Internship: Sport Science Institute: Development

General position summary: The NCAA Sport Science Institute intern will join a collaborative, interdisciplinary team and contribute to initiatives that support SSI’s

mission to provide expert support to NCAA schools in their effort to protect and enhance the mental and physical health, safety and performance of college student-athletes.

Although the role is nonclinical and does not involve direct research, it offers exposure to credentialed professionals, including athletic trainers and the chief medical officer, as well as opportunities to contribute to projects across SSI’s three service lines (development, health promotion and sports medicine) and to gain insight into how research- and data-informed decisions shape evidence- and consensus-based guidance for the NCAA membership. This internship is housed within and supervised by the development service line.

The development service line supports SSI by carrying out policy and governance work, leading education strategy, developing and managing membership communication and digital presence, facilitating continuous improvement of business processes, and demonstrating organizational impact.

Responsibilities

Health, Safety and Performance Governance and Initiatives

Support initiatives related to mental and physical health, sport injury and illness, training and performance and education and policy.

Collaborate on governance and development efforts, including committee support, process optimization and strategic communications.

Coordinate logistics and contribute to the execution of SSI events, including summits, advisory group meetings and NCAA Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports (CSMAS) committee meetings.

Educational Programs and Events

Support strategic education development and socialization plans in support of Health, Safety and Performance service line efforts.

Support communication and outreach efforts by creating and maintaining content for websites, social media platforms and other communication channels.

Project Management and Collaboration

Research and identify opportunities to improve processes, enhance engagement and increase efficiency using technology and automation tools.

Assist with the collection, analysis and reporting of program data and performance metrics to evaluate effectiveness and inform future decision-making.

Collaborate with internal NCAA departments and external partners on strategic initiatives.

Support additional projects that advance the Sport Science Institute’s mission.

Essential duties:

Contribute to the planning and execution of initiatives that support the Association’s health, safety and performance strategic priorities: mental and physical health, sport injury and illness, training and performance and education and policy.

Collaborate on governance and development efforts, including committee support, process optimization and strategic communications. 

Support education development and socialization plans in support of health, safety and performance service line efforts, including work on topics like mental health, sleep, prevention and harm reduction strategies, nutrition and sexual violence prevention.

Assist in the development and delivery of educational resources and communications that support mental and physical health, safety and performance initiatives, translating complex information into clear and engaging content for various audiences. 

Support communication and outreach efforts by creating and maintaining content for websites, social media platforms and other communication channels, while helping ensure consistent branding and messaging.

Assist with the collection, analysis and reporting of program data and performance metrics to help evaluate the effectiveness of initiatives and inform future planning and decision-making.

Research and identify opportunities to improve processes, enhance engagement and increase efficiency using technology, including social media tools, automation platforms and emerging artificial intelligence applications. 

Coordinate logistics and contribute to the execution of SSI events, including summits, advisory group meetings and NCAA Competitive Safeguards and Medical Aspects of Sports committee meetings.

Maintain and update internal databases, shared resources and project tools; contribute to data tracking and its application in program planning.

Collaborate across SSI service lines, internal NCAA departments and external partners on projects aligned with SSI’s mission and service lines.

Collaborate with the SSI health, safety and performance intern on health promotion and sports medicine initiatives, including mental health and well-being, sports injury and illness, data collection programs, anti-doping and drug testing education and evidence- and consensus-based guidance. 

Responsibilities may vary based on team needs and project timelines and may include additional duties as appropriate. 

Desired knowledge, skills and abilities:

Bachelor’s degree, or master’s degree where applicable, in a health-, athletics-, policy- or communication-related field (e.g., health education, higher education, public health, public policy, strategic communications, marketing, kinesiology).

Strong written and verbal communication skills. 

Familiarity with key concepts in health promotion, sports medicine, education, communication and policy related to student-athlete health, safety and  performance.

Experience supporting or serving on a committee within an athletics and/or academic context (e.g., NCAA Student-Athlete Advisory/Advocacy Committee).

Knowledge of instructional design principles and methods to develop engaging, learner-centered educational materials for diverse audiences.

Understanding of implementation and basic evaluation of social media campaigns to increase engagement and awareness of resources.

Basic knowledge of process improvement concepts, including LEAN or continuous improvement principles, and the ability to identify opportunities to enhance efficiency and effectiveness.

Strong organizational, project coordination and analytical skills, with the ability to manage multiple assignments, track progress and assist with evaluating outcomes and performance measures.

Proficiency with Microsoft Office and interest in learning project and content management platforms such as Asana; interest in and familiarity with automation tools, emerging technologies and artificial intelligence applications to support organizational goals and improve workflows.

Curiosity about the intersection of student-athlete well-being, higher education and sport, and a commitment to contributing to a collaborative team environment. 

For more information and to apply: https://www.ncaa.org/what-we-do/programs/postgraduate-internships/sport-science-institute/