Assistant Director, Student Athlete Development & Letterwinner Engagement

Rice University•Houston, TX

About The Position

The Assistant Director, Student‑Athlete Development & Letterwinner Engagement supports the mission of Rice Athletics and the SOAR Program by leading holistic development initiatives that empower student‑athletes to thrive during and beyond their time at Rice. This position serves as a key architect of the SOAR five pillars (career development, personal enhancement, civic engagement, leadership & belonging, and letterwinner engagement) — assisting with signature programs such as Flight Plan, Beyond the Hedges, Night of the Owl, and the R Association Mentorship Program. The Assistant Director designs and executes experiential programming, supports student‑athlete leadership development, and cultivates strategic partnerships with alumni, campus offices, employers, and community stakeholders. The role also leads efforts to engage and steward letterwinners through mentorship, reunions, social outings, communications, and collaborations with Development and Alumni Relations.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree
1+ years of experience in student‑athlete development, career services, player engagement, and/or alumni relations within a college/university athletics environment
Experience in program planning, advising, and event coordination
Possess or obtain a valid Texas driver’s license within 30 days of hire; maintain a clean driving record
Demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging
Excellent communication skills: written, verbal, and visual
Ability to advise and mentor student leaders in one‑on‑one and group settings
Knowledge of student development theory and application
Strong event‑planning and program‑management capabilities
Competence in risk management and student training facilitation
Comfort using data and metrics for assessment and improvement
Proficiency with social media platforms and digital engagement tools

Nice To Haves

Master’s degree in higher education, sport management, counseling, or a related field
Two (2) or more years of experience in student‑athlete development, career services, player engagement, and/or alumni relations within a college/university athletics environment
Experience in alumni relations, development, or external engagement in a collegiate athletics setting
Experience in collegiate student‑athlete development and career services

Responsibilities

Assist in all aspects of the Flight Plan program, providing four years of development in NIL education, financial literacy, career and internship exploration, civic engagement, personal wellness, and leadership
Serve as a liaison to the R Association and assist in coordinating alumni engagement events, reunions, and mentorship opportunities to build meaningful connections between student‑athletes and letterwinners
Manage career‑readiness initiatives, including internships, externships, employer visits, networking events, job postings, and the promotion of the SOAR office Career Corner communication
Help develop and maintain the Preferred Employer Program, working with letterwinners and organizational partners to manage student‑athlete internships, full‑time job listings, employer information, and recruiting activities for a wide range of industries
Assist in managing the SOAR Mentorship Program, including mentor recruitment, student‑athlete matching, platform management, and outcome tracking
Support and advise student‑athlete leadership groups, including SAAC, PWAA, and affinity groups
Aid in coordinating civic engagement and community service programming, connecting student‑athletes with impactful service opportunities at Rice and in the Houston community
Collaborate closely with the Rice Owl Club, Alumni Relations, and Center for Career Development on strategic student and alumni engagements or fundraising initiatives
Manage event logistics, awards tracking, marketing campaigns, and social media content for student‑athlete development and alumni initiatives
Collect and analyze data to assess student engagement, post‑graduation outcomes, and program effectiveness; use insights to inform strategy and planning
Actively recruit and engage alumni, preferred employer partners, mentors, and other stakeholders in the SOAR Network
Supervise student workers or interns and assist with onboarding new SOAR team members
Assist in developing a strategic plan to increase the number and variety of alumni engagements
Perform other duties as assigned in support of the SOAR mission and Rice Athletics departmental goals