Director, Athletic Digital Strategy

Position Title:

Director, Athletic Digital Strategy

Position Type:

Regular

Hiring Range:

$69,600 - $81,850 annually (commensurate with experience)

Pay Frequency:

Annual

A. POSITION PURPOSE

The Director of Digital Strategy is responsible for the oversight and overall implementation strategy for all of Santa Clara Athletics' social media accounts to enhance the Santa Clara brand. This position will regularly keep track of social media performance metrics to analyze and develop engaging content with an effort to maximize engagement, increase traffic, and drive revenue across all digital platforms. The position will serve as the point of contact with the Office of Marketing and Communication.

B. ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES

1.Program Direction and Development

• Develop, direct, and implement the digital programming for the athletic department while constantly evaluating and enhancing our product

• Lead the creation of engaging, next-level social media content in collaboration with department external staff.

• Manage and fulfill requests for visual content for ease of distribution and usage department-wide

• Direct supervision of on-call employees and independent contractors that provide digital brand content for intercollegiate athletic programs in the areas of digital media.
  2.Direct and Supervise Digital Strategy

• Direct the strategic digital branding and lead the development of creative concepts and deliverables that advance the mission of the athletic department and programs

• Lead and create an array of deliverables across digital platforms that support the overall communications strategy and visual identity of the Department

• Design, construction, and delivery of creative elements to support the digital needs of the development, marketing, and communications teams through design, construction, and delivery.

• Create and distribute a strategic planning calendar for digital strategy according to dates identified as significant for Santa Clara Athletics

• Collaborate with fellow external directors to create a unique and well-organized plan for the department's 20 athletic programs' social media channels.

• Regularly track social media performance metrics to evaluate and maintain innovative strategies.

• Collaborate with University marketing and communications staff to enhance and ensure alignment and consistency of digital campus-wide messaging

• Supervise and direct student workers by providing feedback and managing workloads

• Collaborate with clients to gain a strong understanding of digital goals and objectives

• Create and initiate ideas to best promote stories and performances of Santa Clara teams, student-athletes and coaches.
  3.Oversee Main Digital Media Channels

• Serve as the lead content producer and executor for the main athletics' social media accounts.

• Develop a plan to ensure that all of Santa Clara's athletic programs are regularly represented on the main accounts.

• Create a unique "voice" for social media captions.
  4.Create Engaging Social Media Content

• Collaborate with graphic design and creative services teams to help create graphic and/or video content.

• Research and develop current trends in both the sports and entertainment industries to ensure that Santa Clara Athletics is posting relevant content.
  5.Oversee Social Media Intern Team

• Recruit, oversee and develop a team of student workers who will assist with day to day and event social media coverage.

• Maintain a set schedule to ensure social media coverage at all home athletic events.
  6.Direct Communication Efforts for Assigned Sports

• Independently, develop and manage a media relations strategy for assigned sports.

• Develop and create content for our website and social media accounts, write previews/features, compile stats and video clip content.

• Provide and coordinate home event coverage and management functions including but not limited to: oversight of game statistics, home and visiting media.

• Inform local media and national wire services of results of all home and road contests for assigned sports.

• Create and initiate feature story ideas about university athletes, teams, and coaches to local, regional and national media.

C. GENERAL GUIDELINES

• Recommends initiatives and implements changes to improve quality and services.

• Identifies and determines the cause of problems; develops and presents recommendations for improvement of established processes and practices. Maintains contact with customers and solicits feedback for improved services. Maximizes productivity through the use of appropriate tools; planned training and performance initiatives.

• Researches and develops resources that create a timely and efficient workflow.

• Prepares progress reports; informs supervisor of project status; and deviation from goals. Ensures completeness, accuracy, and timeliness of all operational functions.

• Prepares and submits reports as requested and required.

• Develops and implements guidelines to support the functions of the unit.

D. QUALIFICATIONS

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The items below are representative of the knowledge, skills, abilities, education, and experience required or preferred.

This position requires the ability to effectively establish and maintain cooperative working relationships within a diverse multicultural environment.

1.Knowledge

• High-level proficiency in the use of Adobe Creative Suite including InDesign, Illustrator, and Photoshop.

• Experience with ScoreShots, Acrobat, Google Drive (Doc, Sheets, Slides), and Microsoft Office Suite including Word, PowerPoint, Excel.

• Photo editing to include adjusting, retouching, resizing, etc. (Photoshop, Lightroom, or equivalent).

• Typography and broad knowledge of typographic systems and application.

• Knowledge of Copyright and Accessibility standards.

• Knowledge of traditional and digital printing processes, color theory and practice, and composition.

• Professional work experience in graphic design for a collegiate or professional sports organization.

• Understanding and commitment to the University's vision for intercollegiate athletics.
  2.Skills

• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to relate to a wide range of athletic program constituencies.

• Superb organizational and project-management skills.

• Demonstrated excellence in written and verbal communication skills.

• Demonstrated attention to detail and the ability to organize and meet deadlines while balancing external staff needs, Athletic Department priorities, resources, and budget constraints.

• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple projects while working under pressure in a deadline-driven environment.
  3.Abilities

• Ability and willingness to work evenings and weekends on a regular basis.

• Ability to work in a fast-paced, frequently changing environment with strong attention to detail and a talent for conceptualizing solutions.

• Team-oriented individual with a willingness to take initiative and be flexible.

• Ability to take initiative and execute creative marketing strategies as part of Division I external team.

• Ability to handle constructive criticism and accept input from multiple staff members and coaches and translate the feedback into cohesive, strategic design work.

• Ability to work efficiently and effectively both independently and as part of a team.
  4.Education

• Bachelor's degree in communication or a related field required or equivalent combination of education and/or experience.
  5.Years of Experience

• 5+ years of related experience in communication is required.

E. PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described below are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, as amended, the California Fair Employment & Housing Act, and all other applicable laws, SCU provides reasonable accommodations for qualified persons with disabilities. A qualified individual is a person who meets skill, experience, education, or other requirements of the position, and who can perform the essential functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodation.

• Considerable time is spent at a desk using a computer terminal.

• May be required to travel to other buildings on the campus.

• May be required to attend conference and training sessions within Bay Area or in-and-out-of-state locations.

• May be required to occasionally travel to outside customers, vendors, or suppliers.

F. WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described below are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.

• Typical office environment.

• Mostly indoor office environment with windows.

• Offices with frequent interruptions

EEO Statement

Equal Opportunity/Notice of Nondiscrimination

Santa Clara University is an equal opportunity/equal access/affirmative action employer fully committed to achieving a diverse workforce and complies with all Federal and California State laws, regulations, and executive orders regarding non-discrimination and affirmative action. Applications from members of historically underrepresented groups are especially encouraged. For a complete copy of Santa Clara University's equal opportunity and nondiscrimination policies, see https://www.scu.edu/title-ix/policies-reports/

COVID-19 Statement

The health and safety of the University community is a top priority. The University strongly recommends that all employees are fully vaccinated for COVID-19 as the vaccination and boosters are safe, effective tools that significantly minimize the chances of serious illness and hospitalization. Please contact Human Resources if you have any questions.

Telecommute

Santa Clara University is registered to do business in the following states: California, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, and Illinois. Employees approved to telecommute are required to perform their work within one of these states.

Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972

Santa Clara University does not discriminate in its employment practices or in its educational programs or activities on the basis of sex/gender, and prohibits retaliation against any person opposing discrimination or participating in any discrimination investigation or complaint process internally or externally. Information about Title IX can be found at www.scu.edu/title-ix. Information about Section 504 and the ADA Coordinator can be found at https://www.scu.edu/oae/, (408) 554-4109, oae@scu.edu. Inquiries can also be made to the Assistant Secretary of Education within the Office for Civil Rights (OCR).

Clery Notice of Availability

Santa Clara University annually collects information about campus crimes and other reportable incidents in accordance with the federal Jeanne Clery Disclosure of Campus Security Policy and Campus Crime Statistics Act. To view the Santa Clara University report, please go to the Campus Safety Services website . To request a paper copy please call Campus Safety at (408) 554-4441. The report includes the type of crime, venue, and number of occurrences.

Americans with Disabilities Act

Santa Clara University affirms its commitment to employ qualified individuals with disabilities within the workplace and to comply with the Americans with Disability Act. All applicants desiring an accommodation should contact the Department of Human Resources, and 408-554-5750 and request to speak to Indu Ahluwalia by phone at 408-554-5750 or by email at iahluwalia@scu.edu.