The University of Arizona's Department of Intercollegiate Athletics (ICA) is seeking an experienced communications professional for the position of Associate Athletics Director for Strategic Communications This position will serve on the Athletics Department's Senior Leadership Team, will be responsible for the creation and implementation of a strategic and pro-active communications strategy to promote and best position Arizona Athletics in all forms of communication from sports to business to the digital space which includes social and mobile platforms, will oversee and direct all aspects of the athletics communications office, manage the official athletics website, and will act as the liaison to local, regional and national media outlets to advance and promote Arizona Athletics. This position will collaborate with ICA Marketing and Community Relations, and with External Relations and University Communications to coordinate and enhance their communication efforts.
Duties & Responsibilities
Strategically plan and coordinate of all major department initiatives, events and communications plans, including press conferences, major personnel announcements, capital projects and the introduction of new initiatives for all 22 Division I sport programs, staff, and student-athletes.
Actively work for to enhance the Arizona Athletics brand; working with student-athletes, coaches, communication services and marketing staff to enhance the Arizona Athletics brand, message and story in the local, regional and national media.
Collaborate with Marketing, Community Relations and other internal resources to develop strategies that promote Arizona Athletics, including integrating and supporting marketing and sales interests.
Develop, implement and coordinate effective delivery of content through the department's website and allied social media outlets.
Establish and maintain relationships with key local and national media executives, editors, reporters and personnel to facilitate the ongoing partnership between Arizona and media entities.
Oversee full-time staff for a Division I Communication Services Department, including overseeing work productivity, hiring, performance improvement, promotions, and salary adjustments as well as provide training and leadership in media conduct to student-athletes, coaches and staff.
Recruit, train and manage strategic communications team to achieve goals and objectives.
Ensure assigned units are operated in compliance with University, Conference, and NCAA rules and regulations.
Advise and facilitate media strategies including crisis management to address major constituency issues.
Coordinate student-athlete nominations for University, Conference, NCAA, State and national awards.
Develop and implement strategy for departmental, Conference, regional and NCAA statistical data bases, including Arizona honors (awards/honors), annual achievements and highlights (NCAA and Conference team and individual championships, academic honors) and digital assets (photos, video).
Assist with the preparation of speeches and communications as well as formulating communication strategies for the department.
Utilize media experience to create innovative content, including stories, social media, and podcasts.
Oversee budget for unit, provide budget projections and updates, and maintain effective management practices.
Coordinate with the Conference office and Conference member institutions to ensure consistency of communication and implementation of Conference-wide strategies.
Serve as ICA liaison with UA External Relations and other campus communication entities.
Additional duties as assigned.
Minimum Qualifications
Bachelor's Degree or equivalent advanced learning attained through experience required.
Preferred Qualifications
Two years of experience in collegiate or professional sports marketing. Experience can include internships or graduate assistant level.
At the University of Arizona, we value our inclusive climate because we know that diversity in experiences and perspectives is vital to advancing innovation, critical thinking, solving complex problems, and creating an inclusive academic community. As a Hispanic-serving institution, we translate these values into action by seeking individuals who have experience and expertise working with diverse students, colleagues, and constituencies. Because we seek a workforce with a wide range of perspectives and experiences, we provide equal employment opportunities to applicants and employees without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or genetic information. As an Employer of National Service, we also welcome alumni of AmeriCorps, Peace Corps, and other national service programs and others who will help us advance our Inclusive Excellence initiative aimed at creating a university that values student, staff and faculty engagement in addressing issues of diversity and inclusiveness.
