Director, Athletic Communications

University Overview

The University of Pennsylvania, the largest private employer in Philadelphia, is a world-renowned leader in education, research, and innovation. This historic, Ivy League school consistently ranks among the top 10 universities in the annual U.S. News & World Report survey. Penn has 12 highly-regarded schools that provide opportunities for undergraduate, graduate and continuing education, all influenced by Penn's distinctive interdisciplinary approach to scholarship and learning.

Job Description Summary

Reporting to the head of External Operations for the Division of Recreation and Intercollegiate Athletics (DRIA), the Director, Athletic Communications leads all communications, multimedia, and digital strategy efforts for the University of Pennsylvania's 33 varsity programs. The Director manages the Athletic Communications team, guiding media relations, social media, statistics, and storytelling in collaboration with coaches and sport administrators.

Job Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary communications lead for assigned varsity sports, overseeing all aspects of media relations, game notes, statistics, and press coverage.
• Lead the Athletic Communications team responsible for public relations, social media, statistics, digital publications, game previews and recaps for all 33 varsity programs.
• Contribute to the Division's overarching communications, content, and brand strategy.
• Serve as the Division's primary web manager, overseeing all content, updates, and quality control for the Penn Athletics website (PennAthletics.com).
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and 2 to 3 years of experience or equivalent combination of education and experience is required; 3 to 5 years experience strongly preferred.
• Experience working in intercollegiate athletics, professional sports, or similarly complex, high-visibility organizations preferred.
• Demonstrated success developing and executing comprehensive communications strategies.
• Experience establishing workflows, ensuring quality control, and driving consistent messaging.
• Demonstrated experience managing digital platforms and content ecosystems.