on organizational effectiveness, operational performance, governance, resource allocation, and strategic initiatives.
• Prepare executive briefings, talking points, presentations, reports, and decision materials for executive meetings, governing boards, and external stakeholders.

Strategic Initiative Leadership

• Lead complex, high-impact initiatives that advance institutional priorities and strategic objectives.
• Develop implementation strategies, project governance structures, timelines, and accountability measures for executive initiatives.
• Coordinate efforts across multiple colleges, divisions, departments, and administrative units to ensure successful execution of strategic priorities.
• Facilitate cross-functional collaboration among leaders with differing priorities while maintaining focus on institutional goals.
• Monitor progress of executive initiatives, identify implementation risks, and recommend corrective actions when necessary.

Organizational Strategy & Effectiveness

• Evaluate organizational structures, business processes, and operational practices to identify opportunities for increased effectiveness and organizational performance.
• Lead organizational assessments, process improvement efforts, and strategic planning activities that support continuous improvement.
• Develop recommendations to improve organizational alignment, service delivery, governance, communication, and resource utilization.
• Facilitate strategic planning sessions, leadership retreats, and executive workgroups that establish organizational priorities and measurable outcomes.
• Promote a culture of innovation, collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement.

Executive Operations & Governance

• Coordinate executive priorities by aligning strategic initiatives, organizational activities, and executive commitments.
• Develop executive dashboards, metrics, and reporting tools that provide visibility into organizational performance.
• Ensure executive decisions are communicated, implemented, and monitored across the organization.
• Support governance committees, advisory councils, and executive leadership teams through agenda development, meeting facilitation, follow-up actions, and strategic coordination.
• Maintain awareness of institutional initiatives to identify interdependencies and opportunities for collaboration.

Relationship Management & Executive Representation

• Represent the executive in meetings, committees, planning sessions, and institutional initiatives as assigned.
• Build collaborative relationships with university leadership, faculty, staff, governing bodies, external organizations, and community partners.
• Foster communication and alignment among organizational leaders to advance shared institutional priorities.
• Serve as a trusted liaison between executive leadership and internal or external stakeholders while exercising diplomacy, sound judgment, and political awareness.
• Promote executive priorities through effective communication, relationship building, and collaborative leadership.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent advanced learning attained through professional-level experience required.
• Eight years of relevant work experience is required.
• Must be able to work a flexible schedule that includes evenings, weekends, and occasional travel to support Athletics operations, events, and institutional priorities.
• Must be able to perform work in a variety of environments, including office settings, athletic venues, event facilities, and off-site locations.

Preferred Qualifications:

• College athletics experience
• USU institutional knowledge

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Self-starter in a high paced environment
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of information
• Ability to work effectively on a team and independently
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to effectively prioritize multiple responsibilities
• High degree of professionalism, integrity, and discretion
• Effective written and oral communication skills

Required Documents

Along with the online application, please attach:

Resume to be uploaded at the beginning of your application in the Candidate Profile under “Resume/CV”

 

 

**Document size may not exceed 10 MB.**

Advertised Salary

Commensurate with experience, plus excellent benefits

ADA

Employees work indoors and are protected from weather and/or contaminants, but not, necessarily, occasional temperature changes.  The employee is regularly required to sit and often uses repetitive hand motions.

University Highlights

Founded in 1888, Utah State University is Utah’s premier land-grant, public service university. As an R1 research institution, Utah State is dedicated to advancing knowledge and serving the public good through innovative research and scholarly activities that are grounded in reciprocal engagement with local, regional, and global communities. USU prepares students to be active, civically engaged leaders who are prepared to address critical societal challenges. Dedicated to providing a high-quality and affordable education, USU remains a leader in research, discovery, and public impact.

 

USU enrolls over 29,800 students, both online and in person at locations throughout the state. Utah State’s 30 locations include a main campus in Logan, Utah, residential campuses in Price and Blanding, and six additional statewide campuses, along with education centers serving every county. USU educates students from all 50 states and more than 80 countries. For over 100 years, USU Extension has served and engaged Utahns, serving every county in the state.

 

Competing at the NCAA Division I level in 16 sports, USU is a proud member of the Pac-12 Conference, officially joining on July 1, 2026. The Aggies capped a historic final season in the Mountain West by capturing nine combined regular-season and tournament titles in 2025–26, with five teams advancing to postseason play. This tradition of excellence extends to the classroom, where 232 student-athletes earned academic honors, and to the community, where USU ranked second nationally in Division I service hours, with nine teams placing in the top 10 for community service.

 

Utah State is dedicated to fostering a community where all individuals feel respected, valued, and supported and where diversity of thought and culture are cultivated. We seek to recruit, hire, and retain people from all walks of life who will champion excellence in education, research, discovery, outreach, and service. We believe that promoting a strong sense of community and belonging empowers and engages all members of USU to thrive and be successful. Forbes recognized our commitment to employees when they named Utah State the best employer in Utah in 2023. Learn more about USU. 

 

The university provides a Dual Career Assistance Program to support careers for partners who are also seeking employment. Additionally, USU is committed to providing access and a reasonable accommodation for individuals with disabilities. To request a reasonable accommodation for a disability, contact the university’s ADA Coordinator in the Office of Human Resources at (435) 797-0122 or [email protected]. 

 

*updated 07/2026

Notice of Non-discrimination

In its programs and activities, including in admissions and employment, Utah State University does not discriminate or tolerate discrimination, including harassment, based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other status protected by University policy, Title IX, or any other federal, state, or local law.

 

Utah State University is an equal opportunity employer and does not discriminate or tolerate discrimination including harassment in employment including in hiring, promotion, transfer, or termination based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other status protected by University policy or any other federal, state, or local law.

 

Utah State University does not discriminate in its housing offerings and will treat all persons fairly and equally without regard to race, color, religion, sex, familial status, disability, national origin, source of income, sexual orientation, or gender identity. Additionally, the University endeavors to provide reasonable accommodations when necessary and to ensure equal access to qualified persons with disabilities.

 

In all circumstances, Utah State University follows state and federal laws related to sex-segregated spaces.

 

The following individuals have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the application of Title IX and its implementing regulations and/or USU’s non-discrimination policies:

 

Matthew Pinner

Executive Director

Civil Rights & Title IX Office

[email protected]

435-797-1266 | Old Main Rm. 401D

1475 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322

 

Cody Carmichael

Title IX Coordinator

[email protected]

435-797-1266 | Old Main Rm. 402D

1475 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322

 

For further information regarding non-discrimination, please visit crtix.usu.edu or contact:

 

U.S. Department of Education

Denver Regional Office

303-844-5695| [email protected]

 

U.S. Department of Education

Office of Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights

800-421-3481 |  [email protected]

 

*updated 10/2025