Senior Associate Athletics Director of Strategic Communications

Overview

The Senior Associate Athletics Director of Strategic Communications (Executive Director) oversees all aspects of communication for Utah State Athletics, including the development and execution of communication strategies. This position is responsible for developing a consistent internal and external brand messaging strategy that is reflected in all communications on behalf of Utah State Athletics.

Responsibilities

Roles:

• Leader: Provides daily leadership and supervision to the strategic communications and media relations staff.
• Strategist: Develops and executes comprehensive communication strategies for Utah State Athletics.
• Collaborator: Works with various departments and external partners to align communication efforts and maximize the experience for stakeholders.

Responsibilities:

• Communication Strategy: Develop and implement a strategic communications plan for all aspects of the athletics department. Work collaboratively with Utah State University Marketing and Communications to ensure communication strategies and execution meet the university-wide communications strategy, plan, and standards.
• Crisis Communication: In coordination with USU’s central communications team, oversees and maintains a crisis communications plan, serving as the department spokesperson when necessary. Partners with Athletics Director and members of the executive staff on sensitive information needing news releases and crisis communication.
• Media Relations: Establish and maintain relationships with the media to promote the achievements of Athletics and its programs. Build and maintain partnerships by cultivating relationships with campus, local, regional, and national media to tell Utah State Athletics’ story collaboratively. Lead efforts to proactively promote student-athletes' stories.
• Internal Collaboration: Create a culture of collaboration between strategic communications and other external facing units within athletics to maximize the experience for student-athletes, fans, alumni, and students. Work in partnership with the Assistant Athletics Director for Marketing and Fan Engagement, to maximize revenue, elevate game experience, and ensure alignment of public relations messaging. Work in partnership with the Deputy Athletics Director for External Engagement to execute the external affairs vision.
• Message Development: Create key messages and talking points for the Athletics Director and executive staff. Lead all communications, public relations, and messaging efforts for Utah State Athletics, including daily PR and messaging needs of the head football coach, basketball coaches, and additional sports coaches based on success and need.
• Budget Management: Direct, oversee, and approve the day-to-day activities and budget for strategic communications. Work within Athletics Department goals and values for yearly financial planning principles to best achieve maximum storytelling
• Media Training: Provide guidance and assist in media training to coaches, student-athletes, and staff regarding media interactions and best practices.
• Compliance: Ensure all communications comply with USU, NCAA, and Mountain West Conference policies, procedures, bylaws, and regulations.
• Team Supervision: Supervises a staff of athletic communication specialists
• Other: Performs other related duties as assigned

Accountabilities:

• Reporting Line: Deputy Athletics Director for External Engagement
• Brand Consistency: Ensure consistent internal and external brand messaging for Utah State Athletics.
• Stakeholder Engagement: Deliver key messages to internal and external stakeholders effectively.
• Media Coverage: Generate positive media coverage and highlight significant achievements.
• Media Requests: Coordinates all media requests to provide accurate information to our media partners and ensures timely news releases, press conferences, and statements on behalf of Utah State Athletics.
• Crisis Management: Effectively manage and communicate during crises.
• Budget Adherence: Maintain and manage the strategic communications budget responsibly.

Authorities:

• Decision-Making: Authority to make decisions regarding communication strategies and media relations.
• Budget Approval: Authority to approve expenditures within the strategic communications budget.
• Spokesperson: Serve as the official spokesperson for Utah State Athletics when necessary.
• Media Coordination: Authority to coordinate and approve media requests and press releases.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in public relations, communications or related field plus six years of relevant experience OR an equivalent combination of education plus experience.
• Experience in generating creative content (i.e., graphics, motion graphics, videos, photos) and implementing a content strategy at the Division I level.
• Experience working with members of the media and pitching stories.
• Experience and knowledge of NCAA rules and regulations.
• Flexibility to work a non-traditional work schedule due to the high volume/sport season schedules.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Master's degree

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

• Knowledge of media production, communication, and dissemination techniques and methods. This includes alternative ways to inform and entertain via written, oral, and visual media.
• Demonstrated competencies and experience with desktop publishing and writing and creating content on deadline.
• Proficiency in using a variety of programs within the Adobe Creative Suite (i.e., Photoshop, After Effects, Lightroom, Illustrator, Premiere Pro, InDesign).
• Knowledge of social media best practices and emerging platforms as well as knowledge of graphic design, video, digital media and written media in athletics.
• Demonstrated and proficient oral and written communication competencies; ability to write game stories and features stories; ability to conduct media training with coaches and student-athletes and advise in interactions with the media; experience designing/editing media guides and/or game programs in an intercollegiate sports information environment is preferred.
• Exceptional customer service as this position will have extensive inter-personal dealing with student-athletes, coaches and administrators from within the University and with a number of external audiences, primarily media outlets.
• Accuracy and attention to detail are key as this position deals with facts, historical relevance, records, statistics to promote student-athletes for awards, put events in historical context, compare teams to other teams from the past and present, etc.
• An emphasis on brainstorming, writing, creating content and an overall ability to communicate is a priority.
• Ability to deal with stressful and changing situations. Much time is spent at the computer, attending games, requiring possible out-of-town travel.

Required Documents

Along with the online application, please attach:

Resume/CV to be uploaded at the beginning of your application in the Candidate Profile under “Resume/CV"

Name and contact information for 3 professional references to be entered into Candidate Profile

**Document size may not exceed 10 MB.**

Advertised Salary

Commensurate with experience, plus excellent benefits

ADA

Employees work indoors and are protected from weather and/or contaminants, but not, necessarily, occasional temperature changes. The employee is regularly required to sit and often uses repetitive hand motions.

University Highlights

Founded in 1888, Utah State University is Utah’s premier land-grant, public service university, with a strong commitment to excellence, access, and inclusion, empowering people to lead successful lives of involvement, innovation, and impact. Utah State provides high-quality education to 27,500-plus students locations throughout the state, including at three residential campuses, eight statewide campuses, and 23 education centers. USU Online educates students from all 50 states and 55 countries. For over 25 years, USU Extension has served and engaged Utahns in all of Utah’s counties. As an R1 research institution, Utah State is dedicated to advancing knowledge through research and scholarly activities, providing a high-quality undergraduate and graduate education at an affordable price.

Utah State is committed to cultivating a community of inclusive excellence where all perspectives, values, cultures, and identities are acknowledged, welcomed, and valued. We seek to recruit, hire, and retain people from all walks of life who will champion excellence in education, research, discovery, outreach, and service. We believe that promoting a strong sense of community and belonging empowers and engages all members of USU to thrive and be successful. Forbes recognized our commitment to employees when they named Utah State the best employer in Utah in 2023. Learn more about USU. 

The university provides a Dual Career Assistance Program to support careers for partners who are also seeking employment. Additionally, USU is committed to providing access and reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities. To request a reasonable accommodation for a disability, contact the university’s ADA Coordinator in the Office of Human Resources at (435) 797-0122 or hr@usu.edu. 

About the Region

U.S. News and World Report ranked Utah first for its strong economy, fiscal stability, education, and health care. Outstanding outdoor recreational opportunities abound throughout the state, including five national parks, 43 state parks and recreation areas, and 15 alpine ski resorts. The home of USU’s main campus, Logan, is a city of 54,000-plus people in a picturesque mountain valley 80 miles north of Salt Lake City. The Logan metro area claimed the top spot in the Milken Institute’s 2022 ranking for best-performing small cities in the nation. 

*updated 04/2024

Notice of Non-discrimination

In its programs and activities, including in admissions and employment, Utah State University does not discriminate or tolerate discrimination, including harassment, based on race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, genetic information, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, disability, status as a protected veteran, or any other status protected by University policy, Title IX, or any other federal, state, or local law.

The following individuals have been designated to handle inquiries regarding the application of Title IX and its implementing regulations and/or USU’s non-discrimination policies:

Executive Director of the Office of Equity Matthew Pinner, discrimination@usu.edu, Distance Education Rm. 401, 435-797-1266

Title IX Coordinator Cody Carmichael, titleix@usu.edu, Distance Education Rm. 404, 435-797-1266

Mailing address: 5100 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT 84322

For further information regarding non-discrimination, please visit https://equity.usu.edu/, or contact:

U.S. Department of Education, Office of Assistant Secretary for Civil Rights, 800-421-3481, OCR@ed.gov

*updated 09/2023