Assistant Director of Athlete Partnerships

Current UC employees must apply internally via SuccessFactors

Next Lives at the University of Cincinnati

Founded in 1819, the University of Cincinnati ranks among the nation’s best urban public research universities. Home to more than 53,600 students, 12,000 faculty and staff, and over 360,000 living alumni, UC, a Carnegie 1 institution, combines research prowess with a physical setting The New York Times has called “the most ambitious campus design program in the country." UC's momentum has never been stronger as the anchor of the Cincinnati Innovation District, the oldest cooperative education (co-op) program in the country with students earning $94 million annually through paid experiences, an academic health system, and as a member of the Big 12 Conference. The university contributes $10.6 billion in economic impact to the city and $22.7 billion to the state of Ohio. At UC, next is all of us. Learn more at uc.edu.

UC is a mission-driven organization where we are committed to student success and positively transforming the community through scholarship and service. We thrive on innovation, making an impact, and fostering an environment where staff and faculty are key contributors to UC’s success.

About The Department

The University of Cincinnati Department of Athletics competes at the highest level of intercollegiate athletics with the vision to reach Next Level Success for all 18 varsity teams and more than 450 student-athletes. The Bearcats have a proud athletics history, winning eight national championships and 118 conference titles. The Cincinnati men's basketball team is among the 15 winningest programs all-time, while the football team became the first non-Power Five program to compete in the College Football Playoff in 2021. Olympic gold medalist volleyball player Jordan Thompson, NBA Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson and Major League Baseball legend Sandy Koufax are among the several luminaries who have competed as Bearcats.

In 2023, the Bearcats entered a new era as a Power Four School when they officially joined the Big 12 Conference, positioning Cincinnati among the nation's premier athletics programs.

Off the field, UC student-athletes continue to find success, as well, collectively posting a school-record 3.52 GPA in the spring of 2025.

Under the leadership of Director of Athletics John Cunningham, and supported by more than 150 full-time staff members, UC Athletics' mission is to connect our community, enhance our university and impact the lives of student-athletes as they prepare to change the world on and off the field.

For more information visit gobearcats.com.

Job Overview

The University of Cincinnati, Department of Athletics is seeking applicants for an Assistant Director of Athlete Partnerships (Coordinator Special Projects and Programs).

Reporting to the Director of NIL & Innovation, the successful candidate will be responsible for organizing the infrastructure needed to manage day-to-day operations, deal activation, deal fulfillment and advance new NIL and branding opportunities that achieve the institution’s strategic goals in supporting student-athletes. Additionally, the role supports recruitment and retention initiatives in collaboration with creative content, marketing, and sponsorship teams to maximize NIL impact while following all departmental, university, conference, and NCAA policies and regulations.

Essential Functions

• Serve as primary point of contact for student-athletes, brands, and external partners regarding NIL deals and activations for women’s basketball and Olympic sports.
• Serve as secondary point of contact for student-athletes, brands, and external partners regarding NIL deals and activations for football and men’s basketball.
• Monitor and track all NIL activations to ensure compliance and reporting requirements (NILGO) are met.
• Monitor social media and other NIL engagements to ensure compliance with CSC policies, as well as NCAA, Big 12, and instructional regulations.
• Collaborate with creative, marketing, and sponsorship teams to enhance athlete promotion and support.
• Drive NIL Women’s Basketball and Olympic sport recruitment and retention initiatives.
• Support Director, NIL & Innovation in coordinating NIL strategies across administration, coach's, and sport-specific staff.
• Assist in planning and execution of sponsor and NIL-related events such as the In Her Likeness Event.
• Ensure all operations are conducted in compliance with university policies, applicable laws, CSC, NCAA, and conference rules, while also maintains strict confidentiality
• Oversee Cincy Connect NIL internship program

Required Education

• Bachelor's Degree
• Five (5) years of relevant work experience and/or other specialized training can be used in lieu of education requirement

Required Experience

• One (1) year of experience in coordinating projects and/or programs.

Additional Qualifications Considered

• Master’s Degree
• One year of relevant work experience in college athletics, sports marketing, or Name Image Likeness (NIL) operations.
• Familiarity with NCAA rules, conference regulations, and compliance requirements
• Background in marketing strategy and event planning
• Knowledge of data tracking tools and/or CRM systems related to athlete engagements and contracts.
• Working knowledge of sponsorship, influencer marketing, and activations

Application Process

Interested and qualified applicants must apply online and include a cover letter of interest and a current CV/Resume. All certifications and other documentation can be uploaded using the Additional Documents section in the application. Applications without a cover letter and CV/Resume will not be considered for the position.

Physical Requirements/Work Environment

• Office environment/no specific unusual physical or environmental demands.

Compensation And Benefits

UC offers an exceptional benefits package designed to support your well-being, financial security, and work-life balance. (UC Benefits) Eligibility may vary by position and FTE status. Highlights include:

Salary/Hourly Pay Rate Information

Comprehensive Tuition Remission

UC provides tuition remission for you and your eligible dependents, covering tuition costs for nearly all undergraduate and graduate programs offered by the university.

Robust Retirement Plans

As a UC employee, you won’t contribute to Social Security (except Medicare). Instead, you’ll choose between state pension plans (OPERS, STRS) or an Alternative Retirement Plan (ARP), with UC contributing 14–18% of your salary based on position.

Real Work-Life Balance

UC prioritizes work-life balance with a generous time-off policy, including:

Vacation and sick time

11 paid holidays and additional end-of-year paid time off (Winter Season Days)

6 weeks of paid parental leave for new parents

Additional Benefits Include

• Competitive salary based on experience
• Comprehensive health coverage (medical, dental, vision, prescription)
• Flexible spending accounts & wellness programs
• Professional development & mentorship opportunities

To learn more about why UC is a great place to work, please visit our Careers Page.

UC is an E-Verify employer. If hired into this position, you will be required to provide satisfactory proof of employment eligibility by providing acceptable, original forms of identification for employment verification via the Federal I-9 employment verification process. Click here for a list of acceptable documents.

Important: To apply you must create a profile and submit a complete job application through the UC applicant portal. We are unable to consider “easy apply” applications submitted via other websites. For questions about the UC recruiting process or to request accommodations with the application, please contact UC HR at [email protected].

Equal Opportunity Employer. Building a workplace where all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment, including Individuals with Disabilities and Protected Veterans.

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