Monday-Friday is typical with flexibility built in to cover weekend games
JOB SUMMARY
The Director of Athletic Communications will oversee the day-to-day communications and media relations for all 16 NCAA Division II sports and 6 Varsity sports under the supervision of the Assistant Athletic Director of Operations. The Director of Athletic Communications is responsible for creating compelling content for the purpose of proactively publicizing SNU Athletics. Additionally, the Director will plan, organize, and direct all communications efforts including news releases, features, photography, statistics, social media, press box/game day operations, and publications, as well as serve as the department's primary media liaison.
RESPONSIBILITIES
Essential Functions:
Performs the role of an internal beat reporter, focusing on telling compelling stories in written, video, social media, graphics, or other innovative formats in collaboration with team members of the external unit.
Create and implement fresh marketing strategies, community outreach initiatives and in-game promotional activities for each sport to increase engagement and game attendance among students, faculty, alumni, and the greater community.
Responsible for interviewing, training, evaluation, coaching, professional development, and oversight of Graduate Assistant and student-workers.
Manage and maintain the Athletic Department's website. Write and edit various department communication materials, including postseason publications, press releases, game notes, record books and content for the department's website.
Promote and enhance the stories of the department through digital and social media platforms.
Develop and write, both in-news and feature form, press releases about the coaches and student-athletes and disseminate this information to the media and to the public via the athletics website and social media platforms to publicize teams.
Oversee nominations and promotion of student-athletes and coaches for awards.
Maintain historical records, statistics, and photographs among other important department information.
Develop and coordinate media and sports information coverage in relation to the Assistant AD of Operations for all home events including video streaming, live stats, and gameday workers.
Responsible for oversight and management of Athletic Communication's department budget.
Serve as a liaison for local, regional and/or national media representatives (print/broadcast/online) who visit the SNU campus; work with media members to build relationships that encourage positive coverage of SNU athletics.
Serve at the regional/national levels with CoSIDA, to help build relationships with athletic communication peers.
Assist with coordination, promotion, and content creation for special events such as donor socials, Storm Sports Awards and SNU Athletics Hall of Fame.
Travel with teams when deemed appropriate.
Serve as an advisor for the Student-Athlete Advisory (SAAC) Committee as needed coordinated by the Associate Athletic Director of Compliance.
Qualifications
Required Qualifications:
Southern Nazarene University is an expression of the Church of the Nazarene. According to SNU policy, all faculty and staff must profess faith in Jesus Christ, possess a strong personal Christian commitment and be committed to the SNU mission to make Christlike disciples through higher education in a Christ centered community.
An understanding of the importance for diversity, inclusion, and equity
She/he needs to possess strong character traits and ministry values that express what God can do through her/him in impacting the coaches, student athletes, SNU employees and outside persons with whom they interact.
Needs to passionately support and articulate the University Mission and Vision for athletics within the context of that Mission.
Must have at least a bachelor's degree in an applicable field.
A heartfelt commitment to excellence in academics and athletics.
Demonstrate leadership and communication skills including strong verbal and writing skills. Communication skills also include scheduling various tasks with several employees/students for multiple games in any given week.
Demonstrate experience working and implementing initiatives that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Highly organized and skilled in problem solving and conflict resolution. This will often have to be demonstrated in short decision-making windows.
Ability and proficiency in Adobe Design Suite (i.e. InDesign, Photoshop, etc.), Microsoft Office Suite and StatCrew and NCAA Live Stats software.
Ability to plan, develop, and coordinate multiple projects.
Strong organizational skills and detail oriented.
Strong interpersonal and communication skills, and the ability to work effectively with a diverse faculty, staff, and student body as well as external constituencies.
Must be available and willing to work evenings and weekends.
Preferred Qualifications:
Versed in Microsoft Office and Google Suite.
Experience in Higher Education
Supervision Received:
Receives supervision and work assignments from the Assistant Athletic Director of Operations while working closely with coaching staff.
Supervision Exercised:
May be responsible for the coordination of work assignments for student employees.
Generous benefit structure including family health insurance plan (shared cost), long term disability, dental insurance, group life insurance, retirement matching, tuition remission, vacation, sick leave, personal days, and holidays.
