Advertising Summary: The Director of Fan Experience works
closely with all facets of gameday and non-gameday fan event
planning and implementation. Reporting to the Associate AD of
Ticket and Engagement Operations and the Chief Revenue Officer, the
Director's efforts will support all ticketed VCU Division I
intercollegiate athletic programs, with an emphasis on Men’s &
Women’s Basketball, as well as the overall VCU Athletics
brand.
Unit: Athletics MBU
Department: Athletics Office
Department Summary: VCU Athletics’ mission is to win
conference and national championships, provide a first-class
student-athlete experience, serve as a source of pride for the
University and community and cultivate graduates who excel as
leaders.
Duties & Responsibilities:
Positive Overview
The Director of Fan Experience works closely with all facets of
gameday and non-gameday fan event planning and implementation.
Reporting to the Associate AD of Ticket and Engagement Operations
and the Chief Revenue Officer, the Director's efforts will support
all ticketed VCU Division I intercollegiate athletic programs, with
an emphasis on Men’s & Women’s Basketball, as well as the
overall VCU Athletics brand.
Tasks include pre-event planning, theme development, target
audience identification, event preparations, marketing set up and
tear down, game day script writing, in-game production, and
management. Additionally, this role will oversee all operations
involving student section including building traditions, driving
attendance and engagement with student life on campus.
This position will work both cooperatively and independently with
administrators, coaches, and athletics department staff, as well as
other University personnel and student organizations.
Work closely with the VCU Athletics Engagement & Revenue Staff
to strategically communicate fan experience elements and
promotional campaigns to the public through various external
mediums.
All duties and responsibilities will be assigned with the end goal
of increasing attendance at VCU athletic events, representing and
promoting the VCU athletics brand and increasing revenue for the
department.
Communications and marketing professionals will collaborate closely
with VCU Enterprise Marketing and Communications to align content,
storytelling and brand positioning with institutional priorities
and standards.
Core Responsibilities
Game Day Experience
Essential
- Overseeing all game day experience responsibilities of across
all VCU sports, with an emphasis on tickets games especially Men’s
& Women's Basketball;
Creating game themes and identifying associated target
audiences to increase attendance;
Coordinating of band/spirit squad involvement on game day;
Managing of all aspects of game presentation (scripts,
promotions, entertainment, giveaways, music, etc.):
Directing any pre- or post-game fan engagement activities
(block parties, autographs, etc)
Developing and implementing marketing plans, promotional
schedules and ticket sales campaigns as well as all aspects of game
presentation (scripts, promotions, entertainment, etc.);
Non-Game Day Fan Events
Essential
- Develop calendar of events throughout the year to keep fan base
engaged outside of gamedays
- Lead all event operations including planning activations,
staffing, setup & tear down, coordination with outside vendors
and facilities staff
- Identify specific target audience (season ticket holders,
students, families, etc.) and developed tailored events for the
respective segments
Student Engagement
Essential
- Establish effective on-campus marketing efforts aimed at
increasing student attendance;
- Build relationships with key VCU Department of Student Affairs
and student organization leaders on campus
- Develop innovative student specific gameday experiences,
traditions and themes
Department Support
Essential
- Support colleagues across the VCU Athletics Engagement &
Revenue team; with emphasis on integrated communications and
community engagement
Other Duties
Essential
- Other duties as assigned.
Qualifications:
Minimum Qualifications
- Undergraduate degree, preferably in marketing, mass
communications or related field or an equivalent combination of
education and related experience;
- Ability to use MS Office Suite, Adobe Creative Suite, Basecamp
or similar project management software;
- Demonstrated working knowledge of the creative process, graphic
and web design, and production capabilities;
- Experience handling Game Day experiences, with an emphasis on
ticketed games;
- Strong ability to provide effective direction in managing the
flow of work;
- Ability to handle multiple projects and prioritize deadlines in
a fast-paced environment;
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team;
- Knowledge of marketing principles;
- A professional demeanor;
- Resourceful and solution oriented;
- Demonstrated creative ability;
- Project management and organizational skills;
- Strong verbal and written communications skills; and
- Demonstrated experience working in and fostering a diverse
faculty, staff, and student environment or commitment to do so as a
staff member at VCU.
Preferred Qualifications
●Experience working in a marketing office of a professional or
intercollegiate sports program/ franchise;
●Advanced degree;
●Demonstrated experience in a marketing agency or in-house shop,
with traffic coordination preferred; and
●Experience managing social media.
Salary Range: $55,000 - $58,000
Priority Application Deadline: September 29, 2026
Benefits : All full-time university staff are eligible for
VCU’s robust
benefits
package that includes comprehensive health benefits, paid annual
and holiday leave, generous tuition benefits, retirement planning
and savings options, tax-deferred annuity and cash match programs,
employee discounts, well-being resources, abundant opportunities
for career development and advancement, and more.
FLSA Exemption Status: Exempt
Hours per Week: 40+
Restricted Position: No
ORP Eligible: No
Flexible Work Arrangement: Fully Onsite
University Job Title: 13221- 13223
Contact Information:
Contact Name: Catherine
Policastro
Contact Email: capolicastro@vcu.edu