Assistant Director of Strategic Communications, Athletics

The Assistant Director of Strategic Communications is a primary member of the Strategic Communications Office to serve as a liaison between the Athletics Department and the media, NCAA, Southern Conference, and general public. Serve as the primary media contact for assigned sports (Softball and Volleyball) and secondary contact for other sports as assigned. This position demonstrates a thorough knowledge of applicable NCAA, Southern Conference, University and departmental rules and regulations and abide by such, but not limited to:

• Establish and maintain relationships with appropriate local, state, and national media representatives, publicize all upcoming athletic department events that are relevant to assigned sports and report on the events in a timely manner.
• Maintain up-to-date team and individual statistics for each assigned athletic program. Issue media credentials for assigned sports.
• Seek out, nominate, and promote honors and awards for outstanding student-athletes, coaches, and administrators.
• Work all home events that pertain to assigned sports.
• Travel is expected with women's basketball and may extend to other sports as needed.
• Work home football, men's basketball, and women's basketball, regardless if it is an assigned sport.
• Work in all aspects of the Strategic Communications Office, including desktop publishing and publication design, release writing, website maintenance, historical record keeping, game day statistical help, handling of requests from all media representatives and fans for information on all aspects of the athletics program and communicate with respective student-athletes, coaches, and administrators.
• Serve as a lead content developer on social media projects for the Athletics Department.
• Help promote UTC's brand across all avenues of social media.
• Maintain athletics website and historical data for assigned sports and special projects as assigned.
• Design, write and produce publications and press releases for assigned sports and special projects.
• Administer athletics events.
• Guide social media posts and social content planning for assigned sports and special projects within the athletics department.
• Handle publicity for assigned sports.

The ideal candidate will possess the following:

Excellent computer skills, especially desktop publishing, Statcrew and NCAA Genius; writing in journalistic style; understanding of NCAA regulations; strong communication and interpersonal skills; and strong knowledge of social media best practices and trends.

Review of applications will begin on J une 21, 2021 and continue until the position is filled. Applications received by this date will receive priority consideration.

Minimum qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree in Journalism, Sport Management, Business, Public Relations, Communications; minimum one year of experience in a sports information office, public relations firm, or other related field; work as an undergraduate in an athletics communication’s office is acceptable to fulfill this requirement; and valid driver's license.

Preferred qualifications:

Photoshop, InDesign, Statcrew, Sidearm, NCAA Genius Stats and experience in intercollegiate communications preferred.

The University of Tennessee Chattanooga is an EEO/AA/Title VI/Title IX/Section 504/ADA/ADEA institution. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment and will not be discriminated against on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex, pregnancy, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, physical or mental disability, or protected veteran status.

Qualifications :

Assistant Director of Strategic Communications, Athletics