Senior Associate Athletic Director of External Affairs

The Senior Associate Athletic Director of External Affairs serves as a senior leader within the Athletics Department and is responsible for the strategic leadership, integration, and performance of all external operations, including ticket sales and service, marketing and branding, corporate partnerships, fan engagement, and athletics advancement collaboration. The position provides executive oversight of multiple revenue-generating units and establishes a unified external affairs strategy designed to increase revenue, expand audience engagement, and elevate the visibility and reputation of Sacramento State Athletics.

Reporting directly to the Director of Athletics, the incumbent leads through subordinate managers to set direction, establish performance expectations, and ensure accountability across all external units. This role is responsible for aligning ticketing, marketing, donor engagement, and partnership efforts into a cohesive model that drives attendance, strengthens the fan and donor experience, and supports long-term financial sustainability.

The position operates in a highly visible NCAA Division I environment and serves as a key representative of the Athletics Department with campus leadership, corporate partners, donors, alumni, and the broader community. The incumbent ensures that all external strategies and initiatives align with institutional priorities, brand standards, and NCAA and conference regulations while supporting the overall mission and competitive success of Sacramento State Athletics.

Sacramento State Athletics is seeking an innovative, relationship-driven, and results-oriented leader to serve as Senior Associate Athletic Director of External Affairs. Reporting directly to the Director of Athletics, this position will provide strategic leadership for ticketing, marketing, branding, fan engagement, corporate partnerships, donor engagement, advancement collaboration, and NIL initiatives.

The successful candidate will lead through subordinate managers, develop integrated strategies to grow revenue and engagement, elevate the Hornet brand, strengthen campus and community partnerships, and support the long-term success of Sacramento State Athletics. If you are a strategic and collaborative leader ready to shape the next era of Hornet Athletics, we invite you to apply.

The program of Intercollegiate Athletics is organized and conducted as an integral part of the total educational program of the University. Academic excellence and athletic accomplishments go hand in hand at Sacramento State. There are three separate and unique missions in this program: to contribute to the educational objectives of the University; to provide a healthy, competitive athletic experience to individual student-athletes; to serve as a public relations vehicle within the community.

The Department of Intercollegiate Athletics offers both academic courses and an intercollegiate athletics program. Academic courses offer the opportunity for individuals to gain knowledge and understanding in a particular area of expertise related to intercollegiate athletics.

Sacramento State has made a strong commitment to the achievement of national excellence at the NCAA Division I level. It also is committed to maintaining an equitable program between men and women.

Intercollegiate Athletics are members of the Big West, Western Athletic Conference, Mid-Western Athletic Conference, Mountain Pacific Sports Federation and American Athletic Conferences. http://hornetsports.com/landing/index

Sacramento State is located in the heart of California’s capital city, five miles from State Capitol. The lush, 300-acre park-like campus is situated along the American River, close to numerous bike trails and other recreational areas. Sacramento, also known as the "Farm-to-Fork Capital," is one of the most ethnically diverse and livable cities in the country, with a population of half of a million.

Sacramento State proudly serves as a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI), Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution (AANAPISI), and Black-Serving Institution (BSI). The university enrolls around 31,000 students from the Greater Sacramento Region, throughout California, across the nation, and around the world. Our 1,800 faculty and 1,500 staff are committed to meeting our mission:

“As California's capital university, Sacramento State transforms lives by preparing all students to lead, serve, and succeed. We are committed to our designations as a Hispanic Serving Institution, an Asian American Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution, and a Black Serving Institution, and to intentionally serving students reflective of these designations and all students who have been historically underserved in education.”

As evidenced by the values embedded in our Hornet Honor Code, Sacramento State is committed to creating an inclusive environment where all faculty, staff, students, and guests are welcome and valued.  Our commitment is more than simply ensuring that our campus is free from bias and discrimination, but is one devoted to celebrating many diverse identities, life experiences, and perspectives that enrich our community, teaching and learning. 

To learn more about why you should join the Hornet Family, please visit the Why Sac State? page.

A background check (including a criminal records check) must be completed satisfactorily before any candidate can be offered a position with California State University, Sacramento. Failure to satisfactorily complete the background check may affect the application status of applicants or continued employment of current California State University, Sacramento employees who apply for the position.

Sacramento State, as part of the CSU system, is a State of California Employer. As such, the University requires all employees (up)on date of hire to reside in the State of California.

As of January 1, 2022 the CSU Out-of-State Employment Policy prohibits the hiring of employees to perform CSU-related work outside the state of California.

Candidate must furnish proof of eligibility to work in the U.S. California State University, Sacramento is not a sponsoring agency for staff and management positions (ie. H-1-B Visa).

Possession of the minimum qualifications does not guarantee an interview unless required by collective bargaining agreement.

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