Director of Athletic Program

JOB The Director of Athletic Program Development serves as the strategic architect and leader for athletics and community sports with a focus of tourism in East Baton Rouge Parish. This position drives the vision, growth, and sustainability of both community-based athletic programming and regional/national sporting events. The Director aligns BREC's athletic initiatives with NRPA best practices, the State of Play initiative, and Imagine Your Parks 3 priorities, ensuring equitable access, high-quality facilities, youth and adult centered experiences, coach and volunteer training, and inclusive opportunities for underserved populations. Simultaneously, the Director advances sports tourism by developing, marketing, and executing strategies to position East Baton Rouge Parish as a premier sports destination, increasing visitation, economic impact, and community engagement, while ensuring BREC remains a national leader in accessible and forward-thinking community athletics. EXAMPLE OF DUTIES Education Required: Bachelor's degree from an accredited four-year college or university.Education Preferred: Master's degree from an accredited college or university.Area of Study (Major) Required: Business, Recreation Management, Sports Administration, or related field.Certification(s) Required: Professional certifications such as Certified Park and Recreation Professional (CPRP) and relevant national coaching/athletic certifications (NAYS, USHJA, USEF, etc.) within 1 year of employment.Certification(s) Preferred: Professional certifications such as Certified Park and and Recreation Professional (CPRP), Certified Park and Recreation Executive (CPRE), Certified Hospitality Administrator (CHA), or relevant national coaching/athletic certifications (NAYS, USHJA, USEF, etc.).License(s) Required: N/AYears Relevant Work Experience: Minimum of ten (10) years of progressively responsible experience in athletics, sports management, or sales/marketing in the sports or hospitality industry, with at least five (5) years in a supervisory or leadership role.Years Relevant Work Experience Preferred: Ten (10) years of experience including nonprofit fundraising, tourism development, and management of regional or national-level athletic or equestrian events. Additional experience in nonprofit fundraising, tourism development, and national-level equestrian event management. Skills & Competencies• Strong leadership, organizational, and communication skills with diverse audiences. Ability to manage multiple projects with flexibility, adaptability, and measurable outcomes. Strong interpersonal and relationship-building skills across staff, partners, and the c01mnunity. High proficiency in CRM systems, HRIS, financial reporting tools, scheduling software, and standard office technology.