Assistant Athletics Director For Strategic Communication

Gardner-Webb is seeking an Assistant Athletic Director for Strategic Communications. This person will be trusted to develop athletic communication strategies to promote student-athletes, teams, and overall programs via a diverse number of traditional and digital platforms.

Responsibilities:

• Works with campus and conference staff to achieve departmental objectives for the Athletic Communications department.

• Serves as the main point of contact for all athletics media, and manage the press area at home athletic events and ensure proper staffing for all game day responsibilities.

• Oversees the publicity and promotion of the Athletics department, including press releases, publications, statistical information, and the maintenance of the Athletics website.

• Leads a team to help produce compelling stories of GWU's athletics programs and consistently evolve to changing trends, themes and opportunities to bring awareness and recognition to student-athletes and the broader University.

• Anticipate meaningful story lines and opportunities to build the brand of Runnin' Bulldog Athletics.

• Lead and supervise the athletics communications staff of 2 full-time employees, graduate assistants, and student assistants.

• Implement social & digital media strategy.

• Oversees audio and video broadcasts and manages social media channels (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, etc).

• Serve as media liaison between Athletic programs and local media as well as the Big South Conference and NCAA.

• Develop community interest stories.

• Manage the content calendar and establish a calendar outlining the necessary annual updates/tasks to accomplish.

• Ensure all external communication, including www.GWUSports.com, is accurate and up-to-date including rosters, bios, schedules, game notes, statistical information, news, archives, photography, graphics, etc. Provide support for broadcasts (radio, television & streaming) and assist on-air talent with updated statistics and storylines.

• Serve as the primary media contact for the athletic department, schedule and coordinate interviews, and build relationships to solicit event coverage and feature stories.

• Build relationships with coaches and staff to become relied upon as the authority on public communication best practices, serve as the primary internal communication lead.

• Facilitate day-to-day operations and project management within the athletics communications office (game notes, award nominations, updating www.GWUSports.com, communication with opposing teams, responding to all information/media requests).

• Facilitate communication roles for special events such as conference, regional, and national tournaments.

• Assists marketing and development staff in producing promotional print and web materials. Assist coaches and director with regional and national rankings.

Qualifications:

• Master's degree in an appropriate area of specialization and two years of appropriate experience: or a bachelor's degree in an appropriate area of specialization and four years of appropriate experience.

• Able to interpret plans and execute work within general guidelines to achieve departmental objectives for the Athletic Communications department.

• Able to manage routine operations for the Athletic Communications Department.

• Strong communication, organization, writing, editing, and design skills.

• Experience working with NCAA statistic programs. Working experience in the sports information/athletics communication field.

• Must have valid driver's license.

• Strong writing ability.

• Advanced graphic design skills. Play-by-play broadcast experience. Public address announcing experience.

• Advanced knowledge of video streaming options, including knowledge of video cameras.

• Experience managing a staff of undergraduate students. Experience covering varsity sports sponsored by a University.

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Candidates should complete the application and include a letter of interest, résumé, and names and contact information for at least three professional references with their submission.

Gardner-Webb University (gardner-webb.edu) is a coeducational, residential, private, historically Baptist, Christian institution, located in Boiling Springs, North Carolina with easy access to Charlotte, Asheville, and Greenville-Spartanburg. The University offers 80+ undergraduate and graduate degree programs to approximately 3,000 students. GWU is a Carnegie-classified Doctoral/Professional University. In 2023, Gardner-Webb was home to students from 93 counties in North Carolina, 44 US states, and 43 foreign countries. GWU is a NCAA Division I institution with 22 athletic teams and 460 student-athletes.