Assistant Athletics Director, Social Media & Creative Content

National Collegiate Athletic Association - Nashville, TN

Full-time - Mid Level

Nashville, TN

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About the position

The Assistant Athletics Director, Social Media and Creative Content is a pivotal role within the Vanderbilt Athletic Communications team, part of the Communications and Marketing division at Vanderbilt University. This position is responsible for leading the social media strategy for Vanderbilt men's basketball and overseeing the department's digital communication efforts. The role aligns with institutional-level strategies and tactics for Vanderbilt's distinctive athletics program, contributing to the university's overall strategic communications plan. As a member of the Communications and Marketing division, the Assistant Athletics Director collaborates with various departmental units to plan, edit, and strategically narrate the Athletic Department's best stories, promoting and protecting the Vanderbilt Athletics brand at local, regional, national, and international levels. The stories produced encompass multiple media formats, including videos, graphics, motion graphics, animations, written stories, photographs, media releases, and media pitches, disseminated across various channels such as social media, websites, apps, in-game, and external media. Reporting directly to the Assistant Vice Chancellor for Athletics Communications and Senior Associate Athletic Director, this position carries supervisory responsibilities, overseeing a team of 5+ staff members, including social media specialists, content creators (photographers/videographers), and a visual media manager. The Assistant Athletics Director is tasked with creating and distributing engaging social media content and providing creative direction while tracking issues and monitoring results. This role requires in-person attendance on the Vanderbilt University campus and travel for away games and special events. The Athletic Communications team is dedicated to designing and executing integrated communications strategies that enhance Vanderbilt's reputation as a leading academic research institution and a competitive Division I collegiate athletics program. The Communications and Marketing team is a dynamic and collaborative group, serving as the institution-wide center of excellence for communications and marketing, developing strategies that inform, engage, and inspire participation in Vanderbilt University's global academic and research mission.

Responsibilities

• Execute the team's digital content strategy, including day-to-day management of the social media strategy for Vanderbilt Men's Basketball and the Athletics' social media platforms.
• Manage a team of social media specialists, content creators, and a visual media manager, setting and monitoring goals and performance.
• Track the team budget, including freelance expenses, advertising, and subscriptions.
• Implement a culture of professional excellence and support colleagues in achieving their goals.
• Lead by example, ensuring team members have the necessary tools and resources to succeed.
• Design and execute communications priorities while collaborating across the Athletic Communications team and the broader Communications and Marketing division.
• Set the strategy for creating engaging content across all Vanderbilt Athletics flagship social media accounts.
• Collaborate with the university social media team for content coordination and cross-promotion.
• Manage relationships with outside partners for integrated marketing campaigns.
• Coordinate 24/7 social media monitoring and responses, including some nights and weekends.
• Track issues and risks via social media monitoring tools, handling sensitive issues with discretion.
• Stay updated on emerging social media trends and recommend strategy adjustments to leadership.
• Analyze data using social media measuring tools and oversee the delivery of reports and metrics.
• Provide social media training on its role in the larger communications plan.
• Encourage staff to innovate in content creation and track trends.
• Demonstrate excellence in news judgment and written communication skills.
• Communicate effectively with a wide range of audiences, including faculty, students, and fans.
• Manage multiple complex projects with quick turnaround requirements, maintaining organization and attention to detail.
• Demonstrate comfort with social media platforms, project management tools, and editing software.
• Ensure communications strategies align with the university's mission and values.
• Work outside normal business hours as needed and travel for team and department events.

Requirements

• A bachelor's degree in communications, public relations, marketing, or a related field is necessary.
• At least five years of comprehensive social media strategy or content creation experience is necessary.
• At least three years of managerial experience is necessary.
• Strong leadership skills are necessary.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills with experience in various media formats are necessary.
• Experience working in a deadline-driven environment with multiple projects is necessary.
• The ability to travel with teams and for department special events is necessary.

Nice-to-haves

• Experience managing creative content in an NCAA Athletics Department is strongly preferred.
• Experience using project management tools to manage team workloads and ensure timely project delivery is preferred.