Associate Vice President and Director of Athletics

Role overview

California State University, Bakersfield is seeking a senior athletics leader to serve as Associate Vice President and Director of Athletics. This executive position sets the long-range direction for the university’s NCAA Division I athletics program and oversees its overall administration, facilities, and services. The role reports to the President for strategic matters and maintains a dotted-line reporting relationship to the Vice President for Business and Administrative Services/CFO for operational oversight.

The selected leader will be responsible for student-athlete success, wellbeing, equity, financial stewardship, and the department’s continued growth. The position also represents CSUB Athletics publicly, advises university leadership on athletics strategy and risk, and manages a large-scale budget.

About California State University, Bakersfield

CSUB is located on a 375-acre campus in the southern San Joaquin Valley and serves more than 10,000 students at its main campus in Bakersfield and at CSUB Antelope Valley. The university has around 67,000 alumni across four colleges and sponsors 16 NCAA Division I teams competing in the Big West Conference, Pac-12 Conference, and Mountain Pacific Sports Federation. CSUB is recognized for its economic value, student success, and strong regional impact.

Primary duties

• Lead the overall strategy and day-to-day direction of all NCAA Division I athletics programs, facilities, and support services.
• Ensure the department remains aligned with CSU, NCAA, Title IX, and conference requirements.
• Shape the university’s response to NIL, revenue sharing, and broader changes in intercollegiate athletics.
• Support student-athlete academic achievement, personal wellbeing, leadership growth, and career readiness.
• Create and carry out a strategic plan that supports the university mission.
• Set measurable targets for competitiveness, fundraising, student outcomes, and community engagement.
• Advise senior leadership on national developments, conference shifts, governance issues, and legislation affecting athletics.
• Develop strong connections with alumni, donors, corporate partners, and community groups.
• Work with University Advancement on fundraising and revenue-building initiatives.
• Act as the chief representative and public face of CSUB Athletics.
• Expand the program’s reach through marketing, media relations, and community outreach.
• Strengthen working relationships with the NCAA and conference partners.
• Manage the department’s operating and capital budgets at a multi-million-dollar scale.
• Ensure financial controls, reporting, and policy compliance are maintained.
• Oversee revenue streams such as fundraising, sponsorships, ticket sales, fees, and conference distributions.
• Provide regular financial analysis and updates to university leadership.

Required qualifications

Candidates should have an equivalent of a bachelor’s degree and at least 10 years of progressive administrative experience in intercollegiate athletics. Experience must include direct oversight of multiple sports programs and staff, along with knowledge of fiscal management and a proven record of multi-million-dollar fundraising, donor cultivation, or athletics revenue generation. A mix of education and experience may be accepted.

A valid driver’s license is required, or the ability to obtain one by the start date.

Preferred background

• Master’s degree in sports administration, business administration, education, or a related field.
• Experience leading an NCAA Division I athletics department through major industry change.
• Demonstrated success with transformational gifts and capital support.
• Experience working with presidents, governing boards, and cabinet-level leaders.
• Prior service as an Athletics Director or senior Division I athletics administrator.
• Background in strategic planning, facilities management, conference governance, and customer-focused leadership.

Skills, knowledge, and abilities

• Deep understanding of NCAA Division I compliance, including Title IX, equity obligations, and conference governance.
• Strong financial management and analytical capability.
• Proven strength in fundraising and external relationship building.
• Clear strategic thinking and leadership vision.
• Commitment to student-athlete wellbeing, safety, and success.
• Ability to promote an inclusive culture.
• Excellent communication, organization, leadership, and decision-making skills.
• Knowledge of athletics facilities operations.
• Awareness of NIL, revenue sharing, conference realignment, media rights, transfer portal issues, and modern athletics business models.
• Ability to protect confidentiality and build productive relationships.

Compensation and employment details

This is a full-time, 12-month position under the Management Personnel Plan, with monthly pay. The CSU classification salary range is $21,667 to $24,167 per month, though the final offer will depend on the candidate’s experience, education, skills, and training. A separate CSU classification salary range is also listed as $10,106 to $32,441.

Benefits

Eligible employees receive a strong benefits package that includes medical coverage options, dental plan choices, vision coverage, CalPERS retirement participation, CSU tuition waiver, up to 24 vacation days each year, sick leave with unlimited accrual, 15 paid holidays annually, and more.

Application instructions

To ensure consideration, applicants must apply directly through the designated search firm, CSA Search & Consulting.

Special conditions and employment requirements

Only candidates whose experience is most directly aligned with the immediate needs of the office will be invited to a Qualifications Appraisal Board for review of training, experience, and interest.

Employment is contingent on successful completion of a background check, including a criminal records check. An offer may be withdrawn if the background review reveals disqualifying information or if the candidate has knowingly withheld or falsified information. Current CSU employees who receive a conditional offer may also be affected if they do not complete the background process satisfactorily.

Under Education Code 89521, applicants will be asked to disclose whether they have received a final administrative or judicial decision finding sexual harassment within the past seven years, but only after they are determined to meet minimum qualifications and before an employment offer is made. Final-stage applicants must also sign a release authorizing the CSU to obtain substantiated misconduct information from current or former employers.

This is a sensitive position and may involve heightened scrutiny because of potential risk to children, university community members, property, or financial resources.

The role is designated as a limited mandated reporter under the California Child Abuse and Neglect Reporting Act and must comply with CSU Executive Order 1083, revised July 21, 2017.

This is a designated conflict-of-interest position. The successful candidate must file required Conflict of Interest forms in accordance with Fair Political Practices Commission regulations.

CSUB hires only U.S. citizens and individuals legally authorized to work in the United States. New employees must provide documentation confirming work authorization and will be asked to present a social security card at initial appointment in compliance with state payroll rules. State employees must sign the Oath of Allegiance before beginning work, except legally employed non-citizens, who must sign the Declaration of Permission to Work.

CSU and CSUB are committed to an inclusive and equitable community that values diversity and mutual respect. Students and employees have the right to participate fully in university programs and employment free from discrimination, harassment, sexual misconduct, sexual exploitation, dating violence, domestic violence, stalking, and retaliation. The nondiscrimination policy prohibits discrimination and harassment based on any protected status, sexual harassment, sexual misconduct, sexual exploitation, dating violence, domestic violence, stalking, prohibited consensual relationships, and retaliation.

The campus contact for the nondiscrimination policy is Allan Williams, AVP of Civil Rights and Compliance, at (661) 654-2713.