We're Hiring!
Executive Associate or Deputy Athletic Director, Athletics Advancement
- 511393
- Main Campus - Starkville, MS
- Mississippi - Main Campus
- 890133 - Athletics - Bulldog Club
- Professional
- Regular Full-Time 12-month
- Opening on: Oct 19 2026
Position Function:
Responsibilities surrounded with effective solicitation and day-to-day management of the Bulldog Club, including annual giving, premium seating, donor/alumni engagement, principal giving and capital campaign development. Assists with the cultivation and procurement of principal gifts related to facility projects, scholarship endowments, planned giving and premium seating. Continuously seeks private fundraising opportunities to benefit Mississippi State Athletics and Mississippi State Athletics Student-Athletes. This position reports to the Director of Athletics and the Bulldog Club Board of Directors.
Salary Grade: 19 (Executive Associate AD) or 20 (Deputy AD)
Please see Staff Compensation Structure for salary ranges.
Essential Duties and Responsibilities:
1. Serve as CEO of the Bulldog Club
2. Responsible for day-to-day oversight of the Bulldog Club and management of the Principal Giving Team and the principal giving program with an overall yearly philanthropic team goal to be set and evaluated each year with the Mississippi State AD and the Bulldog Club Board; including: facility gifts, planned gift solicitations, scholarship endowment solicitations, corporate philanthropy, grants from private foundations, stock & security transfers, matching gifts, donor advised funds and all other philanthropic gifts
3. Responsible for leadership and management of the priority seating program, including the assignment of priority seating, membership, assist with annual brochure, donor benefits, direct mail program, non-renewals, new seating requests
4. Leads strategic planning initiatives for growth of principal giving and all philanthropic giving
5. Assists with development and coordination of facility project fundraising and campaigns
6. Oversee and manage direct call reports, meeting and presentation activities and follow-up process for principal and philanthropic giving
7. Oversee and supervises donor recognition inside facilities including the maintenance of naming opportunity menus and prospect lists
8. Engage in daily outreach to current donors and prospects to cultivate & solicit philanthropic pledges and donations focusing specifically on contributions $100,000 or greater with an annual goal of $5,000,000
9. Customarily and regularly be engaged out of the office on donor appointments and all Bulldog Club activities including solicitations, cultivation, and stewardship
10. Collaborates with M Club to identify and maintain principal gift prospect list of former student-athletes
11. Coordinates the creation of all publications & solicitation materials associated with principal gift asks
12. Involvement in premium seating, inventory management and related activities
13. Assists AD with solicitation and procurement of principal gifts
14. Assists in development and maintenance of ticket requests that are tracked and filled based on the priority point system
15. Assures that donor phone inquiries are answered in a timely manner
16. Supervision of donor billings and pledge reminders as it pertains to endowments, facility, and principal gift agreements
17. Establishes and maintains relationships with campus and community organizations to better promote the athletics department
18. Liaison with MSU Foundation
19. Continuously be aware and mindful that all activities reflect the Mississippi State Athletics mission statement and core values
20. Maintains standard in-office working schedule to accommodate in-person visits with current and prospective Bulldog Club Foundation members
21. Records and reports to AD on a consistent and regular basis (i.e. weekly) contacts, meetings, events, and other activities outside of in-office duties
22. Serve as member of athletic directors leadership team
23. Perform other duties as assigned by the Director of Athletics.
Supervisory Responsibility
Bulldog Club Principal Giving, Annual Giving, and Finance staff.
The above job description in no way states or implies that these are the only duties to be performed by this employee. The incumbent is expected to perform other duties necessary for the effective operation of the University.
Minimum Qualifications:
Executive Associate Athletic Director
• Education: Bachelor’s Degree
• Experience: Fours years
Deputy Athletic Director
• Education: Bachelor’s Degree
• Experience: Five years
Preferred Qualifications:
1. Master’s degree.
2. Senior-level experience in intercollegiate athletics administration.
3. Proven fundraising experience and strategic planning, budget oversight, personnel
supervision, and cross-functional leadership.
Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:
1. Knowledge of University, SEC and NCAA policies and regulations as they pertain to the Department of Intercollegiate Athletics.
2. Ability to communicate with various constituents; public; students; coaches; administrators.
3. Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
4. Outstanding interpersonal and interactive skills and the ability to communicate and work effectively within a diverse community.
5. Ability to use independent judgment and to manage and communicate information to a range of clientele and constituents.
6. Ability to foster a cooperative work environment.
7. Exceptional planning, organizational, time management and critical thinking skills,
project management and leadership skills.
8. Ability to work evenings and weekend hours.
9. Ability to travel.
Working Conditions and Physical Effort
1. Frequent external imposed deadlines, set and revised beyond one’s control; interruptions influence priorities; difficult to anticipate nature or volume of work with certainty beyond a few days; meeting of deadlines and coordination of unrelated activities are key to position; involves conflict-resolution or similar interactions involving emotional issues or stress on a regular basis.
2. Regularly involves lifting, bending or other physical exertion. Often exposed to one or more elements such as heat, cold, noise, dirt, chemicals, etc.
3. Jobs frequently require walking, standing, lifting, sitting, reaching, talking, hearing, and handling objects with hands.
4. Vision requirements: Ability to see information in print and/or electronically.
Instructions for Applying:
Please attach your resume and cover letter to the application.
Equal Employment Opportunity Statement:
Mississippi State University is an equal opportunity institution. Discrimination is prohibited in university employment, programs or activities based on race, color, ethnicity, sex, pregnancy, religion, national origin, disability, age, sexual orientation, genetic information, status as a U.S. veteran, or any other status to the extent protected by applicable law. Questions about equal opportunity programs or compliance should be directed to the Office of Civil Rights Compliance, 231 Famous Maroon Band Street, P.O. 6044, Mississippi State, MS 39762, (662) 325-5839.
What do I do if I need an accommodation?
In compliance with the ADA Amendments Act (ADA), if you have a disability and would like to request an accommodation in order to apply for a position with Mississippi State University, please contact the Department of Human Resources Management at tel: (662) 325-3713 or ada@hrm.msstate.edu.
If you have any questions regarding this policy, contact the Department of Human Resources Management at (662) 325-3713 or ada@hrm.msstate.edu. Upon request, sections of this job listing are available in large print, and readers are available to assist the visually impaired.