Executive Vice President for Inclusion & Human Resources

National Collegiate Athletic Association

Executive Vice President for Inclusion & Human Resources

The National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) seeks nominations and applications for the Executive Vice President for Inclusion & Human Resources, a newly-defined role in the NCAA’s national office senior management team.

The NCAA is a member-led organization dedicated to providing a pathway to opportunity for student-athletes by prioritizing academics, well-being and fairness for those participating in college sport.  The Association and its member schools protect and equip student-athletes for success on the field and in the classroom for life.  The fundamental values of the national office include inclusion, accountability, collaboration, communication, and leadership.  With three divisions, the organization is largest college sports organization and is comprised of various member organizations: 1,123 colleges and institutions, 98 voting athletic conferences and 39 affiliated organizations.  These member organizations include individuals from all levels and functions—including college presidents, athletic directors, compliance staff, faculty academic representatives, coaches, conference staff and health and safety personnel, among others—all of whom support prioritizing academics, well-being and fairness.

The successful candidate will be the Association’s most senior Diversity Officer, as well as the most senior Human Resources Officer in the national office.  The role is the combination of two formerly distinct areas within the NCAA, now merged into one team to ensure consistency and alignment between them. With equal emphasis on all responsibilities, the combination of the two roles into one senior member of the President’s leadership team reflects the NCAA’s commitment to furthering the same ideals of diversity and inclusion within its own staff as it does for its member organizations.

Internally, the EVP will be responsible for human capital management of the NCAA’s 500+ staff.  The EVP leads and manages the internal operations and supervising of staff members who have responsibilities across Inclusion and Human Resources, including talent acquisition, talent management, training and development, retention, employee benefits, employee relations, compensation administration, policy development and working with the Office of Legal Affairs to assure compliance with state and federal laws and regulations.

Externally, the EVP will serve as the chief ambassador to the member organizations to promote the NCAA’s values as they relate to diversity and inclusion.  To that end, the EVP will be a spokesperson, a champion and an advocate for a commitment, in action and in word, to furthering these important goals.  In this role, the EVP also plays a key leadership role with a variety of important Association-wide committees and programs, including leadership development.  The EVP will have the unique opportunity to leverage the high-profile, recognized platform that NCAA offers to further the national discourse on the importance of diversity and inclusion across numerous arenas: in the broad landscape of college athletics and higher education, in leadership roles within colleges and universities, and in the workplace.

The NCAA requires a highly professional and experienced leader who has a demonstrated background in general management, human resources leadership, and fostering inclusion across a complex organization with multiple constituencies.  He/she should also possess a passion and affinity for college athletics, and be able to discuss the NCAA’s structure, higher education, sports and current events.  A minimum of 15+ years of post-undergraduate, professional experience in a corporate or higher education environment including a successful track record in leadership roles for complex organizations is required.  Given the responsibility of the role, the chosen finalist will have either recognized credentials in human resource management (i.e., SHRM), or will have had HR as a report within an organization.  A master’s degree in a relevant field (broadly defined) is required.

Heidrick & Struggles has been retained to assist in this important search.  Review of potential candidates will begin immediately.  Nominations and applications should be sent to ncaacihro@heidrick.com.