Commissioner

ORGANIZATION:

Conference Carolinas is a NCAA Division II athletics conference currently headquartered in High Point, NC. Member schools are located in Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee. Member schools include: Barton College, Belmont Abbey College, Converse College, Emmanuel College, Erskine College, King University, Lees-McRae College, Limestone College, University of Mount Olive, North Greenville University, Southern Wesleyan University, and Chowan University (Chowan is currently an affiliate member and will become a full league member starting in the 2019-20 academic year). All conference members were founded with a focus on faith, are smaller, private, liberal arts institutions, share common values, and strive to attain excellence and virtue in all endeavors. Member institutions offer all students an exemplary education, as well as multiple opportunities for activities and scholarships in the classroom, outside the classroom, and in highly competitive athletic competition. As such, Conference Carolinas offers a full complement of athletic programs: 11 for women and 11 for men. The Conference holds championships in 21 sports: 11 for women and 10 for men.

Conference Carolinas has a rich tradition that dates to its inception in 1930. The conference was formed then as an athletic association “for the greater advantage of the small colleges in North Carolina”. The official name was the North State Intercollegiate Conference but known informally as the Old North State Conference. As member institutions changed over the years, the Conference changed its name to the Carolinas Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (CIAC) and the Carolinas-Virginia Athletics Conference (CVAC) before becoming Conference Carolinas in 2007.

Today, Conference Carolinas is built upon the idea of offering challenging NCAA competition in an environment that fosters both the academic and athletic achievements of its student-athletes. Conference members believe that only when sport is properly directed towards the development and formation of the whole person, in body, mind, and soul, can each student-athlete realize his or her full potential. Therefore, Conference Carolinas coaches and administrators are teachers and mentors who are committed to helping student-athletes become virtuous men and women on and off the field of play. As a result, Conference student-athletes are nationally recognized for their extraordinary success in the classroom, in the community, and at the highest levels of NCAA competition. The virtues Conference Carolinas’ student-athletes demonstrate in the classroom, during practice, and in high-level competition are the same virtues they will use as graduates and leaders to help transform the culture in which they live and make the world a better place.
For more information please visit www.conferencecarolinas.com.

REPORTS/RELATIONSHIPS:

The Commissioner reports to, and serves at the discretion of, the Presidents of the member institutions. The Commissioner is appointed upon the recommendation of the Executive Committee. Currently reporting to the Commissioner are: Associate Commissioner; Assistant Commissioner for Internal Operations and Senior Woman Administrator; Assistant Commissioner for External Operations; and a Conference Officer. The Commissioner also serves as the business officer of the Conference and oversees the coordinators for all the sports’ officials.

The Commissioner will work directly with member institutions’ Presidents, Athletics Directors (and athletic department staff), NCAA Division II leaders, external partners/vendors, and any other appropriate stakeholders to ensure the student-athlete experience and conference competition aligns with the Conference Carolinas mission, vision, and strategic plan.

BASIC FUNCTIONS:

The primary responsibility of the Commissioner is to function as the Chief Administrative Officer of the Conference. As such, the overall responsibilities of the Commissioner include providing strategic and operational leadership to all staff and conference members in the areas of marketing, promotion, publicity, athletic operations, financial matters, NCAA relations and compliance, and any other managerial or administrative duties necessary to facilitate the effective and efficient operation of the Conference office. This leadership includes establishing effective, efficient, and thorough communication channels with all stakeholders, but especially the Presidents of the member institutions.
Specific responsibilities for this position include, but are not necessarily limited to:

• Provide strategic and proactive leadership to member institutions on a wide variety of conference issues, including but not limited to: membership, finance, NCAA matters, marketing/branding, and external partnerships.
• Provide strategic and proactive leadership related to further sponsorship and revenue generating opportunities for the Conference, i.e., corporate sponsors, event sponsors, etc.
• Serve as the business officer; prepare and submit the annual report and budget to the Presidents.
• Serve as the chief compliance officer for the Conference. Responsible for interpreting and enforcing all rules and regulations of the Conference and the NCAA. This duty includes the responsibility to hold members accountable to the Conference Bylaws.
• Overseeing and serving as a liaison to all conference committees regarding conference matters and championships. Performing such other duties as the Presidents, Athletic Directors, Faculty Athletic Representatives, and/or Senior Women’s Administrators may request or direct.
• Function as the individual primarily responsible for conference championships, and conference award selection and recognition programs.
• Overall responsibility for the marketing, promotion, and public relations of the Conference, including the media and social media; increase the visibility of the conference and its mission.
• Encourage and promote positive relationships among the member institutions, their students, and alumni that helps result in athletic competitions and experiences that integrate the body, mind, and soul concepts.
• Continually promote the development of sportsmanship, respect for the amateur spirit, and understanding of the values of competitive athletics, and exert all reasonable effort to acquaint the public with the ethics and high ideals which motivate the Conference in its conduct of intercollegiate athletics.
• Represent the Conference with the NCAA and on a broad national level.
• Continually look for, and investigate, ways to assist the Conference in maintaining and enhancing its competitiveness on a national level.
• Lead and manage a qualified conference office staff in a manner that meets the needs of the member institutions; plan and lead all required conference meetings in a timely and efficient manner.
• Study any athletic problems of the Conference, offer advice and assistance in their solution.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Commitment to embrace, support, and extend the mission, values, and student-athlete educational focus of Conference Carolinas; commitment to the values embodied by NCAA Division II athletics.
• Preference for significant intercollegiate athletics administration experience; experience within an athletic department, athletic conference/association, or college/university environment.
• Experience working with senior leaders/executives and/or boards is desirable.
• Appropriate educational credentials; Master’s degree preferred.
• Preference for experience working with NCAA personnel; NCAA awareness and acumen.
• Marketing and fundraising savvy is strongly preferred.
• Excellent energy, enthusiasm, and professionalism.
• Good strategic thinker; creative; innovative; good planner.
• Appropriate aggressiveness; not afraid of change and willing to take prudent risks.
• Honesty and integrity that is above reproach.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; excellent interpersonal skills and the ability to relate effectively with a variety of constituencies throughout the member institutions, the NCAA, vendors, and corporate sponsors.
• Ability to develop, motivate, and lead a group of individuals to successfully accomplish goals; require personal and staff accountability.

COMPENSATION:

Compensation will be commensurate with experience including a competitive base salary, relocation assistance, and a competitive benefits package.

Conference Carolinas does not discriminate based on race, color, national origin, sex, disability, or age in employment.