Senior Associate Athletics Director for Strategic Communications

University of Houston System; Town of Texas, Houston (WI, TX); On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading university seeks a dynamic individual to oversee its Athletics Department's communication and media relations. The role involves strategic planning, media engagement, and content creation to enhance the visibility of athletic programs. Candidates must possess a strong background in communication and media relations, with a minimum of five years of relevant experience. Join a team dedicated to promoting excellence in athletics and representing the university positively.

Qualifications

• Minimum of five years of directly job-related experience.
• Thorough understanding of theoretical and practical aspects of the discipline.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute communication and media relations plans.
• Manage and supervise Athletic Communications and Media Relations unit.
• Create and execute engaging stories across multimedia platforms.

Skills

Communication

Media Relations

Crisis Management

Education

4-year degree

Job description

Department

Athletics

Salary

Commensurate with Experience/Education

Description

Responsibilities include the planning, management, oversight, and execution of the sports information, media & public relations, and communication areas of the Department of Athletics, along with other duties as assigned.

1. Develop, manage, and execute department-wide communication and media relations plans that align with the core mission, goals, and objectives of the Athletics Department.
2. Develop and maintain strong relationships with external media contacts at local, regional, and national levels; identify opportunities to increase visibility, branding, and exposure of the Athletics program.
3. Manage and supervise the activities of the Athletic Communications and Media Relations unit.
4. Direct all media and communication strategies, plans, and activities for the Athletics Communication Department, including UH Football and other programs, covering websites, social media, email, and other external platforms.
5. Create original content to promote UH administrators, teams, coaches, and student-athletes.
6. Collaborate with internal units and external stakeholders to create and implement social media strategies and plans, and to manage sport program requirements.
7. Coordinate with the Content Solutions Team to produce compelling digital content to enhance visibility and branding.
8. Work with multimedia rights partners on initiatives such as radio shows, TV shows, print publications, and digital partnerships.
9. Create and execute engaging stories across multimedia and communication platforms to promote Athletics news and announcements.
10. Manage crisis communication plans in coordination with the Vice President of Athletics and the University's Crisis Response Group.
11. Maintain digital archives and statistical files for the department and sports programs.
12. Serve as a spokesperson and ambassador for the Athletics Department and the University of Houston, representing the department positively in all settings.
13. Perform other duties as assigned.

Minimum Qualifications

Education: A thorough understanding of theoretical and practical aspects of an analytical, technical, or professional discipline, typically obtained through a 4-year degree or equivalent specialized training directly related to the work.

Experience: A minimum of five (5) years of directly job-related experience.

Additional Information

• The department accepts education or experience in lieu of each other.
• All positions require a criminal history check.
• The University of Houston System is an Equal Opportunity Institution.