Job Title: Assistant AD or Associate AD, NIL Strategy & AI Analytics

Posting Start Date: 6/25/26

Work Arrangement: Onsite

Current UC employees must apply internally via SuccessFactors

About the Department

The University of Cincinnati Department of Athletics competes at the highest level of intercollegiate athletics with the vision to reach Next Level Success for all 18 varsity teams and more than 450 student-athletes. The Bearcats have a proud athletics history, winning eight national championships and 118 conference titles. The Cincinnati men's basketball team is among the 15 winningest programs all-time, while the football team became the first non-Power Five program to compete in the College Football Playoff in 2021. Olympic gold medalist volleyball player Jordan Thompson, NBA Hall of Famer Oscar Robertson and Major League Baseball legend Sandy Koufax are among the several luminaries who have competed as Bearcats.

In 2023, the Bearcats entered a new era as a Power Four School when they officially joined the Big 12 Conference, positioning Cincinnati among the nation's premier athletics programs.

Off the field, UC student-athletes continue to find success, as well, collectively posting a school-record 3.52 GPA in the spring of 2025.

Under the leadership of Director of Athletics John Cunningham, and supported by more than 150 full-time staff members, UC Athletics' mission is to connect our community, enhance our university and impact the lives of student-athletes as they prepare to change the world on and off the field.

For more information visit gobearcats.com.

Job Overview

The Assistant / Associate Athletic Director (AD) of NIL Strategy & AI Analytics will be instrumental within the athletic department's Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) program. This role uses artificial intelligence and predictive analytics to maximize student-athlete market value while following all departmental, university, conference, and NCAA policies and regulations. The Assistant / Associate AD oversees the entire NIL lifecycle, from initial valuation and contract negotiation to final compliance fulfillment, while reporting directly to senior athletic administration.

The successful candidate will be appointed at the Asst AD or Assoc AD level according to their skills and qualifications.

Essential Functions

Assist with all aspects of the administration and operation of NIL, including:

NIL Contracts

• Evaluate and negotiate NIL licensing agreements for student-athletes.
• Secure optimal financial terms, usage rights, and exclusivity clauses.
• Student athlete management - Utilize Spreadsheets and software platforms to ensure payments are made on time and budges are followed
• Communication with Agents

Predictive Analytics & Valuation

• Use data models to project market value for student-athletes.
• Analyze audience demographics to identify optimal brand alignment opportunities.
• Forecast ROI and analyze past ROI

AI Integration & Innovation

• Implement AI tools to automate talent discovery and brand matching.
• Deploy machine learning algorithms to track social media trend velocity.
• Utilize AI-driven sentiment analysis to protect athlete and institutional reputation.

NIL Fulfillment & Compliance

• Audit deal deliverables to ensure athletes meet all brand obligations.
• Verify compliance with NCAA, state laws, and institutional policies.
• Manage institutional disclosure platforms to track and report all transactions.

Leadership

• Support the research, development, maintenance, and modification of departmental operating policies and procedures.
• May assist in the development and training of staff providing guidance and direction.
• May assist with the generation of funding resources.
• May act as sport supervisor for designated sports working closely with coaches providing strategic and administrative guidance and support.
• May provide direct and/or indirect supervision to exempt and non-exempt staff (i.e., hiring/firing, performance evaluations, disciplinary action, approve time off, etc.).
• Perform related duties based on departmental need. This job description can be changed at any time.

Asst AD

Required Education

• Bachelor's Degree
• Nine (9) years of relevant work experience and/or other specialized training can be used in lieu of education requirement.

Required Experience

• Five (5) years of experience in athletic administration.

- OR -

Assoc AD

Required Education

• Bachelor's Degree

Required Experience

• Seven (7) years of experience in athletic administration.

Additional Qualifications Considered

• Degree in Sports Management, Data Science, Business, Law
• Master's or JD
• Experience in sports agency, collegiate NIL management, sports marketing or other related field.
• Proficient with data visualization tools and AI driven marketing software.

Application Process Information

Interested and qualified applicants must apply online and include a cover letter of interest and a current CV/Resume. All certifications and other documentation can be uploaded using the Additional Documents section in the application. Applications without a cover letter and CV/Resume will not be considered for the position.

Physical Requirements/Work Environment

• Office environment/no specific unusual physical or environmental demands.

Compensation and Benefits

UC offers an exceptional benefits package designed to support your well-being, financial security, and work-life balance. (UC Benefits) Eligibility may vary by position and FTE status. Highlights include:

Salary/Hourly Pay Rate Information:

Comprehensive Tuition Remission

UC provides tuition remission for you and your eligible dependents, covering tuition costs for nearly all undergraduate and graduate programs offered by the university.

Robust Retirement Plans

As a UC employee, you won't contribute to Social Security (except Medicare). Instead, you'll choose between state pension plans (OPERS, STRS) or an Alternative Retirement Plan (ARP), with UC contributing 14-18% of your salary based on position.

Real Work-Life Balance

UC prioritizes work-life balance with a generous time-off policy, including:

Vacation and sick time

11 paid holidays and additional end-of-year paid time off (Winter Season Days)

6 weeks of paid parental leave for new parents

Additional Benefits Include:

• Competitive salary based on experience
• Comprehensive health coverage (medical, dental, vision, prescription)
• Flexible spending accounts & wellness programs
• Professional development & mentorship opportunities

To learn more about why UC is a great place to work, please visit our Careers Page.

Important: To apply you must create a profile and submit a complete job application through the UC applicant portal. We are unable to consider "easy apply" applications submitted via other websites. For questions about the UC recruiting process or to request accommodations with the application, please contact UC HR at [email protected].

REQ: 102928