Director of Athletics Communications

The Director of Athletics Communications is a key member of the Embry-Riddle Athletics external team and is responsible for overseeing the day-to-day operations of the Athletics Communications department that includes full-time staff, interns, and student employees.

This position will shape the strategy around athletics department image, messaging, and storytelling. General position duties include: stating, archiving Embry-Riddle Athletics' history, building the Embry-Riddle Athletics' brand, creating communication plans for comprehensive coverage for all athletic programs, website management, content creation, publication design and production, social media, event management, broadcast production, etc.

Embry-Riddle is an NCAA Division II school and a member of the Sunshine State Conference.

Primary Job Functions, Duties, or Accountabilities:

• Oversee the execution of athletics communications event management and statistic program operation.
  a. Oversee coverage of all home athletic events and setup of all press box/game management areas.
  b. Oversee live streaming and broadcast of all home athletics events.
  c. Supervise and mentor students for game day operations and office responsibilities.
  d. Provide in-game and post-game information to coaches and media, including statistics, in a timely and effective manner.
  e. Provide statistical support to the Sunshine State Conference and NCAA.
  f. Keep statistical and information files on student-athletes and athletics programs.
  g. Maintain and update department archives; maintain team and individual statistics; maintain and update team and individual records.
  h. Compile statistics and update records (season and career), as necessary.
  i. Coordinate and provide athletics communications at/from contest sites.
• Oversee the creation of compelling content and strategic communications to share the message of the athletics department through innovative methods.
  a. Digital/print publications, including newsletters, press releases, feature stories, etc.
  b. Athletics website
  c. Athletics social media pages
  d. Photography and videography
  e. Department weekly/monthly athlete awards.
  f. Ensure adherence to the Embry-Riddle Athletics brand in all forms of content. (Digital, print, etc.)
• Facilitate positive relationship with various media outlets.
  a. Serve as the department's primary media liaison.
  b. Write press releases and weekly updates; distribute to local, regional, national, and hometown media outlets.
  c. Pitch stories to local, regional, and national media.
  d. Cover out-of-town games and send results to the media.
  e. Facilitate media at home contests, including designating seating/space, internet/phone access as needed and distribution of media credentials. 
  f. Provide the media and opposing teams with rosters, schedules, pre-game stories, game summaries and feature stories on the University’s Athletic Programs, its student-athletes, and coaches in a timely and effective manner.
  g. Facilitate the arrangement of interviews with coaches and student-athletes for media.
  h. Establish and maintain contacts with media and Sunshine State Conference, regional and national athletics communications directors.
  i. Develop media relations plans for the athletics communications department.
  j. Serve as part of the media relations team for any in-season or post-season tournaments hosted by Embry-Riddle.
  k. Maintain photo files of coaches and athletes (mug shots and action shots) for use in brochures and for use by the media.
  l. Coordination, preparation of publicity for any University team advancing to any post-season competition.
  m. Promote student-athletes for post-season academic and athletic awards.
• Collaborate with internal stakeholders and supervise athletics communication team.
  a. Provide training and leadership in media/communication to student-athletes, coaches, and staff.
  b. Answer requests for information and promotional materials from athletic programs in a timely manner.
  c. Work closely with athletics marketing and business development to ensure alignment in go-to-market strategy.
  d. Support the needs of athletics fundraising initiatives and events.
  e. Supervise and lead a team of full time staff, interns, and student-employees.
  f. Create an inclusive team culture that encourages open communication and continuous learning. 
• Other duties as assigned

Required Education: Bachelor's Degree

Required skills, knowledge, abilities: Prior experience in a collegiate athletics communications setting, working knowledge of pertinent software systems, including Adobe Creative Suite, including Photoshop, InDesign, Premiere Pro, Microsoft Office, including Word and Excel, The Automated Scorebook/Statcrew/Presto Stats/NCAA Livestats and content management systems for website maintenance and others.

5-10 years of work experience in Athletics.