Academic Competitions and Events Manager

Roles

Northwood University seeks a dynamic individual with strong interpersonal skills to collaborate with faculty and institutional departments to support Academic Competitions initiatives. The Academic Competitions and Events Manager is responsible for leading, coordinating, and enhancing the university’s Academic Competitions programming, from prospective student recruitment to student-participant experience. As part of Academic programming, academic competitions provide valuable experiential learning opportunities by allowing students to apply classroom knowledge to real-world challenges, developing critical thinking, collaboration, and problem-solving skills in authentic, hands-on contexts. This position plays a key role in supporting student engagement, academic excellence, student recruitment and persistence, and institutional visibility by managing competitive teams, overseeing program operations and event logistics, and collaborating with faculty, staff, and external partners. The position also supports other academic activities and experiential learning initiatives.

The Academic Competitionsand Events Managerreports to the Undergraduate Academic Dean.

Responsibilities

Enrollment – Recruitment and Persistence:

• Develop and implement a comprehensive data-driven recruitment strategy to attract prospective student-participants to Northwood University’s Academic Competition teams.
• Build relationships with prospective students, alumni, and external partners to increase program visibility and participation.
• In coordination with Team Advisors, identify, organize, and attend recruitment events, such as open houses, campus visits, and virtual showcases, to highlight Academics Competition opportunities at Northwood University.
• Collaborate with Admissions team and Marketing on student recruitment initiatives and processes.
• Collaborate with Marketing and Communications to promote competitions and events through print, digital, and social media channels.
• Plan and execute Signing Days for recruited student-participants.
• Support persistence and retention efforts for student-participants on Academic Competitions teams.
• Monitor and report on recruitment goals and targets and persistence/retention rates.
  
  

Team Operations

• Oversee day-to-day operations of all academic competition teams, including program management and coordination, community engagement, team recruitment coordination and support, and budgeting and resource management.
• Partner with Team Advisors to train and support competition student-participants to enhance the participation experience.
• Manage travel and event planning for Academic Competition teams.
• Provide guidance, mentoring, and coaching to students participating in competitions, in collaboration with Team Advisors.
• Plan and execute Academic Competitions events on campus to support the student-participant experience, coordinating with Admissions and Marketing as opportunities for recruitment.
• Travel with Academic Competitions teams as needed.
• Plan and execute annual awards to celebrate team achievements and reinforce a culture of excellence and motivation.
• Support Team Advisors in planning and holding regular team meetings and practices.
  
  

Program Administration

• Develop annual program goals, timelines, and budgets in collaboration with department leadership
• Evaluate program success and maintain accurate records of Academic Competitions team performance, participation rates, and program expenses.
• Identify opportunities for continuous improvement and innovation in Academic Competitions programming.
• Develop mentoring programs with local high schools and participants in Academic Competitions teams.
• Research new academic competition opportunities that align with institutional strengths and strategic priorities.
• Oversee Academic Competitions staff and Academic Competitions Team Advisor adherence to required processes and procedures.
• Complete other duties as assigned, including:
• Provide support and coordination for academic events and academic camps.
• Assists dean(s) in the implementation of institutional, program, and departmental initiatives.
  
  

Qualifications

• Uphold and promote the Northwood mission, core values, outcomes, ethics, and strategic plan.
• Think and act in the best interests of Northwood.
• Promote and practice the philosophy of the University and its commitment to the American free-enterprise system.
• Actively support University events and initiatives that support the NU Strategic Plan and continuous improvement.
• Interact with colleagues throughout the Northwood system in a timely and professional manner.
• Travel as necessary to attend meetings and activities when appropriate.
• Abide by all conditions outlined in the University Employee Manual.
  
  

Expectations

• A minimum of a bachelor’s degree.
• Previous project management experience.
• Previous experience working with student groups.
• Advanced business productivity skills.
• Ability to travel and work evenings and weekends.
  
  

About Northwood University

Northwood University is a teaching-focused university with HLC and ACBSP accreditation offering undergraduate and graduate degrees in business-related disciplines. Northwood University has an institutional philosophy known as the “Northwood Idea,” which emphasizes individual freedom and responsibility, moral law, ethical and limited government, earned success and the importance of creativity, free enterprise and entrepreneurship as the foundation of individual and human progress. The successful candidate will embrace, and will promote, the philosophy of the University and its commitment to the American free-enterprise system when conducting business on behalf of the University. Applicants are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the University’s outcomes at About Northwood University - Northwood University .