Graduate Assistant

Position Overview

This is a regular student labor position which serves as Graduate Assistant for the Athletic Administrative Team and proves support to the overall external operations of the athletic department with a strong emphasis on social media, communication, digital media, promotions, and corporate engagement. This role is vital in enhancing the visibility and brand of the athletic programs through innovative content, strategic marketing, and fan engagement efforts. The position reports to the Deputy Director and works closely with the Athletics Communications, Marketing, and Multimedia teams to ensure cohesive messaging across platforms. Applicant should be a highly motivated self-starter, eager to learn, with strong engagement, organizational, and communication skills. This position requires clerical work, including but not limited to data entry, research, organization, and computer proficiency. This position may require moving equipment, working outside on grounds, and/or helping with preventative maintenance and may require heavy, physical and manual labor.

Hours per Week

• Up to 25 hours per week.
• Schedule dependent on season demands.
• Working nights, weekends, and holidays is a possible function of this position.
• Remote work not available.

College/Department Overview

The Athletics Department at the University of Central Oklahoma currently supports over 400 student athletes in 15 NCAA Division II sports including Football, Men's & Women's Basketball, Men's & Women's Golf, Baseball, Softball, Wrestling, Women's Track & Field (Indoor & Outdoor) and Cross Country, Women's Tennis, Women's Soccer, Women's Rowing and Women's Volleyball.

Department Specific Job Functions

Social Media Management

• Develop and execute comprehensive social media strategies for all varsity sports.
• Create engaging content including graphics, videos, and written posts tailored to each platform (Instagram, X/Twitter, Facebook, TikTok).
• Monitor social media trends and analytics to optimize performance and engagement.

Communication & Reports

• Assist in the creation and distribution of press releases, game notes, and recaps for athletic events.
• Coordinate post-game reports and weekly updates for coaches, media outlets, and the conference office.
• Support internal communications with student-athletes, staff, and stakeholders.

Website Management

• Update and maintain the official athletics website with rosters, schedules, results, bios, and feature stories.
• Ensure website content is timely, accurate, and aligned with branding guidelines.
• Collaborate with vendors and IT for backend updates or design improvements.

Multimedia Oversight

• Assist in the coordination of video production for game highlights, athlete spotlights, and promotional content.
• Serve as a liaison with photographers and videographers to curate content for marketing use.
• Help manage digital assets and maintain an organized multimedia archive.

Gameday Promotions & Fan Engagement

• Plan and execute in-game promotions, fan giveaways, and themed nights to boost attendance and atmosphere.
• Collaborate with spirit groups, student organizations, and campus partners for gameday activations.
• Evaluate promotion success and provide recaps for continuous improvement.

External Relationships

• Cultivate relationships with local media, sponsors, alumni, and campus partners.
• Assist in community engagement initiatives and departmental outreach efforts.
• Represent the department at external events and assist in hosting VIP guests.

Corporate Sales & Marketing Strategy

• Support the execution of sponsorship agreements and activation of sponsor deliverables.
• Collaborate with the external team to develop creative marketing campaigns and advertising strategies.

Streaming Platform & MIAA Network

• Oversee or assist in the production of live broadcasts via the MIAA Network and institutional streaming platforms.
• Coordinate with student workers and production staff to ensure high-quality game streams.
• Manage graphics, commentary, and technical aspects of live events.

Enrollment Requirements

Fall/Spring Semesters

All student employees must be enrolled at least half-time to be eligible to work any UCO student position. Half-time enrollment for fall/spring semesters is considered 5 hours for graduates and 6 hours for undergraduates. International students must be enrolled full-time to be eligible to work as a student employee. Full-time enrollment is 9 credit hours for graduates and 12 credit hours for undergraduates.

Summer Semester

Student employees working regular student positions must be enrolled in at least 3 credit hours to be eligible to work during the summer. Students not enrolled in summer classes must be enrolled in fall classes in order to work during the summer, but they (and the department) will be required to pay FICA taxes. Student employees working FWSP positions must be enrolled in a minimum of 6 credit hours (if undergraduate) or 5 credit hours (if graduate) in order to work during the summer in a Federal Work Study Program position.

Enrollment Exception

If the number of credit hours needed to graduate is less than the minimum number of hours required for student employment, the student must obtain a letter from their Academic Advisor (stating the number of hours needed to graduate and anticipated graduation date) and submit it to Human Resources. This pertains to both regular and Federal Work Study Program positions. Contact jobs@uco.edu for more information.

Qualifications/Experience Required

• Bachelor’s degree and admittance into a master’s program at UCO.
• A valid driver’s license is required for this position.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office suite.
• Strong people skills.
• Strong organizational & communication skills.

Physical Demands

Reasonable accommodation, in accordance with ADA requirements, may be made upon request to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.