Director of University Recreation at Seattle University in First Hill

Job description

Months Per Year: 12 Work Model: Onsite Seattle University will be one of the most innovative and progressive Jesuit and Catholic universities in the world, educating with excellence at the undergraduate, graduate, and professional levels. We embrace an intersectional framework for defining diversity in its broadest sense, including differences in gender, gender identity, race, ethnicity, generational history, culture, socioeconomic class, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, citizenship status, political perspectives, geographic origin and physical ability. Seattle University strives to be a welcome, open and safe campus climate for all who learn, live and work at Seattle University. Seattle University's Core Competencies Effective Team Collaboration: Works harmoniously with others towards a common goal, leveraging individual strengths to achieve shared objectives. Emotionally Intelligent Communication: Engages in a skillful exchange of information, thoughts, and feelings, verbally and non-verbally. Ethics and Integrity: Demonstrates an unwavering commitment to honesty, professionalism, and alignment with our Jesuit mission in all actions and decisions. Flexibility and Innovation: Embraces change, approaching problems with curiosity adaptability, and is committed to making a positive impact. Mindful Inclusion: Fosters mindful inclusion by consciously creating a workplace that celebrates differences, embraces cultural humility, and empowers uniqueness. Outcomes-Driven Orientation: Sets clear objectives, pursues excellence, and delivers measurable outcomes while upholding Jesuit Catholic values. Position Description: The Director of University Recreation is a highly visible campus leader responsible for advancing student wellbeing, belonging, engagement, and holistic development through a comprehensive portfolio of recreation, fitness, outdoor, aquatics, and competitive sports programs. This position provides strategic vision and leadership for one of the university's most dynamic student-facing operations and serves as a key partner in advancing Seattle University's mission to educate the whole person. The Director leads a multifaceted recreation enterprise that includes two recreation facilities totaling more than 180,000 square feet, an aquatics program with two pools, a comprehensive fitness program, competitive sports including intramural sports and more than 15 sport clubs, outdoor recreation programs, and a workforce of more than 100 student employees. The Director oversees a team of professional and graduate staff, manages significant operating and capital resources, and serves as a collaborative leader across the university. Leadership & Administration: 45% Lead, inspire, develop, and hold accountable a high-performing team of professional staff, graduate assistants, and student employees while fostering a culture of excellence, innovation, belonging, and continuous improvement. Plan, administer, manage, and reconcile departmental budgets. Develop and implement strategies to increase revenue generation across programs and facilities, including aquatics, memberships, fitness services, rentals, certifications, and fee‑based instructional programs. Identify and expand new revenue streams to support long‑term program sustainability and facility enhancement. Lead the evaluation, implementation, and ongoing management of recreation technology systems, including access control, scheduling platforms, member engagement tools, and departmental reporting infrastructure. Develop and present evidence-based budget requests to institutional leadership using program utilization data, peer benchmarking, and long-range financial modeling; advocate for funding levels that reflect the full scope of UREC's mission and community demand. Develop and execute short and long-term financial strategies including revenue forecasting, and planning for operating and capital budgets. Ensure compliance with all university budget and purchasin