Senior Associate Athletic Director, Communications, Creative and Engagement Strategies

Job Description Summary

This position is responsible for the strategic direction and leadership of all Athletics communications and creative - including creative video, graphic design, and photography. This includes activities related to publicity, media, digital media, brand management, crisis management, messaging, and public relations. Role also provides oversight of the fan experience, game presentation and campus partnerships unit while collaborating, contributing, and supporting the efforts of broadcast network production, ticket sales, development, digital marketing, and brand management/trademark licensing.

*This position is not eligible for sponsorship of non-immigrant or immigrant visa status through Wake Forest University. All eligible applicants are encouraged to apply.

Job Description

Essential Functions:

• Directs overall Athletics Communications operations for 18 intercollegiate sports and effective strategies for publicizing Wake Forest Athletics.
• Organizes and assigns staff to ensure consistent support for media representatives, athletic staff, and student-athletes. Manage coverage responsibilities for all home and away Olympic sports contest to ensure comprehensive media coverage.
• Primary media contact for all athletics coverage. Establish strong relationships with local, state, national, local print, and broadcast media.
• Provides leadership in digital and social media to ensure increased creative content and coverage of Wake Forest Athletics.
• Serves as primary contact with University leadership to manage all crisis management and acts as the spokesperson for Athletics when necessary.
• Plans, create, and execute strategic communications cascades and messaging for all major news announcements.
• Maintains comprehensive knowledge of upcoming projects, initiatives and potential issues to proactively anticipate and shape public positioning.
• Ensures all communication strategies and execution fit within the broader context of the University-wide communications strategy and plan.
• Informs and prepares the Vice President and Director of Athletics, head coaches, and other key staff for interviews, speaking engagements, and appearances.
• Works in coordination with campus communicators (University Marketing and Communications and University Advancement) to maintain and create consistent messaging.
• Provides strategic and daily leadership for the Athletics creative team, consisting of videography, graphic design, and photography. Offers guidance in capturing and generating content for all 18 athletic programs for use with social media, recruiting, development, and for the in-venue fan experience to drive revenue and enhance The Best Fan Experience in North Carolina.
• Works closely with internal and external departments to execute digital and creative campaigns to generate revenue and communicate Wake Forest’s brand and institutional story.
• Collaborates with media rights holder to ensure successful leveraging of Wake Forest sponsors and partners and develop strategies around student-athlete NIL brand integration strategies.
• Provides leadership and supervision of Fan Experience, Game Presentation and Campus Partnership unit – responsible for all in-game scripting and fan engagement production and student attendance initiatives.
• Creates synergy between athletics communications, creative staff, fan experience, and ticket sales units on content strategy, processes, and protocols to enhance the performance of Wake Forest Athletics social media accounts and branding.
• Assists in developing, presentations, in both digital and print forms for the Vice President and Director of Athletics.
• Coordinates direct messaging to donors, ticket purchasers, and fans regarding upcoming deadlines, changes to schedules, traffic, parking, and other necessary Athletics communications.
• Participates as a member of the production, operations, and external team to assist with communications and marketing initiatives to elevate fundraising, revenue generation, and ticket sales.
• Implements departmental policies and procedures related to public relations, ensuring the highest integrity and appropriate public image of the Athletics program.
• Writes and edits press releases, features, and other publications for local, regional, and national exposure level.
• Coordinates media coverage for away athletic contests, including collaboration with opponents Athletic Communications offices, and arranging staff travel as appropriate.
• Supervises the management of the athletic department’s website and web vendor relationship.
• Serves as the primary media liaison, arranging press conferences and defining procedures for interviewing student-athletes, coaches, and administrators. Arrange interviews when appropriate and convenient for department personnel.
• Coordinates Athletic communications operations for special events (i.e., ACC and, NCAA Tournaments, etc.)
• Arranges photography and video coverage, for department staff teams, and events.
• Assists with management, production, and coverage of Athletics special events including Hall of Fame, Trailblazer Award, Scholarship Brunch, and others as assigned.
• Performs other related duties as assigned.

Required Education, Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

• Bachelor’s degree with at least eight years directly related collegiate or professional sports experience, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Knowledge of ACC and NCAA rules as they pertain to Athletic Communications/sports information.
• Must possess writing, editing, and proofreading skills with experience in preparing press releases.
• Knowledge of journalism, public relations, crisis management and general communications principles and practices; good working knowledge of the Athletic Communications/sports information profession.
• Excellent communication skills (oral and written), including experience working with members of the media.
• Strong interpersonal skills and the ability to work effectively with a wide range of constituencies in a diverse community.
• Ability to use independent judgment and to gather, manage and impart information to the media and various other internal and external audiences.
• Ability to develop and maintain documents using various electronic media.
• Proficiency using various contemporary software tools including graphic design and sport statistic tracking
• General knowledge of budget preparation and fiscal management.
• Valid driver's license with good driving record; must be insurable.
• Ability to travel as required.
• Ability to work evenings and weekends.

Preferred Education, Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

• Previous work as communications lead for an FBS football and/or Power 4 men’s basketball team
• Experience leading marketing, promotions, fan experience, and/or ticket sales planning and execution.