Director of Athletics Communication

Job Description:

The Director of Athletics Communication is responsible for the creation and distribution of all communications related to university athletics across multiple platforms, including maintenance and oversight of the Generals Sports athletics website and social media accounts, oversight and management of game day staffing, and sports broadcasting. Reporting to the executive director of communications and public affairs, and with dotted line reporting to the athletic director, the director of athletics communication serves as a liaison between the Athletics Department and the Office of Communications and Public Affairs, and manages a full-time staff of three: an assistant director, associate director, and broadcaster and multimedia specialist, as well as part-time game day and student workers.

Washington and Lee University actively promotes a dynamic and inclusive environment that allows students and employees of multiple backgrounds, cultures, and perspectives to learn, work, and thrive together. Successful candidates will contribute to that environment and exhibit potential for excellence in their areas of expertise.

Essential Functions

• Functions as a public and media relations liaison between the media, conference affiliates, the NCAA and Washington and Lee’s department of athletics.
  
  
• Serves as the university’s media relations representative for all matters involving the Athletics Department, responsible for providing leadership of the athletics communication team.
  
  
• Directly supervises full-time assistant director of athletics communications, associate director of athletics communications, and broadcaster/multimedia specialist
  
  
• Hires and supervises part-time game day and student workers
  
  
• Responsible for maintaining records and statistics, producing printed materials and programs, writing press releases and game stories, nominating for various awards, scheduling photography, and handling general media and public information requests.
  
  
• Provides game day operations and staffing for all intercollegiate athletic events on W&L’s campus, including statistics, scoreboards, scorekeepers, music, and public address.
  
  
• Provides oversight, management and maintenance of athletics website and social media accounts, and assists with team social media efforts; member of university-wide social media managers group.
  
  
• Responsible for scheduling and overseeing live video broadcasts of athletic events that originate from W&L’s campus, including providing any filming and video production services associated with the live feed.
  
  
• Films, edits, and produces any athletics-related multimedia projects.
  
  
• Works in conjunction with the department of athletics to produce and provide multimedia and written content for the annual Athletic Hall of Fame ceremony and Athletic Awards Ceremony.
  
  
• Serves as a chair on the athletics promotions committee, responsible for generating a grassroots effort to increase attendance at athletic events on campus via promotional activities and events.
  
  
• Serves on the Athletics Hall of Fame Committee.
  
  
• Additional related duties as assigned.
  
  

Work Schedule: M-F 9am-5pm with frequent nights and weekends.

Minimum Qualifications

Bachelor’s degree is required. Minimum of four years’ experience in intercollegiate sports information, media relations, public relations, or related field. Position requires proven leadership experience as well as excellent communications and public relations skills. Must demonstrate excellent organizational skills and the ability to meet and work with deadlines. Excellent writing and editing skills required. Media relations, website and social media management experience required. Experience with desktop publishing (Adobe InDesign), photo (Adobe Photoshop) and video (Premier Pro and Final Cut Pro) editing, and various statistical systems (Stat Crew, Prestosports, NCAA Live Stats) preferred.

Application Instructions:

Review of applications will begin immediately and continue until the position is filled. Resume and cover letter are required. Upload both required documents to the Resume/CV upload section of the application. You will be asked to provide names and contact information for three professional references.

External Applicants: Application instructions for external applicants are located on the jobs.wlu.edu or here .

Current W&L Employees: Apply from your existing Workday account. Instructions are located at jobs.wlu.edu or here .

Physical Requirements:

• Fingering: Picking, pinching, typing or otherwise working, primarily with fingers rather than with whole hand or arm as in handling.
  
  
• Grasping: Applying pressure to an object with the fingers and palm.
  
  
• Repetitive motions: Making substantial movements (motions) of the wrists, hands, and/or fingers.
  
  
• Walking: Moving about on foot to accomplish tasks, particularly for long distances or moving from one work site to another.
  
  
• Standing: Remaining upright on the feet, particularly for sustained periods of time.
  
  

Working Conditions

• The worker is subject to both environmental conditions: Activities occur inside and outside.
  
  
• The worker is subject to extreme cold: Temperatures typically below 32 degrees for periods of more than one hour. Consideration should be given to the effect of other environmental conditions such as wind and humidity.
  
  
• The worker is subject to extreme heat: Temperatures above 100 degrees for periods of more than one hour. Consideration should be given to the effect of other environmental conditions such as wind and humidity.
  
  
• The worker is subject to noise: There is sufficient noise to cause the worker to shout in order to be heard above the ambient noise level.
  
  

Types of Work: Light work: Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. If the use of arm and/or leg controls requires exertion of forces greater than that for Sedentary Work and the worker sits most of the time, the job is rated for Light Work.

Position Type:

Exempt, Full Time, Benefit Eligible

Minimum Pay:

$57,887.00 - Pay Commensurate with Experience

The university requires employees to become fully vaccinated for COVID-19 and new employees must provide proof of at least their first shot prior to the first day of employment. Boosters are required. Individuals may seek a medical or a religious exemption to the vaccination requirement.