Description
River States Conference
Job Description
Job Title: Commissioner
Reports To: River States Conference Council of Presidents
FLSA Status: Exempt
Classification: Regular Full-Time
Salary: $80,000 to $90,000, based on experience. Compensation package includes insurance stipend and car allowance.
SUMMARY
The Commissioner is responsible for the daily administration of all conference activities. The
Commissioner is responsible for implementing new programs and projects as directed by the
Council of Presidents of the River States Conference (RSC).
The Commissioner serves as the chief operating officer for the conference that currently has
twelve (12) full member colleges located within Indiana, Kentucky, Ohio and West Virginia. The conference is affiliated on the national level with the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES
Administer all aspects of the intercollegiate athletic conference, including organizing and presiding over all conference meetings; update policy and procedure manuals as
appropriate; recommend to the Council of Presidents amendments to the constitution
and bylaws as necessary; maintain regular communication with the Council of Presidents regarding national and conference activities and with other conference councils, as may be necessary in the performance of duty.
Report to and work closely with the RSC Athletics Directors and the Council of Presidents to set short and long-term goals for the conference.
Communicate regularly and effectively with conference athletic directors to keep them
aware of conference and national issues as appropriate.
Create a strategic plan.
Make annual visits to each member institution's campus.
Work with conference sports chairs to develop policy and procedure manuals and master competition schedules for team sports.
Promote and coordinate the administration of conference events and championships.
Maintain current institutional membership, identify potential member institutions, and
actively recruit additional schools to join the conference with the advice and consent of the Council of Presidents.
Promote the conference through existing initiatives and new public relations opportunities.
Actively seek sponsorships, partnerships, and other revenue or value-generating
relationships for the conference.
Prepare and recommend to the Council of Presidents the conference's annual operating
budget, maintain appropriate financial records, and make regular financial reports to the Council of Presidents.
Sign all contracts regarding the property, funds, projects, and activities as necessary and
proper for the successful execution of the functions of the conference.
Serve as conference liaison to the NAIA national office. In this capacity, the commissioner will:
Attend and represent the RSC at all NAIA-affiliated conference meetings.
Attend national NAIA meetings and provide counsel to the RSC voting member at such meetings.
Provide information from the NAIA to member institutions in a timely manner.
Complete and return all required NAIA forms to the national office.
Serve as the contact person for the mediation of conference grievances by:
Facilitating resolution of protests, grievances, or other special concerns by hearing the evidence and mediating the dispute. If necessary, the commissioner is the final arbitrator of all disputes.
Administering any disciplinary action against individuals, teams, or schools as necessary.
Coordinate and assign officials for individual sports. In this capacity, the commissioner will:
Develop guidelines for hiring, training, assigning, disciplining, evaluating, and terminating conference game officials.
Ensure effective rules education programming for officials, coaches, staff, and administration on an annual basis.
Mediate disputes between officials and employees of member institutions.
Ensure member institutions receive a list of all assigned officials for events they are hosting for the team sports of the River States Conference.
Oversee and coordinate with the conference Sports Information Director for the promotion of the conference through the conference website and the various media outlets serving the member institutions.
Oversee conference staff, including the Sports Information Director and Eligibility Chair.
Work with member institutions' administrators and coaches to promote the five core values of the NAIAs Champions of Character initiative.
Vet, recruit, and mentor potential new River States Conference members.
Update constitution, bylaws, administrative policies, and sports guidelines on an annual basis and distribute them to each member institution.
Take disciplinary action, short of expulsion, against conference members for violations of NAIA and River States Conference rules, including conduct of coaches, student-athletes, and spectators.
Perform other duties as assigned by the River States Conference Council of Presidents.
SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
The Commissioner supervises the Assistant Commissioner and other conference staff.
Requirements
QUALIFICATIONS
Candidates for this position should display strong leadership and motivational qualities
with proven oral and written communication skills.
Help move the Conference forward / have vision for the future
Experience in developing strategic plans
Driven, Fair-minded, Team builder
Collaborative
Good decision maker
Able to work well with Presidents, ADs
Able to earn and retain the respect of the coaches
Lives within the footprint of the conference. This is a remote position and requires regular travel to Conference member institutions.
Understands RSC universities and universities of their type
Experience in collegiate athletic administration and a thorough working knowledge of
NAIA rules and regulations are essential
Strength in conflict resolution
Demonstrated experience with financial management
Self-starter
EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE
A bachelor's degree is required, and a master's degree is preferred.
Experience in collegiate athletic administration and a thorough working knowledge of
NAIA rules and regulations are essential.
3-5 years of administrative experience
LANGUAGE SKILLS
Ability to read, analyze, and interpret documents
Ability to write reports, business correspondence, and procedure manuals
Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions
MATHEMATICAL SKILLS
Ability to apply basic mathematical concepts
REASONING ABILITY
Ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts, and draw valid conclusions
CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS
Valid US driver's license
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an
employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable
accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential
functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The
employee frequently is required to stand, walk, sit, and reach with hands and arms. The
employee is occasionally required to use hands to finger, handle, or feel; climb or balance;
stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and taste or smell. Specific vision abilities required by this job
include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee
encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations
may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
OTHER QUALIFICATIONS
Professional expertise and integrity
Excellent computer and organizational skills
Excellent interpersonal skills and can work well with people at all levels
Strong supervisory skills coupled with excellent oral and written communication skills.
Related experience preferred.
