Founded in 1851, Northwestern University is one of the country's leading private research and teaching universities and the oldest chartered university in Illinois. Northwestern maintains three campuses: a 240-acre campus on Lake Michigan in Evanston, the first suburb north of Chicago, a 25-acre campus in the city of Chicago, and another campus located in Doha, Qatar. Enrolling 21,000 students across 12 schools and colleges, Northwestern is recognized both nationally and internationally for the quality of its educational programs at all levels, and, for the third year in a row, U.S. News & World Report has ranked the institution as the ninth-best university in the country for 2022. A charter member of the Big Ten and one of only five private AAU members/top research universities to compete in NCAA Power Five conferences, Northwestern sponsors 19 varsity athletic teams (8 men's and 11 women's). Northwestern supports over 500 student organizations, hosts 38 club sports programs, and maintains a 6:1 student-to-faculty ratio.

Reporting to the Deputy Director of Athletics and Recreation, the Director of Recreation provides visionary leadership, supervision, and management of Recreation facilities and programs, including Aquatics, Beach, Fitness, Instructional Sport, Intramural, Sailing, Sport Club, Self-Directed Recreation, Tennis and Wildcat Summer Camp Programs. The director will play a central role in developing creative, state-of-the-art programs and services that foster a commitment to diversity and inclusiveness and animate physical fitness comprehensively among students, faculty, staff, and the greater Evanston and North Shore communities. The director will be strongly connected to the profession and a leader in recreation best practices ensuring that Northwestern University is a national leader. The director is responsible for department oversight of 17 full-time staff, five direct reports, over 200 student staff, and a $2.9 million operating budget. The director is a member of the Athletics and Recreation Leadership cabinet and the Operations Unit Leadership Team, provides leadership for university/division committees and initiatives, and represents the university at appropriate state, regional, and national professional organizations.

The director effectively manages Recreation budgets, ensuring sound fiscal operations; collaborates with Athletics leadership and Facilities and Operations to create renovation, refreshment, and capital project plans; provides effective leadership and direction to all program development; oversight of indoor and outdoor facilities and fields; marketing and communications; fiscal management including revenue-generating services; and staffing and supervision. The director maintains relationships with internal and external constituencies and collaborates to support integrated and holistic wellness model partnerships. The director will develop and promote a shared vision that drives comprehensive strategic planning, goal setting, and assessment initiatives and implements best practices related to wellness and campus recreation. The director develops and maintains risk management protocols, policies, and procedures for the recreation department following models of best practice from NIRSA: Leaders in Collegiate Recreation, the Big Ten Conference and the NCAA.

The successful candidate will possess a bachelor’s degree in a related field and have demonstrated progressive professional experience within a campus recreation or wellness organization, including significant experience with facilities and programs, staff supervision, and budget management; proven ability in leading organizational transformation, with the capacity to effect change in the institutional culture and operations; demonstrated knowledge of the importance of health, wellness, recreation, and fitness to a campus community as well as an understanding of the theories, principles, and practices of student development and higher education administration; strong communication, organizational, fiscal, and relationship building skills with the ability to work collaboratively with key on and off campus community partners. A demonstrated orientation toward equity and inclusion and cultural competency in all aspects of campus life will be important considerations in selecting the next director of recreation.

Review of applications will begin February 27, 2023, and continue until the position is filled. A resume with an accompanying cover letter may be submitted via the Spelman Johnson website at www.spelmanjohnson.com/open-positions. Nominations for this position may be emailed to Dell Robinson at ddr@spelmanjohnson.com or Anne-Marie Kenney at amk@spelmanjohnson.com. Applicants needing reasonable accommodation to participate in the application process should contact Spelman Johnson at 413-529-2895.

The anticipated hiring range is $115,000 - $130,000 annually, commensurate with education and experience. Northwestern offers its employees a comprehensive benefits package. Visit https://www.northwestern.edu/hr/benefits/explore-benefits.html

Visit the Northwestern University website at www.northwestern.edu.

Northwestern University does not discriminate or permit discrimination by any member of its community against any individual based on race, color, religion, national origin, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, parental status, marital status, age, disability, citizenship status, veteran status, genetic information, reproductive health decision making, or any other classification protected by law in matters of admissions, employment, housing, or services or in the educational programs or activities it operates. Individuals who feel discriminated against based on these classes should contact the University's Office of Equity. Northwestern University complies with federal and state laws prohibiting discrimination, including Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 and its implementing regulations. Title IX requires educational institutions, such as Northwestern, to prohibit discrimination based on sex (including sexual harassment) in the university's educational programs and activities, including employment and admissions.