Associate Director of Communications

Paycom - ATS; Lawrence (KS); On-site; USD 55,000 - 60,000; Full time

Job summary

Kansas Athletics is seeking an Associate Communications Director to serve as the primary media relations contact for the 2026 Big 12 Champion Kansas Baseball team and secondary contact for football, overseeing communications and social media strategy.

You will coordinate press conferences, interviews, and game notes, while ensuring timely updates across KUAthletics.com and other platforms; involvement in design, writing, and editing of media guides and records.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Communications, Journalism, or Sports Management preferred.
• Minimum two years of experience in Athletic Media Relations or related field.
• Working knowledge of Facebook, X, TikTok and Instagram.
• Strong creativity in designing and editing content.
• Outstanding organizational and time-management skills.
• Ability to work under deadlines in a fast-paced office.
• Excellent verbal and written communication.
• Willingness to work evenings, weekends, or holidays as needed.

Responsibilities

• Oversee media relations for Kansas Baseball and Rowing and assist Football.
• Coordinate interviews, press conferences, and game day operations.
• Design and maintain Kansas Athletics websites and assets.
• Ensure consistent look and feel across digital platforms.
• Mentor interns and supervise game day staff.
• Maintain confidentiality and comply with FERPA, HIPAA and policies.

Skills

Social media platforms

Creativity

Organizational skills

Communication skills

Storytelling

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Communications/Journalism/Sports Management

Master’s degree in communications, journalism, sport management or related degree

Tools

Genius and Stat Input

Sidearm platform

Adobe Photoshop Illustrator

Job description

Job Details: Job Location: Lawrence, KS 66045, Salary Range: $55,000.00 - $60,000.00 Salary, Job Description

Kansas Athletics Inc.

Position: Associate Communications Director

Unit/Sport: Communications

Reports to: Assistant AD Strategic Communications

Appointment: Full Time

FLSA Status: Exempt

Updated: September 2026

Position Summary

The Associate Communications Director will serve as the primary media relations contact for the 2026 Big 12 Champion Kansas Baseball team, along with being the secondary contact for Kansas Football and providing oversite of Kansas Rowing. This position will coordinate communications efforts and proactively publicize all aspects of their assigned programs, which can include conducting press conferences, weekly media availabilities and interviews and leading the strategic messaging of the program’s social media pages. Duties include ensuring KUAthletics.com and all assigned sports digital and social media platforms are up-to-date in a timely manner to provide information to fans and media. Also included is the designing, writing and editing of record books and media guides, producing press releases and game notes, coordinating interview schedules for coaches and players, keeping and updating statistics and historical records.

Duties and Responsibilities of all Positions at Kansas Athletics

• Adhere to University, Big 12 Conference, Kansas Athletics and NCAA policies and procedures;
• Maintain knowledge of departmental activities, sports schedules and procedures;
• Foster cooperative working relationships with fellow staff members within the department;
• Support the athletics departmental goals and philosophies as described by the Director of Athletics, and works to achieve and uphold the department’s mission statement and core values;
• Maintain a positive attitude toward performing job duties and working with other staff members;
• Exhibit professional decorum at all times while representing Kansas Athletics, including routine events and meetings that occur outside of the office and on the road;
• Maintain the confidentiality of all information obtained while an employee of Kansas Athletics including all private, confidential, or sensitive information and ensuring compliance with FERPA, HIPAA, and other applicable regulations.

Duties and Responsibilities of this Position

• Oversee the communications and publicity plan for Kansas Baseball and Kansas Rowing, while assisting Kansas Football, through traditional media and owned media, i.e. website, social channels, television network, radio, etc.;
• Responsible for day-to-day media operations of Kansas’ Baseball and Rowing teams, including coordinating all player and coach interviews, arranging media conferences, game day operations, statistics, producing press releases and games notes, game day programs, updating the website, and travel with the baseball team;
• Assist in the design maintenance of all Kansas Athletics websites and assist with other electronic assets, by working hand-in-hand with the department’s lead graphic and web designers;
• Responsible for the consistent look, design, and feel for all Kansas Athletics websites through working closely with the department’s lead web designer, other communications employees and the web hosting company;
• Proactively pitch and promote storytelling within the sports assigned and assist in the overall publicity efforts for Kansas’ 16 sports;
• Supports the department with highly visible and effective social media presence;
• Work closely with web hosting company; Jayhawk Sports Marketing; Jayhawk TV and Radio Networks; and Rock Chalk Video to ensure full integration and interactivity with all digital platforms;
• Mentor and oversee the day-to-day task management of a group of student interns and/or game day workers;
• Follow established policies and procedures. Handle unusual or non-standard situations by interpreting these guidelines and adapting creative solutions;
• Handle confidential information and sensitive situations with the upmost professionalism and within the policies and procedures of Kansas Athletics, the Big 12 Conference, NCAA and State of Kansas;
• Other duties as assigned by the Director of Athletics or their designee.

Work Environment

This job operates in a professional office. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as laptop computers and various digital devices, including, but not limited to: cell phone, printer, copy machine, and other related devices. This job requires flexibility and adaptability in schedule and the ability to perform job related duties on short notice.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to speak and hear. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and ability to adjust focus. This position may require frequent bending, moving, lifting, and carrying material weighing up to 25 pounds; standing up to eight hours each day; and working in all weather conditions.

Travel

Moderate travel is expected for this position, with increased frequency during sport competition season and post-season competitions and success.

Hours of Work

This is a full-time position. Days and hours of work will vary based on the needs of the position. Early morning, evening and weekend work maybe required.

Other Duties

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities and activities may change at any time with or without notice.

Qualifications: Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university, degree in Communications, Journalism, or Sports Management is preferred;
• Minimum two years of experience in the Athletic Media Relations or related field;
• Working knowledge of the following social media platforms: Facebook, X, TikTok and Instagram;
• Strong level of creativity in designing and editing content - the demonstrated ability to take it from idea to execution;
• A working knowledge of the Genius and Stat Input statistical software;
• Outstanding organizational skills and attention to detail;
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively under multiple, strict deadlines in a fast-paced office environment with the capacity to adapt quickly to major and minor changes in projects and outcomes;
• Ability to work well both independently and in collaboration with staff as a team member;
• Outstanding verbal and written communication skills;
• Demonstrated problem-solving skills and solutions focused approach to challenges and improvements;
• Ability and willingness to work occasional evenings, weekends, or holidays as needed during peak game and recruiting seasons;
• Ability to tell stories through a variety of media across multiple platforms.

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree in communications, journalism, sport management or related degree;
• Website design and working knowledge of Sidearm platform;
• Working knowledge of Adobe, Photoshop and Illustrator;
• Knowledge of the Freedom of Information Act.