Position Overview: Director of Athletics

Location: Los Angeles, CA
Reports to: VP of Student Services 
Direct Reports: Coaches
Category: Classified
Salary Range: Starting at $105,000, commensurate with experience
Benefits: Full-time employees of ICEF Public Schools are entitled to Medical, Life Insurance, Dental and Vision plans, and various retirement programs offered by ICEF Public Schools.

About ICEF

ICEF Public Schools is a nonprofit charter school network committed to educating and empowering courageous leaders who embrace their full potential for college, career, and life. Our work is rooted in five mission-aligned pillars:

• Educating and Empowering Courageous Leaders
• Providing a Diverse Community that Honors Each Student’s Uniqueness
• Fostering Academic Excellence
• Nurturing Healthy Minds
• Inspiring Critical Thinkers

To learn more, visit www.icefps.org

Position Summary

ICEF Public Schools is seeking an innovative, mission-driven, and systems-oriented network Director of Athletics (AD) to lead and strengthen the vision and coordination of compliance across all school sites. The AD will be responsible for developing, aligning, and sustaining a comprehensive 3–12th grade athletics program that creates a clear and intentional pipeline from elementary through high school athletics. This role is grounded in the belief that athletics are a powerful vehicle for educating the whole child through social-emotional development. 

The AD ensures athlete skill development, competitive readiness, and program continuity, with a specific focus on participation and compliance within FIYA (Foundations for Interscholastic Youth Athletics) and CIF (California Interscholastic Federation) leagues. The AD will work collaboratively with school leaders, coaches, families, and community partners to build a strong, values-driven athletics culture that prepares ICEF students to compete at an elite athletic level. Our AD champions the belief that athletic development bolsters academic achievement as excellence in both domains requires perseverance, goal setting, and commitment to continuous growth. 

This position may include a combination of working from our home office and travel to school sites as needed. 

This position may be eligible for remote work with restrictions and requires occasional evening and weekend hours based on organization needs.

Program Development

• Design and implement a vertically aligned athletics model connecting elementary, middle, and high school sports programs 
• Implement long-term plans for athletic program growth and sustainability
• Establish protocols that incorporate ICEF’s RECIPE philosophy into the network’s athletic programming by creating long-term athletic pathways that emphasize communication, emotional regulation, critical thinking, and other foundational skills
• Develop expectations for grade level skills progression in collaboration with ICEF’s Physical Education department and support P.E. teachers with curriculum development as needed 
• Identify funding opportunities, sponsorships, and partnerships to support athletic programming

League Oversight

• Serve as the primary liaison between California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) and ICEF Public Schools  
• Ensure compliance with CIF, league, state, and ICEF’s policies, regulations, and eligibility requirements and coordinate administrative presences and coverage at all ICEF home games 
• Collaborate with elementary and middle school site leaders to ensure on-time registration for Foundation for Interscholastic Youth Athletics (FIYA) sports and maintain compliance for FIYA’s policies and eligibility requirements
• Partner with school site leaders to standardize a core set of athletic offerings across schools within the network and ensure that a minimum of four sports (one per season) at all school sites

Coaching Leadership & Management

• Recruit, hire, train, and evaluate coaches in alignment with ICEF’s core values and competencies
• Implement coaching expectations that aligns with ICEF’s Athletics’ playbook and core values 
• Observe and attend practice, games, and tournaments for all sports offered across the network
• Monitor coaches’ policies and practice structure prior to the start of the athletic season  
• Support cross-campus collaboration through the implementation of network wide grade level tournaments 
• Ensure all coaches and athletic staff complete required trainings and maintain necessary certifications
• Provide professional development focused on athletic skill development, safety, and program alignment 
• Ensure compliance with health, safety, and risk management requirements
• Coordinate concussion protocols, injury response procedures, and medical clearances 
• Maintain documentation of required Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), First Aid, and safety certifications for all athletic staff
• Coach one sport annually as needed 

Student-Athlete Experience 

• Promote equitable access to athletic opportunities and develop partnerships to ensure student exposure to collegiate and professional athletic events
• Ensure students complete a pre and post athletic experience survey 
• Implement systems to monitor athletic eligibility
• Coordinate end of year athletic celebration for CIF & FIYA sports

Operations & Management

• Oversee athletic scheduling, facilities scheduling, equipment & uniforms to ensure that the program operates within budget 
• Manage athletic calendar creation & ensure that games do no conflict with ICEF network wide events
• Coordinate transportation, game day operations, and event logistics 
• Manage all contracts, vendors, and service agreements related to athletics 
• Manage purchasing, inventory, and distribution of athletic equipment
• Monitor program effectiveness through data analysis, participation trends, and coach/student feedback
• Support coaches in the management & tracking of student attendance 
• Compile and analyze data with regards to student participation and success in program
• Uphold athletic policies, procedures, and safety protocols
• Assist with audits, reporting, and documentation related to athletic operations and compliance
• Address and resolve compliance concerns, complaints, and disciplinary matters as needed

Family & Community Engagement

• Build partnerships with feeder schools and community organizations to strengthen athletic pipelines
• Ensure that each high school coach leads a parent/guardian introduction meeting before the start of the athletic season 
• Represent ICEF Athletics at community events 

• Other duties as assigned 

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. 

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; frequently required to talk or hear; and occasionally required to stand, walk, and reach with hands and arms, and/or use hands to finger, handle, or feel. 

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is occasionally required to move and/or lift up to twenty-five (25) pounds. 

Specific vision abilities required by this position include close vision and the ability to adjust focus.

Work Environment

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.

Minimum Qualifications

• An earned Bachelor's Degree or higher from an accredited college or university 
• Experience in athletic administration, coaching, or program leadership 
• Strong knowledge of the Foundation for Interscholastic Youth Athletics (FIYA) & California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) rules, regulations, and competitive structures 
• Excellent communication, collaboration, and organizational skills
• Proven ability to lead, organize, and align multi-level systemic programs 
• High emotional intelligence, discretion, and people-first decision-making approach
• Commitment to educational equity and ICEF’s mission
• TB clearance
• Background check clearance

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in Athletics Administration, Education, or related field
• Visionary leader with a passion for youth development 
• Strong understanding of long-term athlete development principles 
• Commitment to equity, sportsmanship, and student-centered programming 
• Ability to balance strategic planning with day-to-day operations 

ICEF is an Equal Opportunity Employer

ICEF Public Schools is an equal opportunity employer to all, regardless of age, ancestry, association with a member of a protected class, bereavement leave, color, disability (physical, intellectual/developmental, or mental health/psychiatric.), exercising the right to family care and medical leave related to serious health condition of employee or family member, child bonding, or military exigencies, engaging in protected activity, gender identity or expression, genetic information or characteristic, marital status, medical condition (cancer or genetic characteristic), military and veteran status, national origin (includes language restrictions), pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding, or related medical conditions, Pregnancy Disability Leave (PDL), race (includes hairstyle and hair texture, religious creed (includes dress and grooming practices), reproductive health decision making, sex/gender, and sexual orientation.