Deputy Athletics Director - Chief Operating Officer
Position Grade
17
Position Summary
The Deputy Athletics Director - Chief Operating Officer serves as the Chief Operating Officer for the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, providing leadership in various capacities and the execution of the department's stated goals. The Deputy Athletics Director – Chief Operating Officer is an integral member of the Vice President/Director of Athletics Executive Leadership Team. As a direct report to the Vice President/Director of Athletics, this position provides strategic leadership and planning related to all Athletics operations, including but not limited to departmental facilities, event management, capital planning initiatives, contract management, special events, and state legislative planning. The position will also serve as a liaison to internal and external groups including Institutional Support Services, the UNM Police Department, local law enforcement agencies, outside contractors, and other groups.
Deputy AD,COO/Athletics
Requisition ID
req36797
Working Title
Deputy Athletics Director - Chief Operating Officer
Position Grade
17
Position Summary
The Deputy Athletics Director - Chief Operating Officer serves as the Chief Operating Officer for the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics, providing leadership in various capacities and the execution of the department's stated goals. The Deputy Athletics Director – Chief Operating Officer is an integral member of the Vice President/Director of Athletics Executive Leadership Team. As a direct report to the Vice President/Director of Athletics, this position provides strategic leadership and planning related to all Athletics operations, including but not limited to departmental facilities, event management, capital planning initiatives, contract management, special events, and state legislative planning. The position will also serve as a liaison to internal and external groups including Institutional Support Services, the UNM Police Department, local law enforcement agencies, outside contractors, and other groups.
This position also provides leadership within the sport supervisor team, with sport supervision responsibilities specific over flagship sports based on background and experience.
Duties and responsibilities include:
Leads the operations of the Athletics Department including oversight of Athletics facilities, event management, capital planning and project initiatives, special events, contract management, state legislative planning, and sport administration programming.
Serves as liaison and meets regularly with key internal and external stakeholders. Represents the department in a positive manner and effectively advocates for the interests of the University and department.
Collaborates with key stakeholders, including coaches, student-athletes, University administration, and conference officials to align operational strategies with overarching departmental goals.
Oversees the Supervision of personnel, which includes work allocation, training, promotion, enforcement of internal procedures and controls, and problem resolution; evaluates performance and makes recommendations for personnel actions; motivates employees to achieve peak productivity and performance.
Participates in strategic planning and critical decision-making events. Develops solutions for difficult problems/issues.
Manages all contractual agreements with external vendors, operators, visiting institutions, and/or suppliers.
Engages in multi-year fiscal planning, assessing revenue and expense categories in conjunction with the Director of Athletics and Senior Associate Athletic Director for Business Operations.
Manages the Athletics department policies and procedures manual. Recommends operating guidelines or changes to policy/procedures, as needed.
Serves as sports coordinator for one or more NCAA Division I team sports, to include sport budget and personnel management, NCAA/MWC compliance, and team athletic/academic performance.
Establishes and implements long- and short-range departmental goals, objectives, and operating procedures; monitors and evaluates program effectiveness; effects changes required for improvement.
Ensures compliance with all laws, policies, rules, and regulations set forth by the Board of Regents, University, NCAA, Conference, state and federal laws, and other governing bodies/agencies.
Employees in this job title are subject to the terms and conditions of an employment contract. Employment contracts are typically subject to review and renewal on an annual basis.
Compliance with all NCAA rules and regulations is required in this position.
Must pass a pre-employment criminal background check.
Employees who provide services or work in patient care or clinical areas are required to be in compliance with the University's influenza vaccination requirement.
Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor's degree; at least 7 years of experience directly related to the duties and responsibilities specified.
Completed degree(s) from an accredited institution that are above the minimum education requirement may be substituted for experience on a year for year basis.
Preferred Qualifications
Previous experience working at a Division 1 Athletic Institution.
Excellent leadership and management skills, including leading and motivating diverse, multi-functional, senior teams to achieve high performance.
A deep understanding of the athletics industry, including trends, developments, and best practices.
Previous experience in a facilities and/or events management role, preferably in athletics.
Proficiency with Microsoft Office suite – Excel, Word, Outlook, PowerPoint
Strong verbal and written communication skills and demonstrated ability to communicate diplomatically and collaboratively with employees at all levels.
Advanced Degree in a related area.
Strong Leadership skills and ability to inspire, organize, and multi-task responsibilities.
Ability to work under pressure and meet tight reporting deadlines; attention to detail; and excellent organizational skills required.
Additional Requirements
Campus
Main - Albuquerque, NM
Department
Athletics (925A)
Employment Type
Staff
Staff Type
Contract
Term End Date
Status
Exempt
Pay
Monthly: $8,417.07 - $12,046.67
Benefits Eligible
This is a benefits eligible position. The University of New Mexico provides a comprehensive package of benefits including medical, dental, vision, and life insurance. In addition, UNM offers educational benefits through the tuition remission and dependent education programs. See the Benefits home page for a more information.
ERB Statement
As a condition of employment, eligible employees working greater than .25 FTE as determined by the New Mexico Education Retirement Act must make mandatory retirement contributions. For more information, review the Benefits Eligibility at a Glance grid.
Background Check Required
Yes
For Best Consideration Date
6/5/2026
Eligible for Hiring Incentive
No
Eligible for Remote Work
No
Eligible for Remote Work Statement
Application Instructions
Only applications submitted through the official UNMJobs site will be accepted. If you are viewing this job advertisement on a 3rd party site, please visit UNMJobs to submit an application.
Attached cover letter, updated resume, and list three professional references.
Positions posted with a Staff Type of Regular or Term are eligible for the Veteran Preference Program. See the Veteran Preference Program webpage for additional details. The University of New Mexico is committed to hiring and retaining a diverse workforce. We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class. The University of New Mexico requires all regular staff positions successfully pass a pre-employment background check. This may include, but is not limited to, a criminal history background check, New Mexico Department of Health fingerprint screening, New Mexico Children, Youth, and Families Department fingerprint screening, verification of education credentials, and/or verification of prior employment. For more information about background checks, visit https://policy.unm.edu/university-policies/3000/3280.html. Refer to https://policy.unm.edu/university-policies/3000/3200.html for a definition of Regular Staff.