Assistant Director of Athletic Communications
Northern Arizona University
Special Information
• This position is an on-site position which requires the incumbent to complete their work primarily at an NAU site, campus, or facility with or without accommodation. Opportunities for remote work are rare.
• This position is posted as Assistant Director of Athletic Communications, which is a working title. The NAU system title for this position is Public Relations Analyst, Senior.
About the Department/College
The Northern Arizona University Department of Intercollegiate Athletics sponsors 15 men's and women's NCAA Division-I programs with more than 350 student-athlete participants. The university is a member of the Big Sky Conference for all sports with the exception of women's swimming and diving, which competes in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation (MPSF).
About the Position
The Northern Arizona University Athletic Department is searching for an enthusiastic, creative, and driven candidate for the role of Assistant/Director for Athletics Communications. This individual will assist the Associate Athletic Director for Communications in the day-to-day coverage of Northern Arizona University's 15 intercollegiate athletic programs in addition to serving as the primary contact for assigned sports and other duties as assigned to elevate the department's mission and goals.
Responsibilities Include
35% - Sport Specific Content, Communications, and Media Relations Efforts
• Oversee all athletic communications efforts for assigned sports programs to positively promote and elevate the Northern Arizona Lumberjacks brand.
• Maintain historical records, statistics and archives for assigned sports programs.
• Design and produce all publications including media guides, press releases, feature articles, game notes and game programs for assigned sports programs to enhance engagement.
• Conduct interviews and facilitate communication opportunities as needed to enhance media coverage.
• Oversee postgame and press conferences for assigned sports programs, ensuring effective information delivery to the media.
• Provide guidance and direction to coaches, staff, and student-athletes on departmental policies and public relations strategies.
35% - Social Media Management and Website Creative Content Production
• Oversee all social media content and assist in the creation of content, including graphics and video, for assigned sports programs with an emphasis on creative storytelling and brand consistency.
• Collaborate with Fan Engagement and Digital Production teams to generate engaging content for social media platforms in addition to working alongside revenue generating areas of the External Department, such as Development, Ticket Office, and Lumberjack Sports Properties (LEARFIELD) to help meet and exceed individual unit's revenue goals.
• Assist in creation of additional content to be featured on department's website, nauathletics.com, as well as day-to-day backend management of website.
15% - Management
• Assist in the oversight of staff including graduate assistants and student interns.
• Manage game operations for assigned sports programs and assist in game operations for other sports as needed.
10% - Travel
• Travel with assigned sports programs as required.
5% - Other
• Other duties as assigned to continue to elevate the department's mission and goals.
Minimum Qualifications
• Associate's degree in communications, marketing, or related field.
• 3 years of relevant experience.
*A combination of related education, experience, and training may be used as an equivalent to the above Minimum Qualifications.
Preferred Qualifications
• Bachelor's degree, preferably in journalism, communications, public relations or related field of study.
• 1-2 years of demonstrated experience working within an intercollegiate athletic department.
• Experience with NCAA LiveStats and/or Statcrew software.
• Experience in writing, editing and designing of publications including media guides and game notes.
• Experience in AP style writing.
• Proficiency in Adobe Suite (InDesign, Photoshop, Premiere, etc.).
Knowledge, Skills, & Abilities
Knowledge
• Advanced knowledge of routine public relations tools, policies, and concepts, including internal and external communication methods.
• Knowledge of media engagement strategies and processes.
• Experience working within NCAA Division I athletics.
• Knowledge of computers for design of publications, web site updates and in-game statistics.
• Knowledge of social media platforms including Facebook, X and Instagram.
• Knowledge of NCAA rules and compliance issues.
Skills
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint).
• Skill in preparing reports and summaries.
• Public speaking skills.
• Customer service skills.
• Effective communication skills.
Abilities
• Balances competing priorities.
• Demonstrates strong problem solving, organizational, and analytical capabilities.
• Analyzes complex situations and anticipates issues.
• Communicates effectively.
• Ability to work nights and weekends.
• Ability to work nontraditional hours and manage multiple projects at one time.
• Ability to work collaboratively, think creatively and complete tasks on deadline.
Compensation
Salary range begins at $51,085. Annual salary commensurate with candidate's qualifications and related experience.
Pre-Employment Check
Northern Arizona University requires satisfactory results for the following: a criminal background investigation, an employment history verification and a degree verification (in some cases) prior to employment. You may also be required to complete a fingerprint background check. Also, as an employer in the state of Arizona, NAU is required to participate in the federal E-Verify program that assists employers with verifying new employees' right to work in the United States.
This position has been identified as a safety/security sensitive position. Therefore, per AZ Revised Statute, Northern Arizona University requires satisfactory results for the following: a criminal background investigation, employment history investigation, degree verification (in some cases) and fingerprinting. If you are applying for a job that requires a CDL, you will be required to register with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration Drug & Alcohol Clearinghouse and adhere to the clearinghouse requirements.
Notice of Availability of the Annual Fire and Security Report
Each year Northern Arizona University releases an https://in.nau.edu/police-department/annual-security-and-fire-safety-reports/. The report is a result of a federal law known as the Clery Act. The report includes Clery reportable crime statistics for the three most recent completed calendar years and discloses procedures, practices and programs NAU uses to keep students and employees safe including how to report crimes or other emergencies occurring on campus. In addition, the https://in.nau.edu/police-department/annual-security-and-fire-safety-reports/ is combined with the Annual Security Report for the NAU Flagstaff Mountain Campus as this campus has on-campus student housing. This report discloses fire safety policies and procedures related to on-campus student housing and statistics for fires that occurred in those facilities. If you would like a free paper copy of the report, please contact the NAUPD Records Department at (928) 523-8884 or by visiting the department at 525 E. Pine Knoll Drive in Flagstaff.
Immigration Support/Sponsorship
NAU will not provide any U.S. immigration support or sponsorship for this position.
To apply, please visit: https://apptrkr.com/6324350
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