Commissioner, Conference of New England

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Please apply today if this opportunity looks like the right fit for you.

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Conference of New England Job Description

Job Title: Commissioner

The Conference of New England (CNE) is seeking a dynamic and strategic leader to serve as its Commissioner. The CNE is an intercollegiate athletic conference affiliated with the NCAA’s Division III. The Conference footprint consists of institutions located in the New England region.

Current member institutions include Curry College, Endicott College, Gordon College, Johnson & Wales University, Nichols College, Roger Williams University, Suffolk University, University of Hartford, University of New England, Wentworth Institute of Technology and Western New England University. The CNE crowns team and individual champions in 21 sports and will add men’s volleyball in 2026-27.

Through its newly installed strategic vision, the mission of the CNE is to provide each of its student-athletes with a comprehensive experience that prioritizes academic and athletic excellence through the practice and application of its seven philosophical pillars. The Conference is committed towards effectively administering sport in an equitable, safe and inclusive environment that aligns with the NCAA Division III philosophy and celebrates combined achievements both in the classroom and within competition.

This full-time, 12-month appointment reports to the President’s Council with a direct report to the Chair of the President’s Council. 

To apply please email your resume and a letter of application within Endicott College's Workday account, no later than October 27th, 2025.

Responsibilities:

The Commissioner will have the authority necessary to serve as the senior executive officer of the conference and is the liaison to the President’s Council. The job responsibilities of the Commissioner include but are not limited to:

• Strategically lead and create a clear vision that offers enhanced opportunities within sport sponsorship, membership growth and alignment, and the enhancement of conference visibility.
• Serve as the primary liaison to presidents and athletic administrators and effectively communicate with the conference leadership and chairs, especially regarding the development, coordination, and implementation of conference policies.
• Oversight of the Associate Commissioner/SWA and Assistant Commissioner for Communications positions.
• Manage the conference budget and make budget recommendations to the President’s Council.
• Manage and administer the conference by providing essential services to the membership, primarily in the following areas: scheduling, championship administration, officiating, compliance, NCAA conference grant program, membership, player and team awards recognition, surveys, and research.
• Serve as the liaison with the NCAA and represent the CNE at NCAA conventions, Division III Commissioners Association meetings, and appropriate state, regional, and national committees and organizations.
• Compile and distribute to each member of the President’s Council, Athletic Directors, and other constituents, appropriate updates on matters such as the constitution, bylaws, sports codes, contact, championship site policies and procedures, logo standards, award guidelines, operating policies, etc.
• Lead conference efforts pertaining to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
• Market and promote the conference and build relationships with prospective corporate partners and affiliated organizations.
• Provide leadership and administrative oversight to conference-sponsored special events and programming opportunities.
• Serve as ex-officio, non-voting member at Conference meetings.
• Encourage and promote friendly relations and good sportsmanship among the member institutions, student-athletes, coaches, and alumni.
• Make regular visits to member campuses to meet with athletic directors, presidents and athletic administrators.
• Provide in-person engagement with athletic directors, coaches and athletes during conference championship play.

Qualifications:

• A bachelor’s degree is required with a master’s degree strongly preferred, plus five to seven years of relevant and/or transferable experience.
• Comprehensive knowledge of collegiate athletics, with preference given to individuals with extensive experience in NCAA Division III and/or the administration of an athletics conference.
• Demonstrated commitment to the Division III student-athlete philosophy, with its focus on academic and athletic excellence.
• Strong organizational and leadership skills with demonstrated experience in strategic planning, organizational development, championship and event management, resource generation, communications and marketing, office administration, decision-making, public relations, and budget and fiscal administration.
• Aptitude for building trustworthy, collaborative, and effective team relationships with various conference constituents, through a transparent and bridge-building approach.
• Ability to establish productive relationships with presidents and the athletics administrative committee, as well the ability to strengthen communication between the two.
• Strong demonstrated commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, and a commitment to follow NCAA rules and regulations, Title IX policies, and gender equity practices.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of constituents.
• Knowledge and understanding of the importance and use of information technology, including, but not limited to demonstrated in Google/Microsoft Office Suite (including Google Sheets and/or Microsoft Excel).
• Unequivocal personal and professional integrity.