Assistant Athletic Director, Digital Ecosystems for Intercollegiate Athletics

Assistant Athletic Director, Digital Ecosystems for Intercollegiate Athletics (6566U) 85493

About Berkeley

At the University of California, Berkeley, we are dedicated to fostering a community where everyone feels welcome and can thrive. Our culture of openness, freedom and belonging make it a special place for students, faculty and staff.

As a world-leading institution, Berkeley is known for its academic and research excellence, public mission, diverse student body, and commitment to equity and social justice. Since our founding in 1868, we have driven innovation, creating global intellectual, economic and social value.

Departmental Overview

The Department of Intercollegiate Athletics consists of more than 275 staff members and coaches and sponsors 30 varsity sports programs. These 30 programs include more than 850 student-athletes who participate in the various sports programs annually within the National Collegiate Athletics Association.

Application Review Date

The First Review Date for this job is: April 24, 2026

Responsibilities

This position provides the overarching strategic vision and leadership for Cal Athletics' digital brand revenue generation. You are responsible for aligning digital innovation with department-wide goals, ensuring that data-driven storytelling effectively translates into increased ticket sales, philanthropic donations, and a premier national reputation. By bridging the gap between high-level institutional objectives and digital execution, this leader ensures the department remains a frontrunner in the evolving collegiate sports landscape.

At the core of this position is integrating the "digital fan and athlete journey" into the broader commercial and competitive strategy. You will oversee the health and growth of the entire digital ecosystem, including web, mobile, social, and AI initiatives, to attract elite recruits and premier corporate partners. You serve as the primary architect for internal collaboration, breaking down silos between marketing, communications, development, and athletic teams to create a unified, high-impact brand voice across all platforms.

Team Management & Talent Development:

• Supervise the Digital Ecosystem team and manage the recruitment, training, and performance of a large workforce of student interns and freelancers.
• Develop and implement a comprehensive "Digital Ecosystem Program" to mentor staff and student staff, ensuring they execute professional-level storytelling that meets brand standards.

Strategic Vision & Brand Alignment:

• Define the long-term roadmap for Cal's digital ecosystem and brand identity, ensuring all storytelling and platform integrations align with the Cal's mission and national competitive goals.

Revenue Generation & Growth Strategy:

• Direct the high-level strategy for maximizing ROI across ticketing, development (donations), and corporate sponsorships, using data-driven insights to hit departmental financial targets.

External Leadership & Internal Integration:

• Lead the seamless collaboration between internal teams to break down departmental silos and ensure a unified "digital fan/athlete journey" across numerous sports

External Partnerships & Reputational Management:

• Manage executive-level relationships with premier brands, digital vendors, and key influencer networks to expand Cal's national footprint, attract elite student-athlete recruits, and generate revenue.

Innovation & Emerging Technology:

• Guide the department's adoption of future technologies, including AI integration and advanced data analytics, to maintain a cutting-edge advantage in the collegiate landscape.

Budget:

Plan and lead the overall digital ecosystem budget

Required Qualifications

• Deep understanding of how to align digital narratives with institutional goals for revenue, student-athlete recruitment, and national reputation.
• Strong background in managing staff members in a team environment, promoting an established vision, direction, and goals.
• Mastery of how websites, mobile apps, social media, and emerging technologies (like AI) integrate to create a seamless "fan journey".
• Knowledge of modern sports business models, including digital advertising, corporate sponsorship activation, ticket sales funnels, and donor stewardship.
• Expertise in leveraging CRM systems, marketing automation, and data visualization to drive executive-level decision-making.
• The ability to articulate a compelling vision for the future of the brand and inspire cross-functional teams to achieve high-impact goals.
• Exceptional verbal and written skills for presenting strategy to University leadership, donors, and major partners.
• Proficiency in budget preparation, financial forecasting, and managing complex resource allocations across the team.
• High emotional intelligence and political acumen are needed to build consensus among internal stakeholders and external influencers.
• Skilled at identifying, recruiting, and mentoring high-performing professionals and student workforces to scale departmental support.
• The ability to pivot strategy quickly in response to shifting industry trends or sensitive public relations scenarios.
• Ability to multitask effectively; demonstrates sound judgment and decision-making; is an effective problem solver and effectively communicates verbally and in writing.
• Functional knowledge of the intercollegiate athletics function.
• Must maintain current knowledge of applicable rules and standards of the affiliated athletic conference, the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) or National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA), as well as other associations and agencies to which the campus adheres, and, at all times avoid any and all violations of these rules and standards.
• Intermediate computer application skills in programs relevant to job duties
• Strong personnel and fiscal management skills required.
• Bachelor's degree in related area and / or equivalent experience / training